Rugby Football

Sat., 7th Feb. Ashville College ... Sat., 14th Feb. Bridlington School 1st XI ... Wed., 25th Feb. Bootham School ... Wed., 4th Mar. Worksop College ... Sat., 7th Mar. Trent College Away Away Home Home Away

O.P. Hockey XI

Will any O.P. who wishes to p'ay in the O.P. Hockey match on Saturday, 28th February, please write to P. M. B. Steele, Esq., 25 Westminster Road, Clifton, York, stating position played.

RUGBY FOOTBALL, 1952

RETROSPECT

News of Wyatt-Gunning's return for a further term of captaincy of the School XV not only came as a most agreeable surprise but raised our hopes considerably for the season ahead. On paper the material amongst the forwards looked thin, but Gunning's leadership was likely to offset much of this weakness, and, indeed, such was the case.

An unusually large crop of injuries, the price paid for inexperience and lack of fitness, did nothing to ease the difficulties of team-building, and so bad was the situation by the third week of term that it was deemed inadvisable to submit a team of young raw recruits to be "Wooded" against the brawn of the local York side, and the fixture was cancelled. This breather gave us an opportunity to lick our wounds before taking the field against Bradford. As against Durham, large slices of good fortune made us victors in this match as well, and the 1st XV emerged from their teething troubles with considerable success.

All this while, in spite of being on the injured list himself, Gunning was putting life and spirit into a lightish pack (average weight—barely 11 stone) and teaching them above all the art of quick heeling in the loose. Six of the back division were automatic selections for one position or another, and as soon as it became evident that Pullan had found his niche at full-back, the three-quarter line took shape.

The team proved notoriously bad starters, almost conveying to their opponents a false sense of security, before settling down to the real job of dominating the run of play. Dare we say that the Ampleforth, Leeds, and even Denstone matches were lost by such tactics? The tale was invariably the same. However, we must give credit where credit is due and recognise the fact that Denstone made us look like a lot of beginners in the first half when gaining a 17 point lead, but we can derive considerable consolation from the fact that the three tries scored

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by the School in the second half were probably more than any other school scored against Denstone throughout the season.

For all our faults then, we had our moments, and for this the forwards were largely responsible. Denstone had taught us the lesson, and we were quick to respond. It became a de!ight to watch a light pack outwitting their heavier opponents time and time again by their speed from loose scrum to loose scrum in mid-field and their effective tactics when there. The backs had opportunities in plenty but seldom realised them, and early promise never materialised. Almost without exception they were slow off the mark, their passing was laboured, and the value of taking the ball on the burst was seldom practised. In all there was a dearth of individual stars, but no lack of good teamspirit.

The season will have been of inestimable value to much younger material remaining to do service for at least another season. The other support teams, '2nd XV and Colts, have given us plenty of food for thought but not much encouragement, only one school match being won between them. Undoubtedly individual practice lacks purpose and the art of kicking, each of three ways, reveals itself as a general weakness throughout the School, and will remain so unless it is more exhaustively practised.

The season was successfully concluded with a visit to the University Match at Twickenham by the large majority of the team; a completion of the House matches in spite of a fortnight's continuous hard frost; and a most enjoyable O.P. match on the final Saturday of term.

1st XV CHARACTERS

*j. A. N. WvArr-GUNNING (Captain), 1950-51-52. Open-side wing-forward. Height 5 ft. 11/ ins. Weight 11 st. 6 lbs. His own play has been largely affected by his concern for the pack supporting him. His customary dash and abundance of energy have not been so noticeable as in the past, but his thoughts and energies have been directed more towards the success of the team as a whole, and his ability as a captain has been quite outstanding.

He is a most knowledgeable player, who should go a long way in the game. *tP. G. TAYLOR (Vice-Captain), 1951-52. Hooker. Height 5 ft. Ett ins. Weight 10 st. 71 lbs. He took a very long time to get fit and for the most part failed to recapture the zest for being a bundle of energy in the loose. His hooking, however, has remained effective. *tG. B. PULLAN, 1951-52. Full-back. Height 5 ft. 91 ins. Weight 10 st. 5 lbs. He has always been cool, calm and collected—his greatest asset, which gave the side much confidence. His covering and movements are still a bit slow, but his positioning, fielding, falling on the ball and tackling have been very sound. His kicking with both feet is developing and generally he has shown good rugger sense.

N. COATES, 1951-52. 2nd row forward. Height 5 ft. 1111 ins. Weight 11 st. n lbs. A good packer in this position. His play in the loose has been spasmodic, so much depended upon his temperament and mood of the moment. He was often guilty of the lazy habit of knocking the ball back in the line-outs instead of indulging in the more constructional form of play.

