Ashbury College - Ashburian Yearbook (Ottawa, Ontario Canada)

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T281 THE ASHBURIAN pulling the game out of the fire, and presented their opponents with two easy opportunities on which they capitalized smartly, to make the final score 26 - 6. It was a tired and beaten team that left the field, but their spirit was un- quenched, and only their will to win, injudicious perhaps but laudable, caused them to end the losers by a margin of more than one touchdown. The game was a fine piece of football education, and played throughout in an admirable spirit. In no instance did our opponents take undue advantage of their superior size and strength. The value of the experience gained was shown in the last three games, all of which were won,-against a Lisgar team, a return with the Rockcliffe Ramblers, and the Old Boys Match. The School, playing a freer and less anxious type of football, scored with some facility, and beat the Old Boys in a foot of snow by I8 - O. This was a most satisfactory conclusion to a fluctuating but delightful season, which augurs well for the future. Intermediate and Junior football showed a welcome renaissance and keen- ness was general throughout the School. The Intermediate XII played an away match with LCC in which they were well beaten, and various Junior teams had fixtures with the Rockcliffe School and scratch squads from the neighbourhood. A fair measure of success was gained, some promising talent unearthed-in more senses than one-and useful knowledge of the principles acquired. The work of Mr. Polk, Lee and Renaud in arranging, coaching and refereeing these activities was most helpful. The season as a whole should have proved beneficial to School football. It remains for next year's teams to build upon the work of their precursors. There is no fear of any lapse in keenness, but there will not be the some excuse of inexperience, for there is the nucleus of a good squad returning. Coolness and judgment are the only two factors needed to produce a really successful season, and it must be the resolution of all concerned to see that that success is forth- coming, not merely a series of meritorious failures. FIRST XII CHARACTERS A. LEE-Captain-4th year: Inside: his blocking and tackling were of a very high order and his determination brought him under every play: the finest lineman the School has had for some years. As Captain, he inspired his men with enthusiasm and sportsmanship of the best type, and was most efficient in all matters of organization. R. B. RIENAUD-Vice-Captain-2nd Year: Quarterbacki a neat ball-handler who showed progressive improvement in selection of plays and by season's end was a really good field-general: a sound centre secondary, both in tackling and in short-pass defence, and an accurate passer and kicker. F. MACLAREN-2nd year: made excellent interference for his ball-carriers and tackled effectively. His blocking on kick and pass formations was in- valuable. R. G. R. LAWRENCE-I st year: Middle: although new to the game, showed remarkable aptitude and displayed a high level of achievement. His plung- ing was a major offensive threat, and his tackling on the secondary de- fence sure and sound.

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THE ASHBURIAN 1171 RUGBY FOOTBALL: 1942-43 FIRST XII COLOURS A. Lee R. B, Renaud F, Maclaren Ri G, R. Lawrence. l-IE season of l942 opened with high hopes, but little experienced material on which to base them. Only nine members of the first squad had ever played football before, and none of those were ball-carriers of any calibre, The average age was unusually low: indeed, with a handful of exceptions, it was virtually an intermediate team which took the field. I-lowever, eagerness to learn and a remarkable spirit, largely due to the enthusiasm of Lee and Renaud, produced rapid improvement, and towards the end of the season there was some really good football. The usual drill for conditioning and fundamentals of blocking and tackling was followed by thorough practice in signals, in which the end-run, tandem, criss-cross and quick line-up formations, with their various pass variations, which have been used for some years, were stressed, a few refinements being added as usual. Very fair football sense was shown by the newcomers, and for the first game a sounder team turned out than could reasonably have been expected. The first part of the season was devoted to the two traditional games with Nepean Seniors and one against the Rockcliffe Ramblers. These were all lost, though in no case by heavy margins, and the quality of play showed progressive improvement. For the first time for many years, we visited Nepean at their own grounds, a practice which must not again be allowed to lapse. To hold so experienced and strong a team to a score of I8 - I2 on their own field was most creditable, and the game was in all ways most enjoyable. Tribute must be paid to the excellent sportsmanship shown by both players and spectators of Nepean. For the first of our two major fixtures, Lower Canada College brought up a versatile and well-coached squad, which returned the victors a score of I I - O. Ashbury had a very fair share of the game, and was in scoring position several times, but inexperience and over-anxiety robbed them of points. The game, however, was reasonably even, and the School emerged with considerable credit, and some very kind things were said about their display by the well-known McGill coaches who handle the LCC. teams. The BCS, match was played on the Lower Canada grounds in Montreal, for the use of which and for a most generous hospitality our thanks are due to that school. The Bishop's team was mature, heavy and competent, and carried too many guns for us. The first half was very even and ended with BSC. leading 7 - 6. The Ashbury touch-down had been scored by one of the best pieces of offensive football produced in recent years, a perfectly executed series of well- varied plays taking the ball from our own twenty-five over the goal line without interruption. ln the second half weight and experience took its toll, and Bishop's were soon ahead. Ashbury gambled towards the end in the hope of

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THE A5HLsL'R1AA' igoi ABBOTT-SMITHQ lst yeor: Snopi timed his posses well ond was ccirisistently occurote' o resolute ond effective tockler on the line of Scfirnrrzoge BULPlT-lst yeori l-lolfboclc developed ropidly into o sounfl oll-ro.in'5 holfi mode ground quickly oround the ends ond plunged strongli, on odrniroblg secondory, ond ploced himself well to receive posses. HGOPER l-2nd yeori Middle: timed his plunges well ond mode rrioriy voluohle goins: needs to improve his tockling, ond devote more ottention to in- terference. SABLIN-lst yeorg Outside: uses his speed to get down under kicks, tockles stronglyond hos o sofe poir of hondsi must concentrote on toking out his mon on end run formotions. BRASS-2nd yeor: lnsidei o courogeous tockler ond blocker. his loss wos o decided blow to the teom. RICHARDSON-lst yeor: l-lolfbock: timed his pldys well, ond o good poss- receiver, but must run with more determinotion both on end-runs ond on bucks: o foir ccitching holf, but needs to get more under the boll. YPILGRIM-l st yeori l-lolfboclcg o promising boll-ccirrier, but must leorn to go for his hole with more confidence, greotly improved his tockling ond interference but still hos for to go. 'GROVE l-lst yeor: Flying Wingi fost when shoken loose oround the ends, but dropped too mony posses: o strong ond feorless toclcler. BOUTIN-2nd yeori l-lolfbocki very fost ond greotly improved his boll-hondl- ing: tockled well on occdsion but needs to study positionol ploy on both offence ond defence, CHAPMAN-l st yeori Outsidei fost ond mode foir interference, but not suffi- ciently resolute in his tockling. , V. .