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

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Behind the scrum Leon defended well and Higgs II was full of vigour and promise, but both he and Moffat held the ball too long. The forwards were weak in the line-out but held their own in the tight. The Team as a whole seemed to lack condition, and they were ill prepared in this regard for such a strenuous opening fixture. There was no lack of effort and no disgrace in losing to such powerful opposition. SCHOOL V. SHAWNIGAN LAKE SCHOOL Playing under extremely bad weather and ground conditions the School were well and truly beaten at Shawnigan Lake by a goal and seven tries 126 pts.l to a goal and a try M8 pts.l Shawnigan pressed from the start and. finding the School re- sistance feeble. scored four tries in the first twenty minutes. Their forwards were far quicker on the ball and they controlled the line- outs. while fully holding the School pack in the tight. The School were very slow to wake up, but. when they did, play was very even and of a kick and run nature. There was no further score for some time. but towards the close of the half the School were successful when Queale fell on a loose ball far out. Higgs I kicked a very fine goal and Shawnigan led 12-5 at the breather. 4 For twenty minutes after the restart the School showed to advantage and play was confined to the Shawnigan half. The School backs were never together. however. and the only success came when the pack pushed over from a scrum five yards from the line. Higgs I failed to add the extra points. Although Shawnigan had played better football it was still any- body's game. but in the closing stages the School wilted and conceded a goal and three tries. The injury to Findlay was no excuse for the collapse: lack of condition and resolution in defence were the vital factors. SCHOOL V. VICTORIA COLLEGE The School gave a somewhat improved display against strong opposition and hardly deserved to be beaten by two goals and a try 13 ptsw to nil. The College scored a forward try early in the game but play was then very even with neither line in serious danger. After the restart the School continued to hold their own until the final ten minutes. when two tries were conceded. both of which were goaled. The first was the direct result of a bad misunderstanding between Moffat and Higgs H in mid-field. and the second was the penalty for very weak defensive play. The School backs were not happy but the pack did quite well, though giving away much weight. 16

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RUGBY FOOTBALL At the Annual Nleeting held early in the Christmas Term A. Leon and Higgs were elected Captain and Vice-Captain respectively. Prospects for the season were considered to be good. six of last year's side being available. This hope was not borne out. Leon. the Captain. was never well, and on the few occasions when he did play showed mere flashes of his real form. This disaster seemed to affect the whole side adversely. Some of the more prominent members were badly out of condition. and it was obvious that School Football was in competition with other and less desirable interests. Of the fifteen matches played by the lst XV six were won. eight lost and one drawn. Colours were awarded to R. R. Dalziel. C. R. L. Higgs, T. Rose and Rfoffat. The full Team was as follows: J. A. Leon, S. Higgs, S. R. Queale. R. R. Dalziel, G, R. L. Higgs, T. Rose, Nloffat. YV. XY. Wlatson, D. C. Nlulder. M. L. Crofton, C. Dearing. R. xl. McLeod. C. L. Pollard. B. W. L. Stamer. S. M. Findlay. lN'.R.G.lN'. FIRST FIFTEEN MATCHES SCHOOL V. OAK BAY WANIJERERS The School opened the season on November 6th. when they were at home to the Wanderers. who. reinforced by several senior players. provided very potent opposition and won by two goals. two tries and a penalty goal fl9 pts.m to a goal and a try T8 pts.v. The first half was well contested with the School holding their own territorially. The YVanderers. however. were better together behind the scrum and at half time had scored a goal. a penalty goal and a try. The School pressed dangerously at times but their only success came just before the whistle. when Moffiat kicked through the middle and Crofton was successful in a scramble on the Wanderers' line. Higgs I failed to convert and the lN'anderers led ll-3 at the changeover. N The School played vigorous football after the restart and. after a long period of steady pressure. they were successful when a quick throw in gave Watson an opportunity which he turned to good account. scoring far out. Higgs I improved this try with a splendid kick. The School continued to press and for a time they seemed likely to equalize. but they fell away in the last ten minutes and conceded a goal and a try. the lVanderers winning 19-8. 15

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SCHOOL V. SHAWNIGAN LAKE SCHOOL The return match with Shawnigan Lake School was played at home and won by the visitors by two goals and four tries 22 pts. to two penalty goals 16 pts. i. As in the previous match with Shawnigan the School opened very slowly and. as a result, soon found themselves deep in arrears to opponents playing keen. intelligent football. Two tries were scored early and two goals were added before half time. To this the School. outplayed in the line-out and the loose. and outpaced behind the scrum. had offered little of a constructive nature. Higgs I missed a fairly easy penalty early on. and later was successful with another. but at the breather Shawnigan led 16-3. After half time the School played rather better and had a fair share of the game. There was no finish. however. and the Shawnigan line was never seriously in danger. Higgs I landed a really good penalty goal for the School. while Shawnigan replied with two un- converted tries to win, on their merits. 22-6. The School backs had an unhappy day and missed Leon. their Captain, both in attack and defence. The forwards did their best. but they were consistently beaten in the line-out. and not active enough in the loose to match the opposition. SCHOOL V. ST. GEORGITS SCHOOL This, the home game against St. Georges was a very spirited affair which the visitors were most lucky to win by the only try scored. Leon. the School Captain. though far from fit. returned to the side, and several changes. all successful. were made behind the scrum. For some time after the start play was very even and mainly of a forward nature. The St. George's outsides made a few good moves but they were closely marked and did not threaten seriously. The School, fully holding their own forward, were playing better than in any of their previous matches. and were nearly over several times during one fifteen minute stay in the St. George's twenty-five. They lacked finish. however. and St. George's weathered the storm. Shortly before half time St. George,s had their turn and were successful when their scrum half, who was outstanding throughout. gathered a loose ball near the line. the try being scored from his quick pass. After the change over it was nearly all School: one and all played with great spirit and play was to a great extent in the St. Georgefs half. Pollard was very prominent in the line-out at this stage. fre- quently gaining possession and kicking to touch with accuracy and distance. Dalziel was magnificent in the loose. where his robust play and deadly tackling were much in evidence. Towards the end the School exerted heavy and continuous pressure and a score seemed certain. Twice good work by Queale and Moffat gave Leon glorious chances to go for the line from fifteen yards away. but theiSchool 17