.f W. G. A. MAXWELL, 1951-52. Fly-half. Height 5 ft. 51 ins. Weight 11 . st. I J lbs. His constructive play has developed considerably especially when his individual brilliance appeared to be on the wane. He should be able to combine both in future and be a thorn in the side of any school team. His hand-off is very strong and he takes a lot of bringing down, especially when moving to the right. tC. M. C. BURDASS, 1952. Blind-side wing-forward. Height 5 ft. 5i ins.

Weight 10 st. 11 lbs. A good opportunist who made considerable improvement as the season progressed. A good dribbler and shows a surprising turn of speed in attack. With greater physique he should develop well.

D. A. MACPHERSON, 1952. Scrum-half. Height 5 ft. 71 ins. Weight 10 st. 71 lbs. A useful young player, but he needs above all to develop his speed of service from the scrum. The ball is held too long in his hands before it is out and away. His slight stature need not be a handicap to him, but it should enable him to develop quickness of movement and so make it an asset. 4G. W. THOMPSON, 1952. Prop. Height 5 ft. 91 ins. Weight 12 st. 3 lbs.4

His play is developing well, and he is obviously deriving considerable -• pleasure from the game. He got through a lot of useful work, but he is still rather clumsy with the ball at his feet. tE- A. M. KEID-SMITH, 1951-52. Wing three-quarter. Height 5 ft. 8 ins.

Weight 11 st. 41 lbs. As a reserve scrum-half he played an invaluable role, and it is arguable that this is his best position. From the team point of view, however, it was essential that he played in the three-quarter line.

Opportunities for him have been few and far between. He shows considerable dash but his anticipation is slow and methods rather crude. tit. G. BOUGH, 1952. Centre three-quarter. Height 5 ft. 6 ins. Weight 10 st. 81 lbs. First and foremost a stylist. His technique is invariably sound and there is no lack of good rugger sense, but the tempo of his play requires speeding up two-fold. With greater speed he could develop into a class player. Injuries have been the bogey of his life up to present. f M. J. F. EvEarrT, 1952. Centre three-quarter. Height 5 ft. 101 ins. • Weight 10 st. 131 lbs. Early promise was not fulfilled. He took too long to get into his stride, and seldom used his full pace. He is probably more suited to the full-back position or wing three-quarter. f T. A. W. KETTLEWELL, 1952. 2nd row forward. Height 6 ft. 1 in.

Weight 11 st. 8 lbs. A very young player developing fine physique.

Although not as yet very nimble on his feet, he got around and put in some most useful work, particularly in the line-out. To have played in the under 14-11 XV one year and the 1st XV the next has been a great achievement and was well-merited.

R. J. Da LITTLE, 1952. Lock forward. Height 5 ft. 7* ins. Weight 9 st. 1 1 lbs. His lack of stature and pace in the open did not enable him to play the proper role of one in his position, but he was the best scrummager available, and used his rather diminutive size to good effect.

Blind-side wing-forward is about his mark. f J. A. JACKSON, 1952. Prop. Height 5 ft. 91 ins. Weight 11 st. 71 lbs.

A hard-working forward who knew how to get tough when required, and applied his energies to good purpose. He worked hard and often unobtrusively. f A. T. BOOTH, 1952. Wing three-quarter. Height 5 ft. 81 ins. Weight 9 st. 12 lbs. He was no flyer but his pace could sometimes be quite deceptive. Although he seldom relished a game of rugger, he played his part and did his best. Tackling was never his favourite pastime but he buckled down to it.

SEASON 1952-53 2nd XV.—J. B. Weightman (Capt.),* R. A. Jackson,* G. B. Hudson,* R.

Nelson,* N. W. M. Carr, C. K. Smith, J. R. Moore, M. J. Wood, R. D.

Wheatley, M. A. Butterworth, P. L. Bardgett, M. J. Kent, A. E. Simpson,

C. J. Griffiths, W. R. Ibberson. Colts XV.—O. C. Wetherell (Capt.),* H. C. Bulmer,* G. Ridley,* N. J. Bell,*

P. K. Lapidge,* E. W. Peat, W. B. Crosskill, B. A. Heap, D. Pfluger, P. S. Roe, R. B. Wilson, R. M. Kirkus, R. D. Beckitt, F. J. Pacey, M.

