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

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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

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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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different Finishing. Following the interval Reeves reduced the lead with a well-judged penalty before Hall demonstrated his talents by scoring three rousing tries by fast and intelligent running. Morganls performance at full back fa makeshifti is also worthy of mention, if only for his cavalier incursions into the back division, which unfortu- nately all took place on the wrong side of the touch-line. The tour was completed by a match against Nyenrode, a business School some twenty miles from Amsterdam. The Dutch side began with great elan. but after losing an early lead. lungs and legs failed them and the School romped to a comfortable victory. Undoubtedly the highlight of the game belonged to Keenlyside. whose outrageous flourish in the act of scoring almost cost him his moment of glory, by losing control of the ball. The victory over Nyenrode balanced out the number of games won and lost. and the lavish hospitality enjoyed after the match brought a highly-rewarding tour to a fitting conclusion. Results were as follows: Played 6. Hon 3. Lost 3: Points for 8-1. against 81. School v. Canford. won. 27-3 School v. Harrow. lost. 5-37 School v. Eton. lost. O-8 School v. Epsom. lost 8-21 School v. Atlantic College. won. 21-9 School v. Nyenrode. won. 23-3. M.W. FIRST FIFTEEN Sfamlizzgz M. Briggs. B. Yallance, D. Stelck, C. Dykes, C. Spicer, V. Smith, R. Klorgan. Tunnicliffe. Stated: D. Singleton, A. McDonald, M. Reeves, J. Meeker CCapt.j, R. Dade, Q. Meeker, C. Rainsforcl. 30