Rugby Football

RUGBY FOOTBALL, 1953

RETROSPECT

For the 1st XV the season began with bitter disappointment, yet finished triumphantly. We had looked forward with some eagerness to the success of the School side being built up on the experience and skill of the half-back combination, •Macpherson and Maxwell, but a most unfortunate injury to Macpherson, incurred before the term began, prevented his playing until late November. Such a specialised position is hard to fill overnight with anything like the same effectiveness, but P. S. Roe, a Colt, performed his task as a stop-gap most nobly for much of the season. Other key positions were retained by old colours—a forward in each row of the scrum with P. G. Taylor hooking, and R. G. Bough in the centre of a three-quarter line full of considerable promise. Yet with a fair distribution of previous experience the team's play seemed dislocated.

The team were given every opportunity to settle down; few changes were ever made, in fact the pack played together throughout the season. This policy fully justified itself by the way the pack played as a body, and they could invariably claim responsibility for the successes of the team. The backs, however, always seemed to be strangers to one another's play, and they never seemed to gain confidence or to give confidence to the others. At this stage one must openly admit that the rudiments of back play are sadly amiss in the lower part of the School.

There was never any lack of spirit amongst the team, and they strove hard for their successes, never losing any match by a very wide margin. Once again the team suffered from inertia in the early stages of many matches, for which they invariably had to pay the price of finding themselves several points in arrears; as a result they lost matches which they might well have won.

From the Ampleforth match onwards •Macpherson rejoined the side, and the whole team promptly shed its frustrated look and played with renewed hope, confidence, and zest. Maxwell, in particular, at stand-off half played with fresh vigour and inspiration, and the team finished the season with three consecutive wins, all good ones. It was then a good side, with no outstanding players, yet no weaknesses.

None of the other School teams could claim any great success. The 2nd XV were very weak amongst the backs. The fielding of a 3rd XV on one occasion gave the 2nd 'Game an added incentive. The Colts XV met with two successes in their school matches, but suffered more than usually from an outcrop of injuries and the calls of the 1st XV. The Junior Colts side seemed unusually small and were badly handicapped as a result.

House matches were played with the usual fanatical enthusiasm. It is quite surprising how much harder some boys play for their House 43

team than for their School team. Undoubtedly, as a result of certain boys not playing their hardest, School teams do not reach the highest possible standard, and individual honours are lost.

A lot has to be learnt—a lot must be learnt, if the standard and reputation for rugby, which has been built up for the School by the past generation, is to be maintained by the present generation.

1st XV CHARACTERS

* -1. P. G. TAYLOR (Captain), 1951-52-53. Hooker. Height 5 ft. 81 ins. Weight 10 st. 12+ lbs. As his self-confidence grew he became a quietly confident and most able captain. Off the field he was always most efficient and reliable, and on the field a good leader. His hooking has been effective and consistent throughout the season, and in the loose he recaptured his old good form. 4 i'T. A. W. KETTLEWELL (Vice-Captain), 1952-53. 2nd row forward. Height 6 ft. 11 ins. Weight 12 st. 11 lbs. He packs well. His line-out work was a considerable tax on his energy and his play is invariably sound and promising, but he has not as yet developed the stamina to shine when in possession. *tR. NELSON, 1953. Wing-forward. Height 5 ft. 81 ins. Weight 9 st. 61 lbs. He enjoyed a very good season, throwing every ounce of his diminutive weight into the fray. A great opportunist, he showed a surprising turn of speed from time to time. *tR. G. Boum!, 1952-53. Left centre three-quarter. Height 5 ft. 6+ ins.

