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

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The forwards played very well in the tight and the loose, but were not so impressive in the line-out. Our attempts at conversion were weak. In an exhibition game on Qctober 7th, at Macdonald Park. the School again won. 3-O. Rooper providing the only points of the game with a fine try in the opening minutes. Then the game deteriorated rapidly. Robinson gave us the ball from almost every set scrum. but the' backs were too inoffensive. and the team gener- ally failed to become a cohesive unit. Our opponents, the 'Collegef must be congratulated for defending so stoutly with a makeshift three-quarter line which our attack was too weak to penetrate. On November -lth the School won, 5-O. against Oak Bay High School at XYindsor Park. The game proved to be fast and open one and the opposition spirited. Once again Rooper was our match- winner. with a really fine try in which he beat five men with pace and swerve. Leon converted. Robinson won his hooking duel, but weakness in attack and lack of determination in running again marred the three-quarter work. Tozer. however. was steady at full back and saved one almost certain try with a fine tackle. In our game with Victoria College lst XV on November 6th we suffered our first defeat i5-81. An appalling first fifteen minutes saw 'College' score two tries by spirited and aggressive play, the School giving a feeble and lethargic display. A complete rearrange- ment of our back field at half time worked wonders. and Queale soon solved the fly half problem: but we were able to score only once. when Robinson. a tireless worker. fell on a loose ball in the line-out. The game ended on an attacking note but the School were unable to score further. Un November 9th the School beat Victoria High School, at Fernwood Road. 34-O. 'Vic. High' were a light and inexperienced side. Higgs I opened the scoring with a penalty goal. and tries were then gained by Rose. NN'illiams and Rooper before half time. The School played more stylish Rugby in the second half and Rooper, Tozer. Leon and Barker were successful in adding to our score. On November 14th the School inflicted a sound defeat on 'Shawnigan' '17-Ol. the team thoroughly deserving its victory. Higgs I put the School three points up with a very good penalty goal and 'Shawnigan' were penned within their own half for practically the remainder of the game. Some opportunities were wasted, but Nfoffatt eventually dived on a loose ball and the score was 6-O. Play continued to be fast, with Robinson and his forwards dominating the rival pack. Roome and Wlood were prominent with splendid tackles and just before half time Wlilliams scored a corner try after a good passing movement. The School continued to press but vital passes went astray. Eventually Leon crashed through a barrier of defenders to score, and YVilliams again added a try. this time under the posts, with Barker converting. 18

