Hockey

HOC:KEN XI, 1960. A. W. Martin, J. J. Rhodes, A. E. R. Dcdds, Esq., J. Burdon, D. E. Coulson. F. J. A. Hewitt, D. L. W. Sim, M. W. Woodruff, E. M. H. Ranson (Capt.), J. W. S. Gale, C. J. Hemsley. Absent: M. Precious.

1SCOUT TROOP

On 1st March we were pleased to receive an official visit from

Mr. Maycock, the Assistant County Commissioner (Training). At his own request, we arranged no special programme, so that he could inspect the various groups undergoing their normal training and testing. He seemed to be well satisfied with the progress of the

Troop this year and even elected to join in an inter-patrol tracking competition with which the meeting ended.

While it is true that most Scouts are slightly ahead of schedule in their endeavours to become 1st Class, the most striking achievement this term has been the awarding of Scout Cords to no less than six members of the Troop : Bradley, Foster, Gow, Haxby, Quickfall and

Wroe. They are to be congratulated upon their persistent efforts to obtain the requisite number of badges for their Cords; and we should like to thank A.S.M. Marsden warmly for his own share in this unprecedented accomplishment. Incidentally the tally should reach seven next term if Magson bucks up his ideas.

Two other events are perhaps worth recording, though they are really part of our normal activities by now : the first was a York

Quest which revealed unsuspected enterprise, especially on the part of the Fox Patrol; the second, an end-of-term Wide Game which threatened at one point to develop into a fight.

A good site for the Summer Camp has been found by our indefatigable Scouter on safari in 'William' along the Northumberland

Coast. It overlooks Budle Bay and Holy Island and is only a mile from Bamburgh. Moreover, a motor-launch trip round the Fame

Islands is planned for one expedition. We hope that as many Scouts as possible will round off the year by joining us at this Camp, which will extend from 26th July to 3rd August. Parents will be sent full details in good time.

The very welcome opportunity of playing hockey during the first three weeks of the Christmas Term had shown how much progress could be made with continuous practice on hard grounds : the ball moved much faster and, in consequence, reflexes and anticipation were speeded up. This raised the whole game from the sorry business of hacking the ball out of the mud and trying to move it accurately and quickly over a clinging, glutinous surface. Stickwork came into its own at last, only, alas, to founder without trace in the wet conditions of January and February.

For once more the weather did its worst : only four matches out of ten could be played on the School ground and practice games were few and far between. However, that practice in the autumn did bear fruit and for the first time since 1938 the 1st XI was un- 25

beaten in School matches. Lack of experience rather than lack of skill contributed to heavy defeats by the strong York and Styx sides, both of whom were impressed by the standard of the School hockey.

The foundation of the team was a strong half-back line : Ranson, Precious and Hemsley, all old Colours, played consistently well, sound in defence and intelligent in attack. Ranson inspired his team with his unflagging energy and enthusiasm and his interceptions in midfield stopped many an attack at birth. The two wing halves both tackled and hit hard, specialising in the most valuable cross pass. The rest of the team was less consistent, except for Hewitt, who was a worthy successor to a great line of School goalkeepers and rarely made a mistake. Woodruff started the season well and looked as if he would score many goals at centre forward, but he gradually tried to do too much on his own, when other forwards were unmarked, and he was not skilful enough to beat the last defender; he did however, score some good goals. The most improved forward was Gale, who, on the few occasions on which he was given a firm pitch, showed that he has developed into a very promising stick player; some of his dribbling and ball control was first-class, and, if he can develop a really hard shot, he should be an asset to any Club side. The other forwards were all inexperienced : Rhodes was dangerous on account of his speed and his centres were usually hit hard—this partially compensated for some lack of skill in beating a man; on the other wing Coulson improved after a shaky start and soon learned to collect the ball well and to centre at the right time, whilst he was often on hand to hit home a loose ball in the circle; Burdon never really fulfilled his promise of the autumn, but he was lost on the heavy grounds and not quick enough on the few firm ones.

In the defence Sim was usually a tower of strength, at times looking like a really class player, but for brief periods he seemed to lose all confidence; for most of the time, however, he was very safe and nursed his fellow back skilfully. It was the right back position which posed the most difficult problem : there was no obvious choice, but Alderson played for the first few games, never very convincingly, and, when he fell ill, Martin came in and improved with every game he played; although lacking polish, he was sensible and never tried to do more than he could, whilst not being afraid to come well up in support of an attack.

In a dry season this could have been the best side the School has had for many years; it was a great pity that it never had a good chance to show its full capabilities.

The 2nd XI were able to play only four matches and never settled down as a team; most of the side should, however, be here next year and will form a very useful nucleus of what will have to be an almost new School XI.

Enthusiasm for hockey does not grow any less, in spite of the dampening efforts of the weather and the generally unfavourable conditions in which it has to be played; perhaps this is because there is only just enough to whet the appetite.

TEAMS

1ST XI

F. J. A. Hewitt; A. W. Martin, D. L. W. Sim; C. J. Hemsley, E. M. H. Ranson (Capt.)*, M. Precious; J. J. Rhodes, J. W. S. Gale*, M. W. Woodruff (Vice-Capt.), J. Burdon, D. E. Coulson. * Cap

2ND XI

G. Gildener; G. W. A. R. Alderson, P. Collins (Capt.)*, A. C. Robson, C. Henwood, M. C. M. Jesper; S. R. Hutchinson, M. McCallum, J. A. Shouksmith*, I. A. Naisby, W. J. Bottomley. * Colours

1st XI RESULTS Sat., 30 Jan. v. Leeds Corinthian Home Scratched Sat., 6 Feb. v. Welbeck College Sat., 13 Feb. v. Bridlington School Wed., 17 Feb. v. Scarborough College Sat., 20 Feb. v. York H.C. Wed., 24 Feb. v. Bootham School Sat., 27 Feb. v. Trent College ... Wed., 2 Mar. v. Worksop College Sat., 5 Mar. v. Old Peterites Wed., 9 Mar. v. Styx H.C. Away Drawn 3-3 Home Scratched Away Won 4-0 Away Lost 0-7 Home Won 3-0 Home Scratched Away Drawn 0—.0 Home Lost 2-3 Home Lost 1--10

2nd XI

Sat., 6 Feb. v. Welbeck College ... Away Lost 3-4 Wed., 10 Feb. v. Fulneck School 1st XI Home Lost 1-3 Wed., 17 Feb. v. Scarborough College ... Home Scratched Sat., 20 Feb. v. York H.C. Home Scratched Wed., 24 Feb. v. Bootham School Away Won 2-1 Sat., 27 Feb. v. Trent College ... Home Scratched Wed., 2 Mar. v. Worksop College Away Lost 0-3

`A' XI Sat., 23 Jan. v. York H.C. 2nd XI Home Won 3-0

v. WELBEOK COLLEGE. Away on Sat., 6th February.

Neither side had had much practice, but Welbeck settled down more quickly; during the first half there was panic in the School defence and Welbeck had little difficulty in scoring three times. In one of the rare attacks by the School forwards Rhodes scored with a fine shot from the edge of the circle. After half-time positions were 27