Weight 10 st. 11 lbs. By avoiding injury this year, his confidence has grown immeasurably. His passing is really good with the proper swing of the hips—the hallmark of a class player. He has speeded up considerably and can sell a dummy most effectively when the opportunity offers. His one great weakness lies in taking his eye off the ball when likely to be harassed by an opponent. 41 .11. A. JACKSON, 1952-53. Lock forward. Height 5ft. 9+ ins. Weight 12 st. 11 lbs. He adjusted himself well to his change in position from the front row of the forwards. He added considerable solidity to the scrum, and in the open his attack was better than his defence. 49-D. A. MACPHERSON, 1952-53. Scrum-half. Height 5 ft. 71 ins. Weight 10 st. 131 lbs. A most promising player, who could well reach the top class. His service from the scrum has speeded up and his pass is now travelling horizontally further and faster. He needs to become a little more astute at picking the ball up off his opponents' feet, at breaking from the scrum with more dash than at present, and at covering his own three-quarter line in defence. *i.W. G. A. MAXWELL, 1951-52-53. Stand-off half. Height 5 ft. 6 ins.

Weight 10 st. 8f lbs. A succession of very determined and menacing wingforwards knocked him very much off his balance both physically and mentally early in the season, and he only recovered his equilibrium on

Macpherson's return. His methods are very unorthodox and unpredictable, but there is seldom a dull moment with the ball in his hands.

C. WETHERELL, 1953. Prop. Height 5 ft. 81 ins. Weight 10 st. 1 lbs. A good scrummager, but as the season progressed he lost much of his fire and mobility in the loose. He is very keen and may have got a bit stale.

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tN. J. BELL, 1953. Prop. Height 5 ft. 7 ins. Weight 10 st. 121 lbs. A strong, hard-working forward, who works with his feet tirelessly for the ball.

He has combined well with his hooker in the front row and has shown considerable promise. tG. D. GARDNER, 1953. 2nd row forward. Height 6 ft. Of ins. Weight 11 st. 111 lb. This is the first year he has played for any School team and well he did it. To emerge so often from the 2nd row of the scrum and be prominent in the open was a remarkable achievement. tR. A. JACKSON, 1953. Wing-forward. Height 5 ft. 8f ins. Weight 11 st. 31 lbs. He gave the opposition very little rope on the blind-side, but his defence was not quick enough in the open. With the ball in his hands he looked quite menacing. tG. RIDLEY, 1953. Full-back. Height 5 ft. 10i ins. Weight 11 st. 10 lbs.

A reliable player in whom his team-mates could place their confidence. His kicking with his left foot is still weak, and his clearances to touch are a little too long delayed. He kicks well with his right foot, and his falling on the ball and tackling are excellent. Still a little slow in getting across field and apt to get rattled if the ball is kicked over his head. PFLUGER, 1953. Left wing three-quarter. Height 5 ft. 91 ins. Weight 11 st. 0 lb. His positional play, both in defence and when awaiting snap opportunities around the scrum, has improved greatly. His pace has not increased lately, but he is becoming more adept at handling the ball and he may yet develop into a centre. His kicking needs to improve. tH. C. BULMER, 1953. Right centre three-quarter. Height 5 ft. 7 ins. Weight 10 st. 3 lbs. He found the position difficult, unless plenty of room was available to move in. He was seldom seen to any great advantage, but he acted as a valuable link, and seldom let the side down. tE. W. PEAT, 1953. Right wing three-quarter. Height 5 ft. 91 ins. Weight 10 st. 7 lbs. A Colt who was moved into the 1st XV late in the season.

With a good, long-striding pace, his attacking powers are more effective than his defence. He shows considerable promise and should develop well with more experience.

* Cap. t Colours.

SEASON 1953-54

2nd XV.—N. W. M. Carr; C. H. Lewis, F. J. Pacey, B. A. Heap, J. R.

Dodsworth, R. D. Wheatley;* P. B. Clayton, J. M. Welsh; M. W. Bolton,

C. J. Griffiths,* P. L. Bardgett, P. K. Lapidge,* M. J. McCallum, R. M.

Kirkus, D. G. Barton, W. R. Ibberson* (Capt.). 3rd XV.—P. B. Clayton; R. M. Stork, F. J. Pacey, J. M. W. Dobson, D. J. Nesham; J. O. R. Penman, R. M. Botterill; R. B. Wilson, R. D. Welsh,

R. D. Beckitt, J. C. M. Herring (Capt.), A. G. D. Staines, J. A. Sutton,

D. K. Timms, D. C. Holmes. Colts XV.—J. B. Huzzard; J. F. Liversidge,* P. S. Roe, A. C. Stubbs, M.

Welsh;* T. J. Robbins-Jones* P. J. Netherwood; N. J. Magson, D. J.

