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

Page 32 text:

MCLEOD I-His lack of weight and height were against him in the line-out and the tight, but he was always very keen and willing, and very useful in the loose. LUND I-A dependable front-row forward who improved with every game. He gave some very keen and robust displays and is a player of great promise. XVATSON-An experienced hooker who was seldom beaten in this department, Active and intelligent in the line-out and the loose. XVILLIAMS-An improved forward, An honest worker in the second row. Rather slow but willing and robust in the loose. McCLASKEY-Rather awkward in build and slow of movement but filled the difficult position of second-row forward well. He has learned to use his weight better and at the end of the season was among the most effective of the forwards. MCLEOD II LFull Backl-Somewhat more confident and effective this year but still too slow to gather and clear. A fair tackle but his lack of speed was a handicap. A useful kick. Also played as a second-row forward with success. MARGETTS Q'Wing Three-QuarterD-Possessed a fair turn of speed but his hands were poor and he was totally lacking in anticipation, Tackled well at times. ROSS QCentre Three-Quarterl-An improved player but still lacks the neces- sary confidence. In attack his weight and pace made him hard to stop when in the clear. A useful kick but hesitant when facing forwards, and a weak tackle. Keen and will yet do well, SKINNER QWing Three-Quarterl-Somewhat improved in attack, where his speed was well used on occasion. He was always keen but was erratic and excitable, very weak defensively and lacked a sound knowledge of the game. SANDERS fCentre Three-Quarterl-Showed early promise both in attack and defence, but never came on as expected. Rather slow on his feet and his passing was delayed and slovenly. Lack of condition was also an adverse factor. LITTLE I CScrum Halfl-A courageous and intelligent player with a sound knowledge of the game. Very dangerous on his own near the line, but never selfish, Heroic in defence and played the game in a splendid spirit. GREENHOUSE fOutside Half!-Too slow and ponderous for this position, but while he was never brilliant he was always willing and seldom failed. A useful kick, but otherwise uncertain in defence, W.R.G.W. 28

Page 31 text:

hesitant defensive play resulted in a tidy near the posts. This was converted and Shawnigan led 5 -U, The School then pressed and Dalziel. who was magnificent throughout. broke away. only to see his scoring pass to Margetts dropped. A little later. however. Pollard I opened the School account when he scooped up a loose ball near the line and threw himself over in the corner, He failed to convert. The School, with the forwards playing most spirited football. continued to attack. and shortly before half time Dalziel again gained possession in the loose and ran with great determination to score a try which Pollard I turned into a goal. The School led 8 - 5 at the change over. Play throughout the second half was keen to a degree. The School continued to dominate the loose but Shawnigan were superior in the tight, while behind the scrum they were always better together and more dangerous. The School went further ahead. however, when Little I. who was at his courageous best. sneaked over from a scrum on the Shawnigan goal line. Pollard I failed to convert. Shawnigan were now desperate and the School were subjected to the keenest pressure. but for some time held out. the defensive kicking of McLeod II. Ross and Greenhouse being most valuable at this stage. Shawnigan were not to be denied. however. and finally one of their outsides ran strongly through the centre to beat all opposition and score between the posts. The goal was kicked and one point separated the teams. Play continued to be extremely keen until the end. but though both sides had many anxious moments there was no further scoring and the School had won the last. and best. game of the season ll - IO. The School forwards bore the brunt. as they had done all the season. and to them went the major credit. One and all played a splendid game. Dalziel was magnificent, while Pollard I, McClaskey. Wfilliams and Lund I were also very prominent. Behind the scrum Little I was excellent. both in attack and defence, Greenhouse was adequate at outside half and lNIcLeod II had a good match at full back, but the centres and wings were outclassed and were saved in defence. time and again. by the tireless Dalziel. XV.R.G.XN'. FIRST FIFTEEN CHARACTERS DALZIEL CCaptainj-A splendid wing forward. Courageous and determined to a degree. he asked no quarter and gave little. Followed the loose ball tirelessly and was very dangerous near the line. CROFTON CVice-Captain!-Played both as a centre three-quarter and as a wing forward but was happier in the latter position. Excelled in the loose and was keen and spirited in every phase of forward play. Rather weak defensively. POLLARD I-An excellent forward whose confidence in himself and resultant effectiveness increased as the season progressed. In the line-out his height and sure hands were a great asset. Near the line his weight and his improved ability to use it made him very dangerous. An extremely good all-round kicker. 27

Page 33 text:

COLTS RUGBY A combination of circumstances prevented the Colts Rugby Team from playing an adequate number of matches. The insistence upon weight as the criterion when building a side. apart from causing domestic confusion, prohibits us from competing against teams drawn from particular age groups-a state of affairs that deprived us of at least two games against High Schools, Transportation problems and organizational hazards limited our matches with Shawnigan and St. George's to a combined total of four, This was a particularly un- fortunate predicament because we had a promising side which, as the season progressed, began to play Rugger of a technical standard above the ordinary. and which could have produced practised and experienced players for the future. Even so. if the lessons of this season were fully absorbed and the customary drift to other parts can be curbed. we appear to have the nucleus of experienced players that is so important when building senior school teams. The season itself was in many ways remarkable, Our first match was played in Vancouver against St. George's. and was lost by a small margin-deservedly so. since little energy was shown by either side. the decision resting ultimately on the number of mistakes made. and of these we had more than our fair share. However. it taught our newcomers the disadvantages of wild and careless play and it em- phasized the need for much more determination. especially around the edges of the scrum, The first match with Shawnigan deserves to be struck from the records. From the moment that the team took the field until the final whistle there was not a spark of life, In the cold and the rain the entire side stood still and looked even more pathetic as the opponents' score steadily mounted without producing one single answering effort. lt was an embarrassing afternoon, It was after this performance that words were spoken that could have no place in this report. but which apparently bore fruit the following term. when we met both our opponents on our own ground and were on both occasions victorious. The game against St. George's was hard and fast. and it was here that our enthusiasm and energy were enough to dominate the match. which was comfortably won by 19 points. The best game of the year was that against Shawnigan. Both sides were confident and fit and played hard from start to finish. Our success on this occasion seemed to be due to a greater technical skill in every part of the game, Nlany sessions of tedious practice produced an excellent exhibition of fast, open Rugger. There was much to be learned from the season as a whole. In particular it was obvious that practice without spirit and determina- tion was wasted, and that enthusiasm in itself needs the support of technical skill to prevent the game developing into a tedious struggle, Bernard and Edgelow led the side efficiently and set an energetic example in the midst of every scrum. Gther forwards were more erratic. but by the end of the season the pack was working well together. Lahey. supported by NIcRae and Maude I. hooked the ball with admirable regularity even when travelling backwards, Brown. 29