Willstrop. * Colours. Junior Colts XV.—I. C. Bytheway; G. R. H. Clemons, E. H. N. Turner,

I. N. Ridley, M. D. Fish; T. J. Robbins-Jones, P. J. Netherwood; N. J.

Magson, D. J. Oldman, F. A. L. Kirby, T. G. Stephenson (Capt.), R. J.

Sharp, J. F. Liversidge, A. P. Hopwood, D. Kirby.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS 1st XV

Result F. A.

Sat., 4th Oct. Headingley "A"

Home Lost 8 11 Wed., 8th Oct. Durham School Home Won 9 8 Sat., I 1 th Oct. York R.U.F.C. ... Home Cancelled Sat., 18th Oct. Bradford G.S. ... Wed., 22nd Oct. Trent College ... ... Sat., 25th Oct. Denstone College ... Sat., 1st Nov. Harrogate R.F.C. Colts Sat., 8th Nov. Leeds G.S. ... • • • Sat., 15th Nov. Giggleswick School ... Home Won 8 Away Won 15 Home Lost 9 Home Drawn 6 Away Lost 8 6 ti 25 6 11

Home Won 23 3 Sat., 22nd Nov. Ampleforth College Wed., 26th Nov. Worksop College Sat., 13th Dec. Old Peterites ... Away Lost 11 Away Cancelled Home Won 11 16 9 "A" XV

Wed., 5th Nov. Ripon G.S. ... Home Won 34 0

2nd XV Wed., 8th Oct. Durham School Wed., 15th Oct. Drax G.S. 1st XV Sat., 18th Oct. Bradford G.S. ... Sat., 25th Oct. Giggleswick School Sat., 8th Nov. Leeds G.S. ... ... Wed., 12th Nov. Rishworth School 1st XV Sat., 22nd Nov. Ampleforth College ... Wed., 26th Nov. Worksop College ... ••• Away Won 9 •• • Away Lost 6 •• • Home Lost 3 •.• Away Lost 0 •.• Away Lost 3 ••• Home Lost 8 . • . Home Lost 3 • •. Away Cancelled 5 25 17 3 20 14 12 COLTS XV Sat., 11th Oct. Durham School ... Ilomc Lost 9 Sat., 25th Oct. Giggleswick School ... ... Away Lost 8 Sat., 1st Nov. Harrogate R.F.C. Colts "A" XV Home Won 17 Wed., 5th Nov. Ampleforth College ... ... Away Lost 0 Sat., 15th Nov. Army Apprentices, Harrogate ... Home Won 26 17 13 0 29 0 Wed., 26th Nov. Worksop College ... ... Home Cancelled .1 UNIOR COLTS XV Sat., 15th Oct. Drax G.S. ... Sat., 1st Nov. Pocklington School Wed., 12th Nov. Rishworth School Sat., 22nd Nov. Fyling Hall ... Wed., 26th Nov. Worksop College Away Won 11 Away Won 9 Home Won 33 Home Lost 0 Home Cancelled 6 6 0 5

SENIOR HOUSE MATCHES 1st Round. Grove beat School House by 20 points to 0. Semi-finals. Grove beat Manor by 13 points to 0. Temple beat Rise by 14 points to 9. Final. Grove beat Temple by 34 points to 0.

JUNIOR HOUSE MATCHE 1st Round. School House beat Temple by 5 points to 0. Semi-finals. School House beat Manor by 6 points to 0. Rise beat Grove by 15 points to 8. Final. School House beat Rise by 17 points to 0.

SCHOOL MATCHES

SCHOOL v. DURHAM SCHOOL WED., 8m Oct

This first inter-school match of the season was played at home under excellent conditions.

Durham attacked immediately from the kick-off and took play into the School "25". After continual pressure from the Durham forwards, who were an unusually big pack, they scored with a penalty goal given for a scrummaging infringement. After this reverse the School forwards, though outweighted, were settling down and as a result the backs were getting more of the ball from both the set and loose scrums. Play was taken into the Durham "25" and Gunning levelled the scores with a penalty goal. Shortly before half-time Maxwell received the hall from a loose scrum, and by dummying and side-stepping, scored a fine try near the corner flag. The conversion failed.

The second half began, as had the first, with a strong attack by Durham from which a forward scored a try which was converted. The Durham pack, although handicapped by the loss of a forward, continued to dominate the game—but the weakness of the School tackling tended to flatter their efforts. The attack, having lost Bough in the centre, lacked penetration and came to rely on the kick ahead, which did eventually take play back into the Durham half. Jus before no-side the School were awarded a free kick and Gunnin kicked a magnificent goal from the touch line to give the School lucky victory.