Oldman, H. C. Marshall, T. 'G. Stephenson,* J. E. Moore, M. Willstrop* (Capt.), A. P. Hopwood, R. J. Sharp. * Colours.

Junior Colts XV.—G. F. B. Mitchell (Capt.); J. C. Cooke, I. N. Ridley, P. B.

Burbridge, B. C. R. Butler; D. G. Macpherson, J. R. Maxwell; G. P.

Burden, T. D. J. Layfield, M. P. Stanton, C. I. Chadwick, C. J. Quickfall,

D. Robinson, K. Brown, R. R. Baldwin.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS 1st XV

Sat., 3rd Oct. Headingley "A" Wed., 7th Oct. Durham School Sat., 10th Oct. York R.U.F.C. Result F. A.

Home Lost 3 9 Away Won 8 6 Home Lost 3 6

Sat., 17th Oct. Bradford G.S. Wed., 21st Oct. Trent College ...

Away Lost 9 13 Home Won 16 0 Sat., 24th Oct. Denstone College Away Lost 9 11 Sat., 31st Oct. Harrogate R.F.C. Colts Home Lost 3 9 Sat., 7th Nov. Leeds G.S. Home Lost 0 8 Sat., 14th Nov. Giggleswick School Away Lost 3 11 Sat., 21st Nov. Ampleforth College Home Won 9 3 Wed., 25th Nov. Worksop College Home Won 16 0 Sat., 12th Dec. Old Peterites Home Won 16 11

Wed., 4th Nov. Ripon G.S. "A" XV

Away Won 18 6

2nd XV Wed., 7th Oct. Durham School Home Won 6 3 Wed., 14th Oct. Drax G.S. 1st XV .. Home Lost 9 14 Sat., 17th Oct. Bradford G.S. ... Away Lost 6 15 Sat., 24th Oct. Giggleswick School ... Home Won 9 3 Wed., 28th Oct. Welbeck College ... Away Lost 0 11 Sat., 31st Oct. Rishworth School 1st XV Away Lost 3 8 Sat., 7th Nov. Leeds G.S. ... ... Home Lost 3 13 Sat., 21st Nov. Ampleforth College ... Away Lost 0 46 Wed., 25th Nov. Worksop College ... Home Drawn 5 5

3rd XV Sat., 21st Nov. Ampleforth College ... Away Lost 0 11

COLTS XV Sat., 10th Oct. Durham School ... Away Lost 0 20 Sat., 24th Oct. Giggleswick School ... ... Home Won 17 0 Sat., 31st Oct. Harrogate R.F.C. Colts 'A' XV Home Won 22 9 Wed., 4th Nov. Ampleforth College ... ... Home Lost 0 29 Sat., 14th Nov. Army Apprentices, Harrogate... Away Cancelled Wed., 25th Nov. Worksop College ... ... Away Won 8 5

JUNIOR COLTS XV Sat., 3rd Oct. Pocklington School ... ... Home Lost 3 19 Sat., 10th Oct. Durham School ... ... Away Lost 0 24 Wed., 14th Oct. Drax G.S. ... ... ... Home Lost 5 11 Sat., 31st Oct. Rishworth School "Under 15" Away Lost 5 14 Wed., 25th Nov. Worksop College "Under 15" Away Lost 0 34

SENIOR HOUSE MATCHES 1st Round. School House beat Grove 14-0. Temple drew with Queen's 3-3. On replay Temple beat Queen's 9-6. Semi-finals. Rise beat Temple 19-6. School House drew with Manor 0-0. On replay School House beat Manor 6-3 after extra time. Final. School House beat Rise 15-5.

JUNIOR HOUSE MATCHES 1st Round. Temple beat Manor 11-9. Rise beat Queen's 14-0. Semi-finals. Grove beat Rise 6-3. School House beat Temple 47-0. Final. School House beat Grove 9-3.

