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

Page 25 text:

find that we had been pushed on to a side pitch. and some feeble Rugby followed. Our opponents were an aggressive side but pro- duced very spoiling Rugby and the muddy field was not conducive to good play. The result was a draw. each side scoring a penalty goal. Some compensation was provided by the fact that we had an All Black Referee. but some curious decisions seemed to indicate that a brilliant player is not necessarily a good performer on the whistle. The final match of a successful season saw the School beat the Old Boys 22-3. Robinson provided the line with a plentiful supply of the ball and the three-quarters seemed to function far more smoothly than heretofore. a minimum of passes going astray. The Old Boys were represented by jim Sherratt. Chips Filleul. Spike Dalziel. Mike Kendall. George Jackson. Dick Gwen. Bob Shipley 1Captain1. Don Taylor, Ken Bridge. Hamish Simpson. Balfour, Bob Balma, and George Nlorgan. Nlark Crofton. of the School 2nd XV, substituted for Ray Calton. who had to call off at the last minute. Old Colours were Roome. Robinson. Orford and Leon. Colours were awarded to Tozer. Barker. Queale, Rooper and Higgs I. 5 D.H.-L. SEASON 1953-54 JUNIOR RUGBY The season opened early and we were able to have many more matches in the first leg of the appointed time for the winter game. The early training and whole approach to the game was ragged but soon there appeared players and not just a mass of individualists all anxious to get a kick at the ball! It was suddenly realized that here was a game of the utmost skill and that position- ing and team spirit were necessary too. A knowledge of the rules. nay more, an understanding of the rules. was sought and now we have a wealth of talent to draw upon at the different weight levels for next year. Some mighty battles were seen where our smaller team at 125 pounds were valiantly fighting it out against Shawiganls 135 pound side fthe picked weight of their choicel and in doing so set the spirit which was to carry us through to the most memor- able tussle and witness their defeat in our last meeting of the season. We had fielded a slightly more experienced team than on any previous occasion and justly deserved to win. Our most valuable player at the weight of 104 pounds was without doubt Little and his captaincy of the 125 and 135 pound sides improved at every outing. He showed considerably ability in defensive covering and in all things courage. Nlore experience will 21

Page 24 text:

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

Page 26 text:

enable him to determine the exact moment to instruct the forwards to heel the ball. At stand-off there was McLeod II who came on greatly and has learned to judge the time to go himself and when to use defensive kicking-having Little to partner him helped him greatly and very often protected him from fast breaking forwards. It was an intelligent combination at half-back and did much to gain us the return match with St. George's played in perfect conditions-at Home towards the end of the season. Johaneson. Symons. Plant. and Wlilliams H formed a yery formidable attacking force around the base of the scrum and they all had one thing in commonsthe ability to think quickly and the tireless energy of really keen players. Of the three-quarters Bowser l. Goff and Fisher showed promise. Bowser made some very useful runs and was always in the right position to tackle-he was the best tackler on the 125 pound side. Looking to next season we can safely say that with most of these same players available in this group and such others as Bell ll. Butler. Price I, Coleman. Philipsen. Schaefer and Grosskleg. gaining in strength and experience. we are very well equipped. P PS. . 100 LBS. FIFTEEN This was the first year in which Rugby was played at this level. and a great success it proved. The Team was unbeaten in five matches. scoring 92-3. Only in the match against Shawnigan Lake School were there some anxious moments, when. at one point. it looked as though the result would be a draw. Oak Bay NVanderers were met three times and thrice defeated: finally a fair win against Glenlyon was accomplished. YVe were unfortunately unable to meet St. Micliael's. but hope to do so next season. Edgelow captained the side well and was always a menace to the oppoisng Half Backs with his deadly tackling from Break forward. Other forwards who played well were Tucker. Clough. Lahey and Blaude. Eyes I and Philipsen were a pair of very strong- running and elusive wings. In the centre. Schaefer ran with guile but was apt to hold on too long. Gerry always played intelligently and NiVenman was very sound at Scrum Half. Finally. Grosskleg. at Full Back. fell and tackled very steadily and was an adept at fielding and kicking. D. H.-L. RUGBY FIXTURE LIST, 1953-54 FIRST FIFTEEN Oct. 10th ..... Victoria College lst XV ........... ....... W Von 8- O Oct. 17 ......... Victoria College 2nd XV ...... ....... X Von 11- O Oct. 24th ..... Victoria College lst XV ........ ........ X Von 3- U 22