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

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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

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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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Two good lVednesday practices with the 'College' lst XV, both of which were hard-fought and even. made us fit and ready iif not over-confidenti for the return game. at home. with St. George's. Because of injuries three changes had to be made, Dalziel and Queale going into the scrum and Cohen replacing Higgs II at scrum half. St. George's were also affected by injuries. St. Gcorge's long kick-off caught us napping and we had our backs to the wall right away. Then our opponents scored under the posts and were leading 5-O. However. Roome rallied his men and the game became a mammoth struggle between two fine packs. Effective spoiling by Leon and Queale hampered the opposing scrum half. and the School. with Roome. Robinson and Higgs I ever to the fore. were eventually in the ascendant. After a further fifteen minutes' play we scored our first try, Rose plunging over from a loose scrum near the line. and the score was 3-5. This roused the team to fresh heights of endeavour and, although we had some anxious moments, just before half time the forwards were over from a quick heel in the loose, lVood being credited with the points. Higgs converted and we were leading 8-5. The second half was not long under way when a good forward rush and a passing movement by St. George's was only halted short of our line. The situation was relieved and at quick heel brought a fast passing movement by the School three-quarters. Moffat drew his man and Rooper raced over in the corner 111-5m. This was the last score of the match. though both sides had anxious moments. and St. George's seemed to be feeling the pace at the end. It may be inyidious to single out anyone for praise after this result. as the victory was so obviously due to team play and slightly superior fitness. However a word must be given on Cohen's behalf. This player filled in magnificently at scrum half. Roome set his team a splendid example of how to play all out to the final whistle, and Queale was tireless at wing forward. We must thank Cdr. Davidson for an object lesson in refereeing. On the same day the 2nd XV won 9-O, our three-quarters being very prominent in attack. and the Colts also won 6-0. This was the first occasion on which either school had won all three matches. On Blarch 6th the School beat Oak Bay Wlanderers 16-5. XN'anderers. as usual. had to fill in gaps with lst Division men. After the School had been behind 3-5 play brightened up consid- erably in the second half. and the School three-quarters ultimately took the upper hand. Tries were scored by Rooper, Higgs I, Cohen and XVilliams. Leon converting one. The Team had treated this game largely as practice experience for its curtain-raiseri' iagainst Vancouver Technical School! for the All Blacks game in Vancouver on March 11th. This event had been slated for the Stadium ground. but we were disappointed to 20