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

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share of the game territorially. Still denied the ball from the tight and the line-out they made up for it by lively play in the loose, Toward the close the School gained control and subjected their opponents to severe and constant pressure. Some extremely spirited play took place close to the College line. Cuppage was all but over once after going' on the blind side, and finally, after a pile of players had been sorted out over the College line. Beban I was awarded a try. This was splendidly goalecl by Cuppage and the School won 5-0. SCHOOL v. OAK BAY XVANDERERS lSeniorl At lVindsor Park the School faced very heavy opposition in the Vflanderers senior side and gave a creditable display in losing by four goals and two tries 126 points! to a goal and a try Q8 pointsj. From the start the Wfanclerers showed themselves to be too heavy forward and too fast and experienced behind the scrum for their younger and lighter opponents, The School forwards packed badly and were beaten in every phase of forward play. In consequence the School outsides were hard pressed in defence and in the first twenty minutes were forced to concede two tries. both of which were goaled. Shortly before half time the School were rewarded when, follow- ingsome very good play by Pollard and Beban, Forrester took Beban's pass almost on the line and opened the School,s account. Cuppage failed to convert. Soon after half time the School added to their score when a timely pass by Ogle gave Getz a chance to show his speed and score a fine try which Ogle turned into a goal. to cut the arrears to two points. The NVanderers, however. exerted pressure and soon ran away with the match. adding two goals and two tries to win 26-8. Though outplayed in all departments the School were by no means disgraced. SCHOOL v. OAK BAY HIGH SCHOOL This match was played at Carnarvon Park and resulted in a win for the School by a penalty goal and three tries t 12 pointsl to nil. The School pack opened very strongly. showing to advantage in the tight. where Beban hooked well. The backs were given much of the ball but although Oak Bay were hard pressed no try was scored, and it was left to Cuppage to open the account with a penalty from an easy position. Continuing to press the School all but crossed on several occasions and finally Cuppage deceived the defence, running through on his own to score a try which Fairbourn failed to improve. Ogle had a good first half, his handling of a difficult ball being sure and his passing timely. The High School. beaten forward, had seldom threatened. After the breather the School returned to the attack but rain, which fell throughout the latter stages, made handling very difficult. The School went further ahead, however, when, following a tight scrum in the Oak Bay twenty-five, Cuppage took the ball on the blind side, gathering Pollard's pass brilliantly in full stride, to score a try which he failed to convert. The final try went to Getz, who, following a fine opening by Cuppage. ran forty yards through the 26

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RUGBY FOOTBALL B. E. B. Cuppage and F.. Fairbourn were chosen to lead the side as Captain and Vice-Captain respectively. Five other members of the 1956-57 team returned. so prospects were bright. Throughout the Christmas Term all went well. Both St. George-'s School and Shawnigan Lake School were defeated on their own grounds and the only reverse suffered was at the hands of Oak Bay Wanderers. a senior side. The Easter Term opened with injuries to both halves. Cuppage and Pollard. who never turned out again. and then an epidemic of mumps completed the decimation. All subsequent games were lost. and St. George's. quite rightly not wishing to share our mumps. abandoned this important fixture. completing the disap- pointments of the season. In all eleven matches were played. six of which were won and five lost. Colours were awarded to F., Fairbourn. R. L. Pratt. IJ. R. Sleep and I. C. G. Ogle. The full 1957-58 Team was as follows- B. F.. B. Cuppage, E. Fairbourn. W. G. Lund. E. St. Pollard, R. B. Getz, R. L. Pratt. D, R. Sleep. I. C. G. Ogle. F. ll. Eyes. tl, IV. Sey- mour, F. G. Beban. Andrews. E, H. lVoodland. R. R. Fulton and N. I. Bedard. The 2nd XV were not a strong side. and actually between the 2nd. and 3rd, XVs there was little to choose. The matches against Shawnigan Lake School were won but those against St. George's were lost. There was plenty of promise in the 3rd, XV. who won all their games. Clark II, Hudson I. Wittke and Grubb I all showed to advantage. Once again the Colts XV enjoyed an unbeaten season. In Lahey. Y'Venman I and Rigos I they had experienced players. who were well supported both in the scrum and behind it. YV. R. G. IV. FIRST FIFTEEN MATCHES The season opened at Carnarvon Park on October 26th, when the School defeated Victoria College by a goal 15 pointsi to nil. Both sides were very short of practice and play was ragged throughout. The College. with a vast weight superiority forward. had by far the better of the argument in the set scrums with the result that their outsides had many opportunities. They combined poorly. however. and were able to penetrate the School defence on three occasions only. In each case a centre ran straight through and the School were saved only by very creditable tackling by Nlaude I. the full back, who stood up well under severe testing. Cuppage was out- standing behind the scrum for the School, who fought manfully and were still on even terms at half time. After the restart the School showed to better advantage. Their condition was better than that of their opponents and they had a full 25

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centre to outpace the opposition. Cuppage failed to goal and the School won I2-0. The forwards. with Lund I always prominent. were better together than in the previous games. Behind the scrum Cuppage was in a class by himself, but Pollard. Ogle. Getz and Eves all had a good match. SCHOOL v. VICTORIA HIGH SCHOOL A disappointing game at Victoria High School resulted in a win for the School by four goals and five tries '35 pointsv to nil. The High School were very short-handed at the start and though the situation improved they were never a full side. In the first half Getz scored three tries. one of which he goaled. Pratt also scored and Cuppage was successful in goaling on one occasion. The School led I6-O at half time. Although the High School were reinforced at half time it was still all School. Beban I. Eves I. Boas. Pratt and Getz all scored tries. two of which were converted by Cuppage. and the School won a poor game 35-0. SCHOOL v. ST. GEORGFFS SCHOOL Although keenly fought this match was not productive of much good rugby and was singularly lacking in incident. The School won as they deserved to do by a goal and a penalty goal I8 pointst to a penalty goal 13 pointsl. but they were not impressive. Shortly after the start the School were awarded a penalty dead in front and Cuppage made no mistake, to put the School three points up. For the remainder of the half the School had rather the better of the game and twice Ogle all but put Getz in the clear. St. George's held firm, however, and a poor first half ended. the School leading by three points. After the restart play continued on much the same lines, un- inspiring and unenterprising, until fifteen minutes from the end. when St. George's were awarded a penalty which was turned to account. The School then woke up slightly and, following some con- structive work by Cuppage. Pratt crossed the St. George's line at the flag and then. for no apparent reason, crossed the dead ball line as well, and the try was lost. This tragedy seemed to stimulate the School. Play became much more spirited and it was not long before good work by Cuppage and Ogle and a typical finishing burst by Getz gave them the winning trv. which was magnificentlv goaled bv Cuppage. In winning 8-3 the School had. until the final stages. given a list- less display. Behind the scrum they looked rather better than the opposition but nothing seemed to come off. Forward they were held in the tight, where their heeling was too slow. and with the exception of Forrester there was no liveliness in the loose. 27