Rugby Football, 1941

We would here like to thank Mr. Jackson for all he has done for the platoon, as he is resigning from his command and handing it over to R. R. L. Pryer, who becomes a 2ndLieu tenant.

Other appointments made this term are :-

To be Sergeant: Corporal Buckler.

To be Lance-Corporals : Volunteers Long, Barker and Ruddock (P. H. 0.).

The platoon has taken part in two Company exercises this term, and has also received instruction in bayonet fighting and other weapons.

On the last Sunday of term a shooting match was arranged between the school platoon and No. 4 platoon of the Company, which was won by the school with 248 points to 232.

Next term training will be intensified, and we hope activities will be continued at least as strongly as they have been this term, which has been most successful.

A. T. C.

The newly formed Air Training Corps flight has been very active during the past term, and has nearly doubled its size by the addition of a considerable squad of recruits at the beginning of the term.

All members of the flight have now received uniform, and considerable quantities of technical equipment have been arriving.

At the beginning of the term the flight was inspected by Air-Commodore Sir Sydney Smith, who addressed the flight after the inspection. He was very pleased with the drill and the turn-out of the flight, and particularly of the new recruits, who had only joined a fortnight previously.

Throughout the whole term parades were held three times a week, and a variety of subjects were taught.

Several members of the flight have made visits to an R.A.F. station during the term, where a certain amount of flying was obtained. As weather improves next year, we hope to make these visits a regular feature of our training.

We welcome to the flight this term Mr. Moore, as our Warrant Officer.

He has already done great service for the flight as regards equipment, and we hope we shall see much of him. 27

Apart from the regular parades, another extraordinary feature was the visit of a tank from the Royal Armoured Corps, when the flight was the guest of the J. T. C. for the afternoon. Much interest was aroused by the tank and its equipment, and also by the films dealing with tank destruction which were shown afterwards.

At the end of term 14 members of the flight took the Proficiency Exam. (the A.T.C. equivalent of Certificate A.), and the following 12 members were successful:-

R. R. L. Pryer, R. S. F. Webber, G. E. K. Reynolds, J. P. Corry, R. H. Hanson, D. Anderson, B. Rodwell, R. J. McKinlay, C. A. F. Cookson, G. D. Smith, P. L. Hort, R. B. Goodman.

For the first entry, we consider this percentage very satisfactory and all concerned are to be congratulated.

Next term we hope the syllabus will be considerably enlarged, and more visits to R.A.F. Stations will be arranged.

Great interest has been aroused by the projected scheme for gliding in the A.T.C.

However, until that time arrives we must continue as we are doing, and if the standard maintained throughout the term is continued, we shall be very satisfied.

RUGBY FOOTBALL SEASON, 1941.

RETROSPECT.

The 1st XV has had a successful season, making steady progress to end up with a highly satisfactory win over Ampleforth, a team of great ability, on its day one of the best public school sides of recent years. The XV has been fortunate in two respects, firstly that its composition was decided and kept after the early games and a good team spirit built up, secondly that injuries have been few and not sufficiently serious to remove any of the key players.

The difficulty throughout the season has been that of getting the ball quickly to backs of ability, who could, by clever play, win the games for the School. There was a general sluggishness in the play of the whole XV which took a long time to disappear, training was not good early on, and the centre three-quarters were some time in appreciating the value of the fast approach in attack and defence. In the Worksop game several glaring weaknesses

declared themselves, the pack broke very slowly and did no falling to stop opposing loose rushes, and the line-out work was very poor. The tackling, so magnificent in the Ampleforth game, was at this stage lamentably weak. These faults were remedied by a good deal of hard work by all concerned, and only one other school game was lost, and that against the run of the game. The outstanding features of the play of the team really were the superb tackling of our loose forward Cookson, and the initiative of Broadhurst at centre three-quarter.

At the end of the season it seems that the School team has given evidence of a welcome return to real hard playing, and we hope that this will be sustained and even improved upon in 1942.

The 2nd XV, profiting from early games when the constitution of the 1st was undecided and from a consequent early inclusion of players who later gained colours in the 1st, began the season well by defeating Drax and the Boys' Corps of Signals. They played hard in these games, although Drax was not the Drax of 1940, and the potential internationals of the Signals were all off colour, to the bewilderment of Captain Bickmore. The team was not so successful in the remaining games, although continuing to play with refreshing vigour and with a better team spirit than usual. Outstanding players were Ormiston, Pryer, in the pack, and Dodd at full back.

The Colts XV played three matches and lost them all. Their opponents were all much heavier and faster sides, and although they played their hardest, the colts could not make up for this deficiency in weight and speed. The Colts have long been regarded as the " nursery " of the 1st XV and, despite the many points which were scored against them, there are several promising players of whom the school may well be proud in years to come.

