Shawnigan Lake School - Yearbook (Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia Canada)

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Cy ante 5 uppiemen 1st RUGBY XV Back Row: R. C. Simson, R. Cooper, R. A. Douglas, C. T. Battle, B. N. McGavin, K. A. Greenwood, B. Cuppage, R. W. Brown. Sitting: G. A. B. McGavin, C. D. Brooks, H. D. Read, J. A. Kaye, J. V. Stewart. Front Row: J. C. Slick, M. M. Macaya RUGBY 1954 - 1955 — 1st XV It is pleasant to look back upon a most successful season. Although we failed to win either of the St. George ' s matches, we made them struggle their hardest to preserve their unbeaten record. It must be seldom that two schools had two such good teams during the same season. University School, though heavier, were no match for us and we beat them easily twice. We were victorious also over Victoria High School, Oak Bay High School. Victoria College, Oak Bay Wanderers, J.B.A.A. Seconds, and the Old Boys; we managed to tie H.M.C.S. Venture, though with a detei mined effort we could have won as we outplayed them during most of the game. Our only other defeat came at the hands of Oak Bay High School, to whom we had no right to lose. Oddly enough the 1st XV was a better balanced side before Christmas when we were missing both David Read, our Captain, and John Kaye. During Easter Term the team never recaptured its early season form, although it played well and gave a good account of itself. Our strength lay in an active pack of forwards who kept themselves fit and were seldom far from the ball in a game. They were well led by Joe Stewart and Gerald McGavin, while Bob Cooper and Tucker Battle were in the thick of every fray. Our backfield, though not lacking in speed, did not develop into a powerful scoring unit. Here the trouble lay at stand-off and centre where we had players of the useful rather than the brilliant variety. Jack Slick, on the left wing, was by far our most consistent scorer, where his speed and elusiveness proved the undoing of more than one defence; he fell away sadly, however, towards the end of the season and seemed to lose that extra zip which had marked his play before Christmas. Brooks, who is really a wing, played very hard at centre and never disappointed us. He lacks that little bit of imagination which would make him into a really great player; although he scored some beautiful tries, his value lay more in defence than in attack. The other centre position was never really decided upon, and having tried out many players for that place, we finally settled on Bobby Simson. Macaya at scrum-half played very well in some matches, but was another who was guilty of fading away towards the end of the season. In Burke Cuppage at stand-off we have a player of great possibility. Last season was a difficult one for him and, although he has much to learn, he has the necessary ability and should be a tower of strength in the future. Kent Greenwood at full-back came through the season with flying Page Thirty-One

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ne had awaited the turn of the tide. Before Jan had noticed, the Portuguese had made a similar set about one hundred yards upstream. Jan cursed the other boat under his breath, partly out of annoyance, partly out of spite. This was just like Hungry Pete, always afraid that he would miss some good fishing. Jan muttered on, unaware that his net was slowly being stretched taut. Something in the motion of the boat made Jan glance up. He jumped to his feet. He was snagged. His first thought was to start the engine, and as he ran into the pilot- house he saw Hungry Pete ' s boat drifting down on his, looking like an idiotic duck as it bobbed in the waves. Jan shouted. No answer. It was then that he saw the freighter bearing down on them. Even as he looked, four puffs of steam belched out of the whistle and a moment later the sound burst forth. The unmistakable warning of Clear channel. Jan knew that the ship was unable to stop in the narrow channel, nor could it manoeuvre. The engine chose to be balky, and by the time Jan had it started Hungry Pete was close alongside. Jan raced for the deck, and stepping out, a smashing jar threw him on to sharp coaming. Hungry Pete was on deck, gesticulating and swearing in Portuguese. Jan ignored him. He rushed aft and threw the net drum into motion. The drum reeled in a few yards of net, pulling the boats backwards. A fold of Hungry Pete ' s net caught in Jan ' s and the machinery ground to a halt. Jan threw out the clutch and looked up. The freighter was no more than seventy-five yards away and bearing down fast. An officer was on the bow, yelling and waving in a frenzy. Jan screamed at the Portuguese to cut his net and run. His only answer was more cursing. Jan drew his knife and slashed at the net. It parted at last and the end slipped over the stern. He flew into the pilot-house, kicked in the clutch, and the boat moved into safety. Jan looked over his shoulder, expecting to see Hungry Pete alongside. Instead, he was standing on the deck of his boat, still shouting, directly in the path of the ship. Jan gasped with horror as the sharp bow of the freighter sliced into the boat, crushing it and rolling it over. Even worse was the scream of terror uttered by Hungry Pete as he was flung into the foaming bow wave, to disappear in the current. The freighter swept relentlessly along, men rushed along the deck towards the stern, as if trying to stop the thrashing propeller, for in that turmoil nothing could survive. As soon as the ship had passed, Jan swung his boat around, heedless of the wash, and raced for the scene of the collision. Bits of wreckage floated about and to one of these clung Hungry Pete. Jan dragged him aboard. As he laid him on the deck he recoiled in horror. The man ' s legs were gone. The few last feeble spurts of his life stream reddened the deck and Jan was still gazing when the man shuddered and died. A flood of tears burst forth from Jan. He wondered why he was crying, the ma n had never been his friend. But he could not stop himself. He was still sobbing when he turned the boat and headed for Ladner. It was not until he had reached Ladner and had carried the mangled form of Hungry Pete to where an ambulance was waiting that Jan realized that his net had gone under the freighter, too. It, as well as the life of Hungry Pete, was gone forever. A faint breeze rippled the water, sending the rushes and reeds bowing back and forth. Jan stood on the bank of the Fraser, staring across the muddy stream. He tried to dismiss the thoughts from his mind but it was as if his intellect was owned by someone else. You are broke now, he thought. Who broke you ? The question snapped something in the back of his mind. He realized the spirit at fault. It was not the snag, Hungry Pete, nor the freighter. It was the river, the placid stream, hiding in its deceptive currents the snag which caught his net. It was the river which brought Hungry Pete on to Jan ' s boat, it was the river that killed Hungry Pete. It was the river that ruined him, he, Jan of the forty years. He gazed in revulsion at the brown water. In the ripples he saw a myriad of sneering, hateful faces. Jan turned and walked away, he would go to Lew Khow ' s. Lew Khow would understand. Behind him he heard the water lapping at the shore. The river was laughing. — F. M. BOYCE. •= 30 Page Thirty