SCHOOL MATCHES

SCHOOL v. DURHAM SCHOOL

Played at Durham on Wednesday, 7th October.

Played away under very good conditions. We won the toss and Durham kicked off. Immediately Durham attacked and we were hard pressed in defence. In the first ten minutes the School played rather sluggishly and were just beginning to recover when Durham scored from a penalty given for offside. After this reverse our three-quarters began to get the measure of their opponents and the forwards asserted a definite superiority both in the tight and loose scrums, although Durham were perhaps heavier. This revival lead to a try just before half-time. This came from a grand passing movement by the forwards on the left, which took us from our own "25" to within 10 yards from the Durham line. From a resulting scrummage, Nelson fastened on to a loose ball and dived over in the corner. Half-time followed when Durham were pressing dangerously.

School attacked from the kick-off and, following a good movement on the left wing which resulted in a School player being hurled into touch, Maxwell broke through in the centre to score a good try, which he himself converted. Then followed a ding-dong battle with School generally having the upper hand. There was another chance to score when the ball was taken to within three feet of the Durham line but unfortunately the School player with the ball was penalised, and with two more successive infringements School found themselves defending desperately. A School player was penalised for not playing the ball and the Durham captain, Owen, kicked a good penalty goal. With full support from the touchline, Durham threw themselves again and again at our line, but the defence held firm, mainly relying on Maxwell's kicks to touch. School, however, were attacking vigorously when no-side came. The foundation of the victory was laid by the forwards who packed solidly and backed-up well. This was a very encouraging beginning to the season.

Result : Won, Durham School 6 pts., St. Peter's School 8 pts.

School team : G. Ridley; D. Pfluger, R. G. Bough, H. C. Bulmer, R. D. Wheatley; W. G. A. Maxwell, P. S. Roe; N. J. Bell, P. G. Taylor (Capt.), 0. C. Wetherell, T. A. W. Kettlewell, G. D. Gardner, R. Nelson, J. A. Jackson, R. A. Jackson.

SCHOOL v. BRADFORD G.S. Played at Bradford on Saturday, 17th October.

Played on a day more suited to cricket. The first 10 minutes were perhaps the worst a School side has played for a long time, for at the end of that time we were losing 13-0. Movements first on the left and then on the right produced tries, both of which Rankin, the Bradford captain, converted. The Bradford backs were fast and it took the School backs some time to find a defence against them. The School forwards were at least equal to their much heavier opponents but still did not look like scoring and play was confined to midfield. Then a Bradford centre cut through and sold a perfect dummy to score under the posts. The kick, however, was disallowed. Gradually the School got together and were rewarded. Just before half-time Maxwell kicked a penalty goal, making the score 13-3.

After half-time suddenly the forwards found new life and the backs became constructive. Time and again the ball was heeled and a School player brought down just before the Bradford line. The pack were beginning to shove their opponents off the ball and it was obvious that a score must soon come. It came, in fact, after three successive five-yard scrums when the ball was taken over the try line but unfortunately ruled "held-up". Immediately there was a kick across the field which found touch two yards from the line. From the ensuing line-out Taylor got up to the ball and dived over. The kick at goal, however, failed. The School continued their revival and were scarcely out of the Bradford half except for two or three dangerous runs by the opposing wingers. Then came a forward dribble from a line-out, a side-kick in soccer style past the full-back, and Wheatley was there to fall on the ball to add three more points to the School score. But though the School fought valiantly the first ten minutes had sealed their fate and a very good match was narrowly lost.

Result : Lost, School 9 pts., Bradford G.S. 13 pts.

School team: Ridley; Wheatley, Bulmer, Bough, Pfluger; Maxwell, Roe; Wetherell, Taylor (Capt.), Bell, Kettlewell, Gardner, R. A. Jackson, J. A. Jackson, Nelson.

SCHOOL v. TRENT COLLEGE Played at home on Wednesday, 21st October.

