SCHOOL v. WORKSOP COLLEGE Lost 1 3. Played at Worksop, 5th March. Playing on a firm and fast ground which should have been to their liking, the School disappointed by their refusal to play the fast incisive hockey of which they had shown themselves capable under less favourable conditions earlier in the season. The forwards hung on to the ball too long, the defence dallied, and the whole side could be faulted for not hitting the ball hard enough. A goal, and a good one, by Raylor early in the second half produced some improvement : but after Worksop had been presented with an equaliser, the School faded out of the picture. On the day's play the better side won. Mention must be made of Reid-Smith, who gave a courageous display in goal, and could not be blamed for any of the shots which beat him. -
ATHLETICS AND CROSS-COUNTRY Athletics during the last three weeks of the Easter Term is always rather a gamble with the weather, and thoughts of last year were still very vivid in our minds when we launched out on another intensive athletic programme this term. Rivalry between Houses in the Standards Competition was keener than ever, especially so because the destiny of the Athletics Shield seemed unpredictable. The weather, too, was kind; the process of getting fit was done in almost Spring-like conditions, and only in the last week did the climate become comparable with that of 1951. Although alibis were plentiful, and sometimes plausible, the ranks of the abstainers were few in number this year, and even the "nonathletics" seemed for the most part to be getting a "kick" out of the intense competition and deriving enormous benefit from their personal exertions. The track was invariably in good condition, and the gentle breezes (sometimes not so gentle) usually favoured the sprinters. In spite of the fact that all contestants were mercilessly down-graded a standard on one occasion, the next endeavour brought a plentiful crop of high standards. Once again, the Rise gained a very commanding lead, achieving an average of 12.92 per boy, only a minute fraction less than their average of 12.96 in 1950. J. M. Raylor established himself as the best all-round athlete in the School, being the only boy in Set A to gain maximum points, and the Juniors throughout the School, particularly in School House, showed exceptional promise. Individuals who excelled by gaining maximum points were :—in Set A : J. M. Raylor (M.); in Set B : J. C. Dent (G.); in Set D : N. J. Bell (S.H.), W. B. Crosskill (S.H.), E. A. Jackson (S.H.), D. J. Nesham (S.H.) and E. W. Peat (S.H.); and in Set E : G. R. H. Clemons (S.H.) and D. Pfluger (G.). No less than 13 more boys were within an ace of the maximum possible. 57
