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

Page 22 text:

and he redeemed himself by his excellent kicking. Fibiger, who did some useful things, was also prominent. Two minutes from the end Shawnigan were awarded a penalty under the School posts. The ball just scraped under the bar, where Chapman, with all the time in the world to touch down, unaccountably failed to do so and a Shawnigan player nipped in to score a try which was goaled with the last kick of the match. Once again the School had paid dearly for a fatal lapse in the final seconds, and really a 5-3 loss would have been a very fair result. The forwards played splendidly and had slightly the better of it against a very good pack. Beban, Stene, Andrews and Musgrave were outstanding and Whiteside was a great success as a hooker. Behind the scrum Huston had a good match but Stidham, unavoidably ab- sent, was greatly missed. His presence at scrum half might have made all the difference. Dykes was steady at outside half, and the outsides generally performed well against men who were quicker and more experienced. Actually the side had done well after being down five points in the opening stages to fight back to a two-point deficit and hold their own until just before no-side. SCHOOL v. H.M.C.S. VENTURE Making a promising start the School won by a goal, a penalty goal and two tries Q14 pts.j to nil. Wittke, Milner and Musgrave scored tries while Milner converted once and was successful with a penalty. SCHOOL v. OAK BAY HIGH SCHOOL The School were well beaten by four goals and a try C23 pts.j to a goal, a penalty goal and two tries C14 pts.j. Shocking defensive play cost the School ten points, but Beban's try and a penalty goal by Milner reduced the deficit before half time. The,High School ran through the middle for two goals and a try early in the second half, the School centres, outside half and break forwards showing little resolution in defence. Musgrave, however, scored after a long run by Fibiger and Milner converted. Sweeting added the final try, but the School were well and deservedly beaten. Only Beban and Stidham did themselves justice. SCHOOL v. VICTORIA HIGH SCHOOL The School were too good for Victoria High School, winning by a goal, a penalty goal and four tries C20 pts.j to a try Q3 pts.j. Superior in all departments, the School were only able to cross five times, Milner scoring twice while Wittke, Stidham and Stene each scored once. F ibiger landed a penalty and converted once. The School were not impressive against a weak side: their passing was ill-timed and slovenly and they gave away a try late in the first half by poor defensive play, Individually they did some useful things but never in the same movement. 18

Page 21 text:

scrum at midfield their Captain broke the School defence in the cen- tre and, out-pacing all opposition, scored an unconverted try. The School were unlucky to be three points down against the run of the play, but they attacked again immediately and soon opened their account when Stene, who had played very well indeed, fell on a loose ball to score a try which F ibiger improved with a very good kick. Although the School continued to have by far the better of the argument they could not cross again and led 5-3 at the breather. Throughout the second half the School continued to have the better of the game but the St. George's forwards fought back hard. It was the School who threatened seriously, however, Twice Wittke was all but over on the right, and F ibiger was in the clear but was caught from behind inside the St. George's twenty-five. The crowning tragedy came when the School were awarded a penalty and Fibiger missed the kick from an easy position. However the St. George's outsides were being well held and it appeared certain that the School would maintain their two point lead. It was not to be. Two minutes from time from a scrum in the School twenty-five the ball went quickly to the visitors' Captain, playing in the centre. The School defence was badly placed and with a fine burst he ran around it to score. The try was not converted and there was barely time for the kick off be- fore no-side blew and the School once again had lost in the closing minutes a game which they should have won. In losing 6-5 the School had played hard from start to finish. They enjoyed a decided terri- torial advantage but they lacked finish and luck was not with them. St. George's, who seldom threatened, seized their few chances well. Stidham, handicapped by injury, played courageous football. Wittke and Fibiger did some good things, and Milner had an excellent first half. The pack worked hard throughout, Stene and Musgrave, the breaks, being very prominent. SCHOOL v. SHAWNIGAN LAKE SCHOOL Playing away the School were defeated by two goals Q10 pts.j to a penalty goal C3 pts.j. The School started slowly and found themselves 5 points down in the first five minutes, bad tackling conceding a try between the posts. They then fought back hard and soon opened their account when Fibiger kicked a penalty. Heartened, they matched their opponents forward and, although never quite as well together behind the scrum, they suffered little by comparison with their more speedy counter- parts. Fifteen minutes before half time Gardner was injured and at this stage the School were at their best. Play was largely confined to the Shawnigan twenty-five, but finish was lacking and the teams changed over with the School still two points in arrears. Gardner returned after half time and the School fully held their own. The forward battle was very spirited but neither side looked par- ticularly dangerous behind the scrum. Milner, at full back, was at fault several times when he failed to gather cleanly, but luck was with him 17

Page 23 text:

SCHOOL v. OAK BAY HIGH SCHOOL The return match with Oak Bay High School was won by a goal and a penalty goal Q8 pts.j to a goal C5 pts.j. As usual the School started slowly and immediately conceded a try, which was goaled. They were never in danger again, however, and but for poor finishing would have run up quite a score. Fibiger was responsible for all the School points, a penalty goal and a try, which he converted. Wittke had a good match, as did Stidham. In the scrum Beban and Andrews were prominent, and Stene also caught the eye. SCHOOL v. Mt. NEWTON HIGH SCHOOL This, the first meeting between the Schools, resulted in a win for the School by two tries Q6 pts.l to nil. The game was ruined by a high and bitter wind. Sweeting and Musgrave scored unconverted tries, but the honours of the game went to the inexperienced losers and to Stidham, the School scrum half, who was head and shoulders above the rest and alone of the backs appeared to be of lst. XV calibre. SCHOOL v. VANCOUVER OLD BOYS Side-lines had to be tramped out of the snow for this game in Van- couver. It was bitterly cold and reasonable football was impossible. The Old Boys showed to advantage in the early stages, and Milner's tackle saved the School once when McCallum was in the clear. After half time the advantage lay with the School, who scored the only try of the game when Beban picked up a loose ball and steam-rollered his way over after a short run. The Old Boys, many of whom were barely recognizable in their Everest gear, gave a most spirited display, and both sides deserve great credit for their efforts in making a game of it under dreadful conditions. SCHOOL v. ROYAL ROADS A very even game resulted in a win for the visitors by the only try scored. Royal Roads had slightly the better of the first half and could easily have been further ahead but for the splendid tackling of Milner at full back. The School forwards fully held their own after half time and Royal Roads were well held in all phases of forward play. To the forwards, and to Stidham, who was splendid both in attack and defence, must go the credit for a fine showing against strong opposition. SCHOOL v. VICTORIA COLLEGE 2nd. XV The School were successful in a sea of mud by two goals and two tries Q16 pts.l to nil. The backs performed creditably and used a difficult ball well. Fibiger scored two tries and Milner and Beban one each. Stene and Fibiger added conversions. 19