This was a disappointing display which did not reveal the form possibilities shown in the match against Headingley "A".

Result : Won, School 9 pts., Durham School 8 pts.

SCHOOL v. BRADFORD G.S. SAT., 18m OcT.

Played at home under very favourable conditions for open footba ll

The first half began disastrously for the School with Bradfo rc taking the lead within three minutes—their right winger , receiving th ball from a scrum on the School "25", ran round Reid -Smith to scon an unconverted try in the corner. No sooner had we kicked off a gait 58

than the "dose" was repeated—again the Bradford right wing scored the try, which, however, proved to be too far out to be converted. Both these tries would have been avoided but for half-hearted tackling which was typical of our play until the final minutes when we eventually shook off our lethargy. Bradford continued to press, and it was only their inability to finish off movements that prevented any further score before half-time.

The second half began with Bradford attacking again, but after a timely clearance by Pullan we penetrated the Bradford "25". From an ensuing scrum Maxwell received the ball and, outwitting his opposite number, scored near the posts. This try was converted by Gunning. Shortly after this a Bradford forward was penalised for "holding", and from this infringement Gunning kicked a penalty goal which cannoned off the post to put the School in front. In the few remaining minutes Bradford had the misfortune to lose two players —but the final whistle went with no further score.

This was another lucky win in a game from which little satisfaction could be derived.

Result : Won, School 8 pts., Bradford G.S. 6 pts.

SCHOOL v. TRENT COLLEGE WED., 22ND OCT.

This was the first away match of the season, and, as is usual at Trent, the ground was firm, giving every opportunity for fast rugby. The School were missing the services of Gunning and Macpherson, both injured.

We quickly settled down and Burdass, following up a clearance, gathered the ball to cross for an unconverted try in the corner. This proved to be a great inspiration to the team and shortly afterwards Everitt broke through the centre to score another unconverted try under the posts. Trent, however, soon retaliated and from a knock-on near our line one of their backs scored an unconverted try. After further play in which both sides looked dangerous, Maxwell increased the lead with a penalty goal. In the few remaining minutes before half-time Trent decreased the margin by converting a penalty goal.

The second half began with the School forwards—for whom Burdass and Jackson were outstanding—gaining repeated possession, which, however, was made little use of by the backs. Burdass picked up a loose ball to score a good try and this was followed by a further try scored by Coates.

This was a great improvement on previous displays and the forwards played their best game to date. Pullan played admirably at full-back, giving the team greatly needed confidence; and Reid-Smith, deputising for Macpherson at scrum-half, played well throughout.

Result : Won, School 15 pts., Trent College 6 pts. 59

SCHOOL v. EYE'NSTONE COLLEGE SAT., 25TH OCT.

This game was played at home and, although losing, the School XV played well throughout in a game that possessed everything.

Denstone were superior in every department yet the School stuck to their task with rare determination. We were soon in arrears when Denstone scored two unconverted tries after about 10 minutes' play. This lead was soon increased when their captain dropped a goal. Although outweighted the School pack obtained adequate possession in the loose but the backs lacked penetration against superior opponents. Before half-time Denstone scored two more tries, one of which was converted. This gave them a half-time lead of 17 pts., being the outcome of good combined play.

The second half was much more evenly contested and at one period we scored nine points in as many minutes, with the Denstone defence spreadeagled. These tries were scored by Maxwell, Macpherson, and Booth respectively. After this period of pressure—in which the School might well have increased their total if they had fully exploited their opportunities—the Denstone forwards took play into the School "25", where they were awarded a penalty goal which was converted. The scoring came to an end when the Denstone captain broke away to score a further try, which was converted.

If the first half had been as evenly contested as was the second, the score would undoubtedly have been closer—yet throughout we had an even share of the game territorially.

Result : Lost. School 9 pts., Denstone College 25 pts. SCHOOL v. LEEDS 1G.S. SAT., 8TH Nov.

The Leeds pitch was in surprisingly good condition considering the amount of rain that had fallen prior to the match. Soon after the kick-off Leeds scored an unconverted try near the posts—this was due to some thoroughly bad marking by the School backs. For the first 20 minutes Leeds were almost completely on the attack and our line might have been crossed on several occasions but for overelaborated approach work. The School forwards, who had by this time settled down, then took the ball into the Leeds "25" and only a timely interception prevented our scoring. However, the forwards were not to be denied, and after heavy pressure on the Leeds line Burdass pounced on a loose ball to score in the corner. This try was converted by Gunning who, having recovered from injury, was back in the team, together with Bough. Half-time came with no further score.