Played in thick fog on a rather heavy pitch. Trent kicked off and we witnessed a rather scrappy first quarter of an hour, during which time Trent almost scored from a fly hack over our line. Then again the School forwards proved that it is not always weight and height that count, for they were out-scrummaging the heavier Trent pack all over the field. The backs, however, found the greasy ball hard to handle, but one break-through by Maxwell almost yielded a try 48

but his final pass was forward. After 20 minutes' play, however, Jackson, J. A., picked the ball up in a loose melee and forced his way over. Maxwell went very near with the kick. With five minutes cut from each half on account of the poor visibility, half-time followed with the score 3-0.

After the break the School pack improved considerably, as is their wont in the second half, and play was confined for a while to the Trent half. Then, following a scrum near the Trent line, Roe picked up and passed to Nelson, who dived over. Maxwell added two points with a good kick. School continued to press and a movement across the three-quarters ended in Pfluger scoring in the corner. For about ten minutes play was confined to the Trent "25" either on the right wing or under the posts, and with such a position it was not long before School scored again; this time a push-over try, Nelson managing to be the bottom player in the mass of bodies on the ball. Maxwell again converted and the match ended.

Altogether the forwards kept together well and were a constant menace to their opponents. The backs had some opportunities, but the ball was greasy and really it was a day for forward play. In fact, thanks to the weather, a match more enjoyed by player than spectator.

Result : Won, School 16 pts., Trent College 0 pts.

School team: Ridley; Wheatley, Bulmer, Bough, Pfluger; Maxwell, Roe; Wetherell, Taylor (Capt.), Bell, Kettlewell, Gardner, R. A. Jackson, J. A. Jackson, Nelson.

SCHOOL v. DENSTONE COLLEGE Played at Denstone on Saturday, 24th October.

Played under good weather conditions on a soft ground. The School did not display their usual lethargy in the first minutes (which was rather surprising considering the long journey), but in the first five minutes we were still five points down. From a line-out five yards from our line the ball was thrown back with the idea of a clearing kick, but it was fumbled and the Denstone wing-forward fell over the line with the ball in his hands. Carter converted. After the Denstone three-quarters had almost broken through following a series of missed tackles, the School began to gain the upper hand and the three-quarters' defence was greatly improved. Possession from the scrums was even, but there were too many scrummage infringements on both sides for the referee's liking. Both sides had two penalty kicks; Ridley went the nearest with a 30-yard shot. Then from a lineout in the Denstone "25" Maxwell dropped a goal. Denstone replied almost immediately with an unconverted try on their left wing, and the half-time score was 8-3.

The School were on top for a time, though the latent ability in the team did not quite make itself manifest. But in the second half 49

the School looked more dangerous, the forwards working particularly well, and from a penalty Maxwell reduced Denstone's lead to two points. Then followed a period of ten minutes when we were not out of the Denstone "25". Wheatley caught a miskick in the corner but was hurled into touch. Bough crossed the line but there had been a knock-on. Jackson, J. A., was almost through, helped by a good shove, and so it went on. Then from a loose scrum near the line Roe went blind to score. The kick just failed, but the School were leading. Denstone threw all they knew into the game, but the School defence held firm. With three minutes to go, however, a hotlydisputed penalty was awarded to Denstone. Carter kicked a good goal and sealed our fate.

Neutral spectators said a draw would have been a fairer result. It was a hard, clean game with both sides evenly matched, neither three-quarters being able to master their opponents.

Result : Lost, School 9 pts., Denstone 11 pts.

School team: Ridley; Wheatley, Bulmer, Bough, Pfluger; Maxwell, Roe; Wetherell, Taylor (Capt.), Bell, Kettlewell, Gardner, R. A. Jackson, J. A. Jackson, Nelson.

SCHOOL v. LEEDS G.S. Played at home on Saturday, 7th November.

Played in squally weather on a soft pitch. The School kicked off with the wind and Leeds soon had chances to demonstrate their threequarters' speed. Peat, playing his first game for the School, had a difficult task in marking the very fast Leeds left winger, but twice hard tackles prevented a score. The scrums were even, each hooker having greater success when it was his opponent's ball. The backs were playing much better both individually and as a line. Tackling was keen; there was one moment when the Leeds winger broke completely away and a try looked certain. Ridley dived full length and caught his opponent's ankles, and a tricky situation was saved by this magnificent tackle. Injuries were frequent because of the robust forward play by both sides. The Leeds pack were taller and heavier but the School held them well. There was no score at half-time.