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Long jump, under 16 ....v...,,. ...... 1 . Walton: 2. Cabcldu: 3. Stamer 116' 50' Long jump, open .,...............,....., 1. Hooper: 2. Fox I: 3. Anderson 119' 301 120 Yards Hurdles, under 1-1 ,... 1, Chambers III: 2. Hudson I: 3. Eyes I 121 s. 120 Yards Hurdles, under 16 ..,,...... 1. Idiens: 2. Edgelow: 3. Walton 119.2 sm 120 Yards Hurdles, open .,........ 1. Rooper: 2. Williams I: 3. Anderson 117 sm One Mile. under 16 ...... 1. Bell II: 2. Chambers I: 3. Maude 15 mins. 29.2 sw One Niile. open ......... .................... l . Fox: 2. Symons: 3. Hill 14 mins. 56 s.f 1Record 1 Relay Race ......,....,.......................... ......,........ 1 . Old Boys: 2. School: 3. Staff Cricket Ball Throw, under 14 .................. 1. McLeod II: 2. Knoop: 3. Shanks 174 yds. 1' 9 H Cricket Ball Throw. under 16 .... 1. lYilliams II: 2. Chambers I: 3. Greenhouse 185 yds. 2' 1 J Cricket Ball Throw, open ...... 1. Moffat: 2. Margetts: 3. Fox I 1103 yds. l 1 Shot Putt, under 16 ........ 1. Chambers I: 2. Linnes: 3. Williams III 135' 11 1 Shot Putt. open .................... 1. Higgs I: 2. Leon: 3. Wood 139' 521 1Record1 Old Boys Race ........................................ 1. Shipley. R.: 2. Branson: Calton Junior Champion 1Marpole Cupm ................ Fisher. 10 pts.: McLeod I, 9 pts. Intermediate Champion 1Worthington Cupn .,,. Bell I. l-1 pts.: Walton, 9 pts. Senior Champion 1Corsan Cupl .............,.......,.. Rooper, H pts.: Fox, 10 pts. House Championship .....................,.. Brentwood, 119 pts.: Founders. 108 pts. FIRST FIFTEEN MATCHES The season opened very early this year and consequently we had many more matches before Christmas than is our wont. First. two practice games were played against the 'Collegef both of which were won, but in neither game did the School impress. On October 31st the School met Oak Bay lN'anderers at Macdonald Park, winning 1-1-0. From the opening whistle we went in to the attack. and it soon became evident that. with the constant supply of the ball which the forwards gave the backs. we would not be kept out for long. A quick heel from a set scrum on our oppenents' twenty-five saw Higgs II pass to W'illiams, who dived over in the corner. The School then had to defend for a period, but pressure was eventually relieved by a forward rush. Then Barker picked up a rolling ball and, eluding a tackle, scored under the posts. Almost immediately afterwards the School scored again-a pushover try from a five-yard scrum. At half time the score stood at 11-0, but the XVanderers had been playing thirteen men and were reinforced for the second half. Inspired and intelligent running by the three-quarters kept play in mid-field. and the only try scored was by Roome. who picked up a loose ball and barged over. 17

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Features of the game were the sterling work of the forx-qarcls and the improvement of the backs. Cui' return game with 'Oak Bay' iNovember l8thw turned out to be disappointing. for we only managed to draw 3-3. A strong wind blew and careless and unimaginative back play threw away scoring chances. Higgs I put us ahead with a fine penalty goal. but though we continued to press there was no further scoring. The situation was reversed in the second half and we had our backs to the wall. Oak Bay kicked an easy penalty goal and the game then dctc riorated into a wild melee. On November 21st we were handed our second defeat of the season, again at the hands of Victoria College lnlunior-Senior lst XV. The game was keenly contested throughout. The day was wet and the going heavy. and the School made the mistake of attempting to open up play with a slippery ball instead of taking with the feet. Higgs I scored our three points with a good penalty goal. Although the margin of victory in our return match with 'Shawnigan' fNovember 28thi was only two points. we had far the better of the play territorially. Conditions were arduous and slippery and there was a steady drizzle. However. our three-quarters opened with smooth passing. Barker being prominent, and there was a continuous supply of the ball from the forwards, with Roome and Robinson to the fore. Higgs I's place kicking was largely re- sponsible for our lead at half time. Stout defending by 'Shawnigani kept us out for most of the second half, but eventually Roome dived over on a loose ball. Mistakes by the School three-quarters eventually let in Brooks on the blind side. and the final score was ll-9 for the School-a game ine which 'University' showed great improvement and was definitely on top. On December 12th the School teams travelled to Vancouver. Both the Colts and the 2nd XV games had been drawn in the morning K3-3 and 8-8 respectivelye and we looked for greater success from the lst XV. in the afternoon. Our hopes were not realized, the School going down 25-O before a thoroughly deserving side. For the first twenty-five minutes we more than held our own. but after that the School was never in the picture except for .1 few sporadic rushes. The St. George's three-quarters dominated the game, but Roome, Barker and Higgs II must be mentioned for magnificent efforts both in defence and attack. Heavy snowfall at the beginnig of the Spring Term interrupted our schedule. but in our first game, against the 'College' 2nd XV. we recorded a rather easy victory if 35-Ol, Rooper being prominent with four tries. Everything appeared to go well. but the Line was hardly ever tested as a defensive unit. 19