SCOUT TROOP The troop numbered 28 this term, of whom 15 remained from last year. Nine of these are training for their Scout Cord and all passed the Cook Badge at the end of term. In addition Moffatt and Crossley have gained the Linguist Badge. A. Hardman, our new A.S.M., has been supervising the Scout Cord training. Of the 11 new scouts, two, J. M. McKay and Hodgson, were tenderfeet but were invested early in the term. I should like to thank Perks for training them and for his help with other tests during the term. Three First Class Badges were gained this term; Beaumont, Maslin and Moffatt, and Rae and Shaftoe obtained their Second Class. This is the first time that First Class journeys have been done in the Christmas Term and the weather was drier than in some weekends in the summer. Troop history was made this term when, at one of the meetings, each patrol turned itself into a news staff and was given 90 minutes in which to produce a paper. The four editors sent their staff out for news and interviews and wrote an editorial. It was difficult to pick out the best paper and after much thought it was awarded to the Fox Patrol. Burnell's editorial, Hodgson's interview with the head verger of the Minster and Maslin's original article on York's memorials were highly commended. The Annual Camp will take place at the end of the Summer Term and it is hoped that as many scouts as possible will attend.
RUGBY FOOTBALL, 1961 RETROSPECT Although there are no grounds for complacency, judged as a whole the past season has not been a failure; indeed the latter part gave considerable satisfaction and much enjoyment. But the Denstone match cannot be dismissed from mind. This was not only a debacle but also a disgrace, and there can be no denying it. An October fixture with such formidable opponents, who specialise in the game for most of the winter months, has always been a severe test, and the inexperience of three substitutes in the place of injured players aggravated the position still further; but, setting aside all excuses, the lack of will and determination to tackle was the root cause, and rapidly the team became dispirited. If comparative scores can be of value, suffice it to say that the improvement in the 1st XV can be judged by the fact that, in spite of Ampleforth defeating Denstone a few days after our vain efforts, our encounter with Ampleforth later in the season was by no means one-sided. Six old colours remained from the previous season, but none had been in the side for more than a year, so the team, if not particularly young, was inexperienced. In spite, also, of pre-season training, to a degree never previously undertaken by some, a long list of injuries did litle to improve the situation. Our recovery after the first month, the raising of morale and the re-establishment of some confidence was a long and uphill struggle, but a considerable sense of achievement was derived when the School teams 29