In fact there was no score with only ten minutes to go. Everyone was resigning himself to a pointless draw, which perhaps was a fair result. As is usual, the School had come more into prominence in the second half and were gaining the upper hand Then followed a catastrophe. A long, low kick by a Leeds player, which would perhaps have flown over the dead ball line, was knocked into touch by Ridley as he attempted to catch it. The line-out was one yard from the line and Bellow, using his weight, bullocked over to score. He converted with a glorious high kick. An all-out effort was made by the School, and Jackson, J. A., almost scored, but from the ensuing "25" Bellow drop-kicked into touch fifteen yards from our own line. This unsettled the defence and Spencer, the left-winger, flew over when 50

the ball had moved across the whole three-quarter line. The kick narrowly missed. The final score was 8-0. The match was hard and well-fought to the end, not brilliant, but constructive.

Result : Lost, School 0 pts., Leeds G.S. 8 pts.

School team : Ridley; Peat, Bulmer, Bough, Pflugcr; Maxwell, Roe; Wetherell, Taylor (Capt.), Bell, Kettlewell, Gardner, R. A. Jackson, J. A. Jackson, Nelson. SCHOOL v. GIGGLESWICK SCHOOL Played at Giggleswick on Saturday, 14th November.

Nelson was injured and so Lapidge came into the back row. The conditions were the worst encountered by the 1st XV this season; there had been continuous rain for 48 hours and the sky was even then dark. The ground became a morass within minutes, and it was only with difficulty that players kept their feet. It took the School at least quarter of an hour to settle down, during which time Giggleswick piled up 11 points. First Hunt went through to score under the posts and Bilton converted, then Hartley added a try, and then within two minutes the Giggleswick right wing scored. Although two of these tries were not converted it looked as if the School were in for a sound thrashing. But then, quite suddenly, the game evened out, play fluctuating from one end to the other. Passes went astray, the scrums collapsed, but the standard of play was quite high considering the conditions. Both packs fell on the ball well, but the backs, when they got the ball, had to rely on the kick ahead. Giggleswick survived one anxious moment when a kick ahead by Pfluger just made touch in goal.

Half-time score 11-0.

The same tactics continued after half-time. The School had one period when they were in their opponent's "25" for about ten minutes . Then Peat had to leave the field and the School played with seven forwards. But during this time the School scored. Jackson, J. A., picked up a loose ball and was over before anyone could stop him. The kick was well up but a little wide. Thereafter it was a stalemate and when the final whistle went two very tired, indistinguishable teams left the field. A lead of eleven points on a day such as this was perhaps unassailable.

Result : Lost, School 3 pts., Giggleswick School 11 pts.

School team : Ridley; Peat, Bulmer, Bough, Pfluger; Maxwell, Rce; Wetherell, Taylor (Capt.), Bell, Kettlewell, Gardner, Jackson, R. A., Lapidge, Jackson, J. A.

SCHOOL v. AMPLEFORTH COLLEGE Played at home on Saturday, 21st November.

The pitch had been rolled the previous day, and was surprisingly firm and dry. The day was warm and clear. This perhaps encouraged the teams, for they produced a very fine, open display of rugger. 51

Ampleforth came with only one defeat in the season, but from the first whistle the School set a cracking pace. The tackling was hard, the passing crisp, and backing-up was much in evidence. Play was very even, both packs concentrating on a quick heel and the three-quarters marking closely. Macpherson, playing his first game after his shoulder injury at the beginning of the season, brought new life to the backs, especially Maxwell. Twice he went on the blind side and linked up with his forwards, bringing anxious moments to the Ampleforth defence. Ampleforth almost scored when their big and fast wingforward was brought down within inches of the line. But a magnificent forward rush cleared the line and set our opponents back into their own "25". From a scrum Macpherson attempted to dive over but was squashed, but in the loose scrum that developed Gardner kicked the ball over the line and fell on it. The kick was wide.