It is indeed a sad state of affairs when the house matches have to be dismissed in a few lines, but such is the case. In the semi-final of the senior matches, School House defeated Temple by 9 points to 3. This was a very close game, and Temple confounded many of the critics by their unexpectedly high standard of play. In the final the School House lost to Rise, who won by 8 points to nil. Surprisingly, it was the Rise backs, and not their forwards, who were the deciding factor in the game. The Rise also came out best in the Junior house matches, defeating School House in the final by 8 points to 6, after that side had just managed to defeat Temple by 11 points to 10.

CHARACTERS. MORRIS.* Unselfishly changed his last year's position from centre three-quarter to blind side back row forward to suit the interests of the team. Very fast dribbler, dangerous near opponent's line in loose play.

A popular captain who had the confidence and support of the team. BUCKLER * (Vice-Capt.). Scrum-half, quite fearless and unsparing. Did immense amount of covering and tackling, saving many dangerous situations. A very fit player with a good service from the scrum. If he has a fault, it is in not breaking wide enough for solo attack from the base of the scrum. COOKSON * (loose forward). Developed a game of his own in this position and laid the foundation for most of our wins by superb tackling of the opposing fly-half and consequent disorganisation of opposing attack. School halves seemed quite incapable of avoiding him. An inexhaustible and remarkable player who can look back with great satisfaction on his part in the team's success. BROADHURST * (centre three-quarter). A match winner with a good side step, fine kick with either foot, and excellent judgment. Had a fault of overrunning his fly half, but cured this by half term. Very quick off the mark, although no really sustained speed. Definitely the brains of the back division. LONG * (front row forward). A strong hardworking player, the mainstay of the first 'two rows. Packed well and showed fire in the loose and line-out. Well deserved his cap. FROST (fly half). Has played some fine games and clearly has a future as a clever footballer. A good positional player with a good kick. Has a weakness in making the direct tackle against a resourceful opponent and is a little slow in spotting the direction of the opposing attack. He does not cover Buckler sufficiently in defence. These however are criticisms which might be made of most first-class fly halves and indicate the high standard of play expected in this position. PING (2nd row forward). A hardworking forward who binds well in the second row. The fact that he is not seen a lot in the game indicates that he is doing his job well.

RUDDOCK (2nd row forward). Has the making of a really good forward. Follows up vigorously but spoils his play somewhat by jumping round the neck of his opponent. This very rarely has the desired effect. He can easily cure himself of this bad habit and use his undoubted ability in more legitimate ways. WYMAN. A very vigorous front row forward, always fit and unsparing of effort. Eight such forwards would make a redoubtable pack. McKINLAY (wing three-quarter) . A good wing with plenty of dash and also a good feint. Difficult to stop.

Has not used his hand-off to much effect in the last few games. Very good tackle. BROWN (centre three-quarter) . Has quickened up considerably and is coming on well in this position. Needs a lot of sprinting training to keep his weight within reasonable proportions. Tackling much improved.

Has a good body swing and cut through but cannot as yet sustain this and send his wing away with a well judged pass. Handling a little uncertain in big games. DAVISON (wing three quarter) . Well deserved his place in the side. Has a splendid left foot kick and a neat body swerve. A capable player. DENISON (full back). Transplanted to this position from scrum half in the second fifteen. A good footballer who has quickly learned the duties of this place on the field. Very confident and resourceful. Must however use his right foot kick more. MIDDLETON (hooker). Has hooked very well although handicapped by lack of concerted shove at the right moment. Has done really well for the side. HORT. Obtained the last place in the side by virtue of his usefulness in the line out. With more vigour would make a capable forward. Also played once for the 1st XV, Rodwell, Hillyard and

Hope.

RESULTS. SCHOOL v. LEEDS GRAMMAR SCHOOL. Played on Saturday, October 4th. Result : Won 6-0.

The school kicked off and immediately began to press hard. On more than one occasion a school three-quarter broke through, only to be brought to the ground within a short distance of the Leeds line. 31

The school three-quarters combined well, but the pack was still unbalanced, and presented a rather ragged aspect. Shortly before half-time, the game swung back into the school 25, and the defence was hard put to sustain the Leeds attack. A free kick relieved the pressure, and soon afterwards the first half ended, without any score.

Five minutes after the resumption of play the school went ahead. From a line-out in mid-field, the ball rolled loose; McKinlay picked it up at top speed and crossed the Leeds line near the corner flag. The try was not converted. Leeds returned to the attack, but some consistently good kicking by Davison retrieved the situation. The school again took the initiative, and scored again. The ball was heeled from a set scrum and was passed all along the school three-quarter line. McKinlay, on the wing, ran strongly, but was brought down within inches of the Leeds line. Buckler, however, had backed up closely, and he picked up the ball, and touched down. The try was not converted.