The second half was vigorously contested, and the School pack, although outweighted, were playing their best game of the season, and as a result we were able to dictate the run of the play. A School

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player was then unfortunately off-side and Bellow kicked a magnificent goal to put Leeds ahead. The School forwards continued to dominate the game but Taylor's hooking was not advantageously exploited by the backs. Against the run of play Leeds took advantage of a misunderstanding between two School players to score a further try, which was converted by Bellow. This lead was soon decreased when Gunning kicked a penalty goal—for the last ten minutes we were continually attacking and two attempted drop goals by Bough only just missed the posts. No-side came with Leeds maintaining their slight lead, and if we had only been quicker to settle down, defeat would have been avoided.

Result : Lost, School 8 pts., Leeds G.S. 11 pts.

SCHOOL v. GIGGLESWICK SCHOOL SAT., 115m Nov.

The team played their best game of the season in the last home match, against Giggleswick. To score 23 points in heavy conditions was no mean feat.

Gunning kicked a penalty goal in the opening minutes and this was quickly followed by Macpherson finding a gap round the base of the scrum to score an unconverted try. The half-backs, Macpherson and Maxwell, were combining well together and it was not long before Maxwell followed up a kick-ahead to increase the lead. After further pressure Everitt broke through and passed to Burdass, who scored in the corner.

The second half began, as had the first, with the School attacking in the Giggleswick half, and Maxwell soon found a gap to break through for another unconverted try—this, however, brought about a Giggleswick revival in which Hartley, receiving an inside pass, scored his side's only points. The School forwards took the ball back into the Giggleswick "25" and Taylor scored a "push-over" try from a scrum on their goal line. Gunning converted and brought the scoring to a close by scoring a try soon afterwards.

This was a most satisfactory performance by the team in which so much "latent ability" had at last revealed itself.

Result : Won, School 23 pts., Giggleswick School 3 pts.

SCHOOL v. IAMPLEFORTH 'COLLEGE SAT., 22ND Nov.

In what proved to be our last school match we found ourselves playing under very wet conditions at Ampleforth. We started off very shakily and took a long time to settle down. Ampleforth soon took advantage of this, and from one of our own passing movements their outside centre picked up a loose ball and ran on to score a converted try under the posts. This reverse was soon followed by their kicking a penalty goal given for off-side. The School forwards

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were beginning to "hold their own" but the centres crowded each other so that consequently our attack was very limited. Gunning eventually opened the scoring with a penalty goal and during this period of the game the forwards were pressing in the Ampleforth "25". The score was levelled when we were awarded a penalty try which Gunning converted. Just before half-time the Ampleforth left winger ran round his opposite number to score under the posts—this try being converted we had a 5 point deficit at half-time.

We had the advantage of a slight cross-wind in the second half and should have reduced the lead with a penalty goal awarded near the posts, but the kick was sliced. We did score, however, when Burdass and Gunning took the ball through at their feet for the former to run on and gain the touch down. This try was unconverted and Ampleforth, retaliating, passed the ball out to their right winger who outstripped our defence to score in the corner, and so put the result beyond doubt.

This game would probably have been won but for the bad start— which has been prevalent throughout the season—and some ineffective attempts at goal. The match did, however, prove beyond doubt the merit of the School pack, who fought back from a poor start to equality and finally superiority.

Result : Lost, School 11 pts., Ampleforth College 16 pts.

SCHOOL v. OLD PETERITES SAT., , 13TH DEC.

For the second year in succession it looked as if the weather was once again going to foil our attempts to play the O.P. match. The decision whether to play or not on the 6th December, the original date fixed, was never in doubt. Two weeks of Arctic conditions had frozen everything hard, and from that moment a new O.P. team had to be assembled for the following Saturday. The response was splendid and the following O.P. team fore-gathered :—A. W. Driver; I. H. Baker, P. T. Baker, P. R. G. Graham, D. A. White; D. I. Fletcher, B. D. C. Walker; J. M. Ryder, T. Hobson, P. Leigh, J. S. Megginson, P. C. Knowlson, R. Parker (Capt.), J. U. Burdass, F. D. Browne.

The School had to field three reserves against this formidable array, and the interesting experiment of playing three Colts, G. Ridley, H. C. Bulmer, and N. J. Bell, proved very successful.

A fast, open game ensued, providing plenty of good entertainment Before the Old Boys had time to settle down Burdass opened the scoring for the School with a try under the posts after a forward rush, and Gunning converted.

The O.P.s, with Tim Hobson as hooker, soon began to get a monotonous share of the ball from tight and loose scrums alike, and

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