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

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DECEMBER 6 School v. Castaway 2nd. XY QHomel . won 29-8 11 School v. Shawnigan QHomej , lost 3-16 FEBRUARY 3 School v. Claremont QAwayl. won 8-0 5 School v. Shawnigan CHome1, won 1-1-13 21 School v. Royal Roads QAwayl , won 28-13 MARCH 6 School v. Royal Roads QHome 1 , won 11-O M.w. 'TOUR 197O' After the idea of an Easter Rugby Tour to Japan had proved im- practicable. there seemed little hope of making alternative arrange- ments at such a late juncture in the season. Thanks, however, to the accommodating nature of a number of Schools in the U.K., our tenta- tive inquiries became definite fixtures. and a six-match tour was arranged for the last two weeks in Rfarch. The tour opened at Canford, where the school showed few signs of weariness from the Hight and the nine-hour adjustment to British Stan- dard Time. Meeker opened the scoring with a penalty, which was consolidated by two further tries before half time. Canford were unable to cope with the running of Reeves and Singleton, and after the inter- val clever inter-passing between forwards and backs increased the score, to give the school a convincing win. This initial victory gave the tour a heartening start and augured well for the stronger opposition of Har- row and Epsom. Early in the game at Harrow, the fatigue from travel and the previ- ous day's match was much in evidence. The forwards, lacking the leadership of the injured Rleeker, were singularly lacking in fire and drive, while outside the scrum there was even less purpose. Briggs was constantly under pressure, and the passing of the whole team was dis- tinctly wayward. Xlost of the attack was left to rely upon mistakes by their opponents. and from a strong pass to the Harrow wing Hall gathered the ball and the resultant try kept school hopes alive until half time. In the second half the school was badly beaten in mid-Held by two strong-running centres, and only desperate defence prevented additional scores. The cover hung on gamely, but with resources of stamina practically drained the defence collapsed and the Harrow backs ran riot in the closing stages of the game. After a day's rest it was hoped that the less testing opposition at Eton would provide a chance to restore some of the morale lost in the chastening experience at Harrow. Shortly after the start lNIeeker left the Held for good with a recurrence of a rib injury. and from this point the team seemed to lose all its cohesion. Dade. Spicer. Vallance and Meeker II all worked hard to little avail in the loose. whereas Eton made the most of their complete monopoly in the set. Here, Throne 28

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Smith left each other to clear a loose ball near their line, then watched rnesmerised as an alert Shawnigan back nipped between them to score between the posts. At the end of the half, played down-wind, the school had only a single try to show for much hard endeavour by the forwards. After the interval the defence became increasingly casual. Twice the Shawnigan fly half carved huge openings through the cover, each break resulting in a try. After Dykes had been injured, Shawni- gan increased their lead to thirteen points before the school's most dis- appointing performance was brought to a close. QEASTERJ During the Easter ternr a further four matches were played 5 two against Royal Roads, one against Claremont and a third Fixture against Shawnigan. Claremont, the local champions, were beaten for the second time in a match where amphibious tactics were the order of the day Cat the appropriately-named Beaver Parkl. The game also allowed Hall to make a notable debut-splashing fully eighty yards at speed to score the opening try. At Royal Roads the backs wasted possession with such extravagance that the home side was able to build up a half-time 13-O lead, in spite of being outplayed at forward. Malevolent rnutterings from the pack must have been overheard, for within minutes of the restart the scores were levelled, and as the running of the backs increased in fluency another fifteen points were added. The result of the third fixture with Shawnigan was in doubt until the last minute. The lead had changed hands several times before Rainsford scored the match-winner. Receiving the ball in a most un- promising situation, he cut inside and darted past a maze of bemused Shawnigan defenders for a fine opportunist score. Meeker's nerve and right boot were equal to the occasion and the conversion brought vic- tory by a single point. In the second game at Royal Roads the school team proved them- selves more adept at overcorrring the atrocious conditions to complete a successful term's Rugby with an 11-O victory. Results were as follows: SEPTEMBER 25 School v. Motrrrt View QHomel , won 22-O OCTOBER 6 School v. Mount Douglas fHomel, won 44-3 9 School V. Claremont QI-Iomel , won 14-8 18 School v. Shawnigan QAwayl , lost 0-20 23 School v. Nfount View fHomej , won 62-O 25 School v. Brentwood QHomel , won 14-12 NOVEMBER 8 School v. Old Boys QHomel , won 29-6 11 School v. a Castaway XV CHomej , won 18-16 16 School v. St. George's QAwayl , won 14-3 School v. St. GeOrge's QHomel , won 19-13 School v. Brentwood QAwayj. lost 11-16 27 23 29

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THE TOURISTS DEPART suffered a Hooker's nightmare. barely winning a single ball throughout the match. The rising frustration of the team was clearly illustrated when Roxburgh, having been penalized for a crooked put-in, sped twenty yards to escape the blows of his hotly-pursuing pack leader. an irate lNIeeker II. Play Continued to be scrappy. and with only seconds remaining Eton gained the decisive score: the unfortunate Roxburgh failed to locate Reeves and his pass was gratefully accepted by an Eton flanker, who touched down near the posts. Added to the disappointment of losing to Eton. half the reserves were rendered inactive through injury. so that most of the team at Epsom faced the prospect of their fourth match in six days. Once. however. the tension of the opening minutes had been overcome, there followed the best rugby of the tour. while the first try was as good as any scored in the season. A controlled deflection from Spicer at the line-out was rapidly moved to Smith. who had joined the line outside Rainsford. Two huge dummies from Smith wrong-footed the defence before the ball was moved back. via several pairs of hands. to Hall on the opposite wing, who raced over for a fine try. Playing with the slope in the second half. Epsom came more into the game. but were still un- able to pierce a resolute defence. Eventually Smith was caught out of position, the ball was lost from the ensuing scrum and Epsom regained the lead with a converted try. From this point the school seemed to lose heart, and Epsom found time to add two further tries before the final whistle. Amidst the picturesque surroundings of the Atlantic College grounds. the School were soon in trouble. A gash to the cheek had removed Roxburgh, and casual covering had allowed Atlantic to score two tries. a lead which might have been increased but for the home side's in- 29