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colours. At the moment he likes to run with the ball, an endeavour which is rather alarming at times, but as he seldom is caught in possession, one has to forgive him. His kicking was accurate and his tackling good. In brief, then, what success the team enjoyed was largely due to the forwards. They were a well-knit unit and were never beaten as a pack the entire season. It was they who kept us within striking distance of St. George ' s in each of the matches we had against them, and it was they who managed to keep that team ' s powerful backfield in check. They had spirit and drive, and made 22 of the 50 tries that the team scored. As for next season, the prospects would appear to be fairly good as five of last year ' s 1st XV are due to return. Characters K. GREENWOOD — Full-back. An enthusiastic and courageous player; his tackling and handling were excellent and his kicking improved steadily. Inclined to run with the ball instead of kicking to touch. J. SLICK (Colours 1954-55) — Left wing. Despite his small stature he proved himself to be the strongest and fastest of our three-quarters, using a swerve with telling effect. His handling was weak as was his kicking, and while not a devastating tackier, his defence was adequate. C. D. BROOKS (Colours 1952-53)— Centre three-quarter; Vice-Captain. Speedy and elusive. Perhaps his forte was defence, where he saved many a nasty situation with a timely tackle or an accurate kick to touch. Always keen and alert, he never played a poor game. R. BROWN — Right wing. Although somewhat inexperienced he improved steadily towards the end of the season. He runs with drive and once he improves his handling and passing will be very dangerous on the attack. Sound on defence, but weak in kicking. R. SIMSON (Colours 1954-55) — Centre three-quarter. A talented player who never quite realized his potential although playing very well in some matches. He could do everything well, but seemed to lack confidence. B. CUPPAGE — Stand-off. The youngest member of the side; he shows great promise. At the moment the only weakness in his game, other than inexperience, is his defence. M. MACAYA (Colours 1954-55) — Scrum-half. He rapidly became a very good attacking player and could break away from the base of the scrum very well. His passing to the stand-off was not always too accurate. He played particularly well in the Christmas Term, but was not so effective afterwards. Very sound tackle and handler. C. T. BATTLE (Colours 1954-55) — Front row forward. He developed very quickly into a most determined player and a first-rate forward. A tireless worker both in the tight and the loose, he was a grand tackier and the best faller on the team. He also excelled in the lineouts. R. A. DOUGLAS (Colours 1953-54) — Hooker. He played much better at the end of the season than at the beginning. His value lay in his experience and good positioning. He had a sound knowledge of the game and, while not as aggressive as some of the other forwards, he was alwavs well up with the ball, endeavouring to keep the movement going. His tackling was his greatest weakness. B. N. McGAVIN — Front-row forward. After moving to the scrum from centre three- quarter he improved with every game. His size, speed and strength made him a great asset to an already aggressive pack. He will be a tower of strength next season. R. COOPER (Colours 1953-54) — Wing forward Tireless, fit, aggressive, weak only in kicking, and capable of filling in at any position, he never played poorly. He was particularly adept at smothering either of the opposing half-backs and pouncing on any dropped passes. G. A. McGAVIN (Colours 1954-55) — 2nd row forward. Our heavyweight ; he used his size with intelligence and his height with telling effect in the lineouts. He improved with every match and became one of the pillars around which the scrum was built. J. V. STEWART (Colours 1954-55) — 2nd row forward. Perhaps the best forward amongst a fine pack. A grand worker both in the tight and the loose; a devastating tackier and faller, his only weakness was his kicking, which luckily he was not called upon to demonstrate. H. D. READ (Colours 1952-53) — Wing fo rward, (Captain). Unfortunately injured most of the season he came back into the side late in the Easter Term, so never was up to his last year ' s good form. This was a great pity as we were counting on some good attacking play and robust tackling from him. Page Thirty-Two