Half-time score 3-0.

After the interval the fast, open rugger continued. The School scored again when 'Maxwell intercepted a pass from the Ampleforth scrum-half to his fly-half and broke away hotly pursued by three defenders. Just before being brought down he handed on to Taylor, who scored. Again the kick just failed. Play was still very even, however, and Poole, the Ampleforth left-winger, dribbled the ball thirty yards, picked up and scored near the corner. This gave the School new life and in the next ten minutes play did not leave the Ampleforth "25". Macpherson, who had been playing extremely well, broke through on the blind side and scored after a twenty-yard run. But the try was not converted. The last few minutes were anxious ones for the School, Ampleforth desperately making an all-out attack. No-side came, however, with no further score. In all, the School had played brilliantly as a team; every man had risen to the occasion; no one can be singled out for praise. The local paper said "This was one of the finest games seen on the School ground for a long time".

Result : Won, School 9 pts., Ampleforth College 3 pts.

School Team : Ridley; Peat, Bulmer, Bough, Pfluger; Maxwell, Macpherson; Wetherell, Taylor (Capt.), Bell, Kettlewell, Gardner, R. A. Jackson, J. A. Jackson, Nelson.

SCHOOL v. WORKSOP COLLEGE Played at home on Wednesday, 24th November.

After considerable rain the pitch was heavy and wet, which seemed to handicap both teams Worksop obviously were not in their natural element of fast, sandy pitches, but the School made up for their slow start by finding, if not the brilliance, at least the constructive and energetic play of the Ampleforth match. The forwards were superior in the loose, time and again effecting a quick heel to send the threequarters away. Worksop relied on kicks to touch by their fly-half, but nonetheless the School were continually pressing and after good work 52

by the forwards, R. A. Jackson threw a long pass out to Pfluger on the wing, who raced over unchallenged. Maxwell kicked a magnificent goal. Worksop had another close shave when a kick was charged down, but the ball rolled gently across the dead ball line.

Half-time score 5-0.

Immediately after half-time the School went further ahead. There was a scrum under the posts; J. A. Jackson picked up when the ball was heeled and sailed round the scrum to score by the posts, having brushed of any would-be tacklers. Maxwell converted. Still most of the play was in the Worksop half, for by now the School had mastered the conditions. Another quick heel and Bough was completely through, selling two beautiful dummies, to score well out near the corner. This time Maxwell narrowly failed with the kick. A relieving kick by a Worksop centre sent the School back to their own "25", but a forward rush soon altered the situation. The score reached 16-0 when Maxwell kicked a very good penalty from thirty yards. The School were still pressing when the final whistle went. Only thirty minutes each way was played and the School team was still quite fresh at the end. They had proved what a sound side they were, and could have been throughout the season with a bit of luck and more determination. This match brought the season to a happy end.

Result : School 16 pts., Worksop College 0 pts.

School Team : Ridley; Peat, Bulmer, Bough, Pfluger; Maxwell, Macpherson; Wetherell, Taylor (Capt.), Bell, Kettlewell, Gardner, R. A. Jackson, J. A. Jackson, Nelson.

SCHOOL v. OLD PETER ITES

Saturday, 12th December.

Under the able management of Peter Penniston, the Old Boys' team this year was probably the strongest ever fielded against the School, for a very much larger proportion than usual were regular players, and it was only with the utmost difficulty that the School, playing at the top of their form, were able to hold this formidable array.

After the inevitable disruption caused by house matches, it was the 1st XV who were the longer in settling down, and it was some time before the pack worked as one cohesive body in the manner which has brought them so much success this term.

The School were able to relieve long stretches of pressure only by penalty kicks, and it was only poor finishing or good defensive play that prevented the Old Boys from gaining more than three points in the first half. As it was, D. I. Fletcher's try was their only success, which was neutralised by R. A. Jackson's try for the School, but already there were signs that the Old Boys' energies were flagging. 53