St Michaels University School - Black Red and Blue Yearbook (Victoria, British Columbia Canada)

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inches from the line and under the posts. A little later a stronger runner than Archibald would have scored far out but here again a try was narrowly averted. St. George's also had their chances and forced the School to touch down twice. With time running out they made desperate efforts and two minutes from the end they were successful when their outside half side-stepped his way through the centre and scored after a short run. The try was not converted and a draw resulted. The game. though vigorous to a degree, was singularly lacking in incident, the abilities and the opportunities of the outsides being limited. The School had given their best performance of the season, however. in that, though heavily outweighed, they had earned rather the better of a drawn game and that against a team which had beaten them soundly earlier in the season. Branson did quite well at centre and all the older forwards played sterling games, but it was Barker at outside half and Campbell at break who once again earned the palm, both playing extremely courageous and spirited football. SCHOOL v. THE OLD BOYS. LOST 9-22 The Old Boys raised a very strong side for this fixture and had no trouble in winning by two goals and four tries C22 pointsj to a penalty goal and two tries 19 points r. Throughout the first half the School showed to advantage. They opened their account when Barker was successful with a penalty. and a little later went further ahead when Turner scored near the posts. Barker failed to convert. The Old Boys scored twice late in the half. John Shipley kicking the goal on one occasion, and they led 8-6 at the changeover. After half time the Old Boys asserted themselves and their experience and weight proved too much for the School. A goal and three tries were added and of these the most noteworthy were one through the fine individual effort of R. Shipley. and another the result of the masterly initiation of R. Calton and the dash of H. Burnett. The School added to their score late in the game when Goodacre fell on a loose ball following a scrum on the Old Boys' Line. The try was not converted. For the School Barker was in a class by himself behind the scrum, while in the pack Roome, Campbell, Robinson and Orford showed to advantage. SCHOOL v. J.B.A.A. XVON 19-5 In this. the final game of the season, the School proved to be too strong for the J.B.A.A. second division side, and won by two goals and three tries i 19 pointsl to a goal 45 pointsl. Though giving away some weight the School was a more experienced side and were superior in all departments. Barker again had an excellent match, scoring two tries and kicking two goals, Robinson, who had put in much solid work throughout the 22

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needed and from this point they never looked back. The forwards suddenly began to play with great zest and gradually drove Shawnigan back to their line where Sundt got his hands on a loose ball and a try was awarded. Barker kicked a splendid goal and the School led 5-3. The School backs were now having more of the ball and. on the whole, doing quite well with it. They lacked the pace to finish their movements, however, and it was the pack who were the real danger. forcing Shawnigan to touch down several times before half time. After the breather the School continued in the same dominant vein and very shortly. from a scramble on the Shawnigan line, Sundt was again successful in a pounce on a loose ball. Barker failed to convert this try which was at the flag. The School for- wards now controlled the game and the backs received more than their share of the ball. They backed up intelligently and there was a general willingness to pass. Finally Branson, who was prom- inent at this stage, went over at the flag after a short run. Barker failed to goal. just before the end the School scored their final try when Orford, who worked very hard throughout, forced himself over far out. Barker again failed to improve and the School won ll-3. In turning the tables on a team which had beaten them decisively two weeks previously the School put up a splendid show. The forwards all played with more fire than in previous matches and subdued their opposite numbers. Behind the scrum there was also a noticeable improvement in dash and cohesion. Branson had his best match to date and Barker fully maintained his good form. SCHOOL v. ST. GEORGFXS SCHOOL. DRAWN 3-3 Playing at home the School gave a very keen and spirited display and were rather unfortunate in having to be content with a 3-3 draw. each side scoring a try. The game opened at a fast pace but marking was very close and neither side appeared dangerous behind the scrum. The for- ward play was keen to a degree and here the School, though heavily outweighed, held a slight advantage. Some better play took place in the St. George's half but it was nearly half time before any score resulted and it was Barker who was responsible. Picking up a loose ball from behind a melee he dashed ten yards on the blind side, where there was barely room for his feet, and crossed at the flag. He lost the ball as he went down but Kendell. who was in support. gained possession and the try was awarded to him. Barker failed to convert and the School led 3-0 at half time on their merits. After the restart play was largely confined to the forwards and continued to be very vigorous with no quarter being given. The School all but added to their lead on two occasions, and on the first of these were really very unfortunate when Branson picked his way through the ruck and was actually over and falling when a desperate tackler seized his jersey and pulled him back 21

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year. ended the season with a try while Legg showed pace and judgment on the wing and scored on two occasions. Late in the game the .I.l3.A.A. broke through the centre and scored between the posts. The try was converted and the School won 19-5. R. YV. RUGBY CHARACTERS ROOME QCaptainl-An extremely hard-working front row forward. Bustling in the loose and an honest worker in the tight. Rather excit- able, and his tackling and handling could be improved. BELL CVice-Captainl-Started the season well at fullback after a long delay but because of injury was slow to regain his form. An excellent kick, an adequate tackle, but somewhat slow to gather. SUNDT QScrum Halfl-His increased weight and height together with lack of condition made for too slow a service from the base of the scrum, and he did not stand the pace as well as in the past. Courageous and tackled well. BARKER I CStand Off Halfl-Outstanding both in attack and defence. Lacked deception and pace but was determined to a degree and very dangerous near the line. His hands were safe, and his tackling keen and sure. His defensive kicking wasugood but in attack the short kick was neglected. Gave some fine displays, and invariably set a fine example by his courageous and spirited play. BRANSON CCentre Three-Quarterl-Possessed a good knowledge of the game but though he had a good match or two never developed to the degree anticipated. Pace was not lacking but he seldom ran with the necessary thrust. Handled and kicked adequately but was hesitant in defence. TURNER CCentre Three-Quarterl-A determined runner with sufficient pace and adequate hands, but he combined poorly and was lacking in condition. Very weak defensively but he has it in him to correct this and other faults. SHAW CWing Three-Quarterl-Rather lacking in pace and his handling is faulty. An excellent tackle and a player of promise. KENDELL CWing Three-Quarterj-An improved player who is beginning to run with more determination. His defence is weak as yet and his handling uncertain. ROBINSON-An improved forward. Hooked with success and bustled in the loose. Always gave of his best and had a very good season. MASON-A good front row forward in the tight and useful in the line out, but too slow in the loose. Played quite well in spurts but lacked condition. ORFORD-Excellent in the second row where he was an honest pusher. A terrific worker in the loose and played the game at top speed from start to finish, One of the year's successes. GOODACRE-A keen and greatly improved second row forward. Rather slow, but a hard worker both in the tight and the loose. Tackled well, and always gave of his best. CAMPBELL-Playing his second year as a break he was the side's out- standing forward. A tireless worker who neither asked nor gave quarter. Keen and deadly in his tackling, inspirational in his determination and spirit. Played magnificently throughout the season, particularly when the side was up against it, and loved football. HALEY-An improved back row forward. Useful in the loose, and tackled well on occasion, but lacked the stamina to go all out all the time. JACKSON-Despite his lack of weight a most useful break. Tackled and handled well and was invariably most unselfish. Appeared also at full- back and at scrum half, playing cool and intelligent football in both positions. An extremely promising player. 23