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

Page 17 text:

these two created were not forced home. Nevertheless, despite these shortcomings, the backs were provided with plenty of possession which was often squandered and wasted by poor reading of the game situation. One of our main strengths lay on the wings where both Brad Ostrom and Alasdair Cunningham were big, fast and strong. They scored some excellent tries, especially Ostrom, but undid much of their good work with poor positional play in defence, allowing their opposi te numbers too much room to manoeuvre and this proved to be fatal on more than one occasion. This was a pity as the two centres, Mark Olesen, the captain, and David Shore were very safe in all aspects of defensive play, and their tackling, especially Shore ' s, was frequently devastating. They both ran well but were not always reliable in their handling and passing. The two halfs, John Bird and Lionel Wild combined well enough but Bird, at fly-half, ran too flat and forced his backs across the field, and while he certainly had some good games, he too often kicked when he should have passed and vice versa. Making the correct decision at this key position is probably one of the hardest things in the game to learn and only comes with experience. John will become a good fly-half if he perseveres. His partner at scrum-half, Lionel Wild, started off the season very well and always gave a good service from both the set and the loose. He also ran strongly from the base or ruck and maul but failed to link up with the back row support that was invariably with him. Chris Crossfield was the full back and played some excellent games, especially early on, but there is a brittleness about his play which he must certainly eradicate if he wishes to make full use of his talents. He was the team kicker and kicked a number of very good goals. Mark Olesen was an excellent captain. We were lucky to have a captain of his temperament and character to lead the XV during what must have been, to him especially, a frustrating season. At no time did he allow his team to become downhearted and he always set a fine example of sportsmanship and enthusiasm both on and off the field. With only grade eleven on the side, prospects for next season might not appear to be too bright. However it will be most interesting to see which boys emerge as the leading candidates for the other 14 positions and I will be very surprised if a good side does not emerge from what I am sure will be an enthusiastic struggle. D.H-L. 15-

Page 16 text:

THE RUGBY THE 1st XV Standing - L. to R. — R. Lorens, B. Ostrom, P. Martin, J. Mead, A. Sartori, Christopher Crossfield, A. Cunningham, D. Shore, Mr. D. W. Hyde-Lay. Seated - L. to R. — Doug Harkness, J. Bird, M. Olesen (Capt.), A. Kelman, L. Wild. On the Ground — P. Postuk, P. McCulloch This year ' s 1st XV will be remembered by some as a side which was very unlucky, by others for its inability to win close matches and yet by others for its penchant for making crucial mistakes late in the game. While each of these points of view were, to a certain extent, valid, the truth of the matter was that the team was a very hard working one, lacking only in flair and experience. The seven wins - seven losses record could so easily have been ten and four or even eleven and three with better finishing and sounder tactical sense. The seven losses were by a combined total of only 21 points. In no game were we outplayed. Undoubtedly our finest achievement of the season was in our victory over the S.L.O.B.S. — 15-10 — a rare feat which many stronger and more successful 1st XV ' s of the past have failed to do. Nevertheless we must feel disappointed with our record, especially in the Independent Schools fixtures where we only succe eded in winning one match, our opening fixture versus Brentwood. All our games were very close and seldom can the four Independent Schools have been so evenly matched; even St. Michael ' s University School who won all six of their matches had to struggle hard to eke out narrow victories in four of these games. Our pack, although not large were very sound scrummagers and were also quite mobile in the loose, better however in defensive than offensive situations. In the lineout we tended to rely too much on the jumping skill of Jim Mead and when he was closely marked we suffered accordingly, although Andy Sartori jumped well on a few occasions. Undoubtedly the liveliest forward in both attack and defence was the hooker, Ralph Lorens. Peter Martin and Ansel Kelman were an excellent pair of props providing a solid basis in the set scrummaging for the other forwards to concentrate their shove. Jim Mead and Andy Sartori in the second row not only pushed hard in the set, but also timed their shoving well, as did Doug Harkness at number 8. The flankers, Paul McCulloch and Peter Postuk were a mobile pair and very quick to the point of breakdown. Unfortunately the rest of the pack were not nearly as swift so that many of the possible advantages 14-

Page 18 text:

THE 2nd XV Standing - L. to R. — M. Gillies, S. Duyvewaardt, M. Nimmo, P. Assu, J. Martin, R. Eidsvik, M. Swann, M. Jinnouchi, Mr. D.W. Hyde-Lay. Seated - L. to R. — M. Kornell, G. Penley, A. Drassinower (Capt.), D. Johnston, D. Davies. On the Ground — R. Hemsworth, A. Forster - absent P. Offereins. 16