The game ended with the school forwards storming into the Leeds half, with Long and Wyman conspicuous.

SCHOOL v. WORKSOP COLLEGE. Played on Saturday, October 18th. Result : Lost 28-0.

Playing at home the school team was defeated, 28-0, by Worksop College. The first half was evenly contested, the school playing with a strong wind at their backs, and the forwards and Buckler spoiling nearly all the movements initiated by the fast and clever Worksop backs. On two occasions, however, the Worksop backs got moving and each attack resulted in a try by the Worksop left-wing, LeeHolliday. The school three's were slow on to their opposing numbers. At half-time, Worksop were leading by six points to nil.

The home team's resistance slackened during the second half. Worksop began to obtain the ball regularly from loose and set scrums, and on several occasions a Worksopian crossed the school try-line. In addition to Lee-Holliday, tries were scored by Clark, Joss, and Carmichael. The final score was 28-0 to Worksop. Buckler and Cookson played well for the school, but were not sufficiently backed up in their covering activities to deal with a very vigorous and fit side.

SCHOOL v. DURHAM SCHOOL. Played on Wednesday, October 22nd. Result : Won 11-0.

On Wednesday, October 22nd, the School defeated Durham School by 11 points to nil. The play of the school backs showed a great improvement, and Frost and Broadhurst in particular were a constant source of danger to the Durham defence. The home team scored in the first few minutes of the game, as a result of a penalty kick taken by Buckler. The school continued to press heavily, and Broadhurst completed a brilliant solo effort to touch down behind the Durham posts. Buckler converted the try. The school scored once more before half-time. Davison, on the left wing, picked the ball up from a loose scrum near the Durham line, and managed to struggle over the line to score a try. The school led at half-time by 11 points to nil.

The second half brought no change to the score. Durham played much better, and for a long time the school were confined to their own half. Nevertheless their defence remained intact, largely owing to the good work of their forwards, amongst whom Cookson and Wyman were prominent. The school team gradually resumed the attack, and the end of the game saw the play once more in the Durham half of the field.

SCHOOL v. GIGGLESWICK SCHOOL. Played on Saturday, November 1st. Result : Won 29-0.

Playing away ) the school easily defeated Giggleswick School by 29 points to nil.

From the set scrums the school obtained the ball nearly every time, and this, together with the superior speed of the backs, enabled them to dominate the whole course of the game. The school forwards were ably led in the loose by Long and Morris, while the two half-backs and two centre three-quarters were a constant source of danger to the Giggleswick defence.

At half-time St. Peter's were leading by 11 points to nil, tries having been scored by Brown, Buckler, and Broadhurst, who was also responsible for one goal. This score would have undoubtedly have been much greater, but for the clever positioning of the Giggleswick full-back. 33

The second half brought no change in the play. The school team continued to have a monopoly of the ball, and a further 18 points were added to the score. Tries were scored by Brown, McKinlay, and Frost (2), while Buckler converted three of these tries. Frost was well served from the set scrums by Buckler, and his elusive side-step and body-swing frequently baffled the opposing fly-half.

Playing for the first time like a combined team, the school XV gave a vastly improved exhibition.

SCHOOL v. BRADFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL. Played on Saturday, November 22nd. Result : Lost 14-9.

Playing Bradford Grammar School for the first time, the school were narrowly defeated in a fast and rousing game by fourteen points to nine.

Bradford scored within three minutes of the start of the game. From the kick-off, the Bradford forwards took the ball into the school 25, where it was kicked into touch. From the line-out, instead of passing back, the Bradford forwards again developed a forward rush, and one of them crossed the home team's line to touch down near the corner flag. The try was not converted. The school now began to press strongly, and equalised soon afterwards. A forward rush was again responsible for a try, and again it originated in a line-out. The school forwards broke away at the lineout, and after several of them had handled the ball, Ruddock touched down near the corner flag. The kick failed. The school scored once more during the first half. The ball was heeled from a set scrum, and the school backs were set in motion. Broadhurst, at centre three-quarter, kicked ahead and, following up fast, beat the Bradford full back for the ball, and touched down for the try. The goal kick was unsuccessful, and five minutes later the whistle blew for half-time.

The beginning of the second half saw a determined, and eventually successful, attempt by Bradford to equalise. They again scored by means of a forward rush, and throughout the entire game successfully exploited the unorthodox policy of breaking through in the line-out, instead of passing the ball back to the scrum-half. They maintained constant pressure upon the school line for the first ten minutes of the second half, and finally, by sheer weight, a Bradford forward 34