Rugby Football, 1961

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.

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

gained four victories over Worksop on 22nd November. This was a great day and one was left with the impression that measures taken a month earlier were reaping their reward. Not least of these measures was one which ruled that all high tackles in House matches would be penalised. The necessity for the elimination of all high tackling, particularly in its infancy, and the exclusion of all non-tacklers from teams, cannot be too highly stressed.

This was a year when our fixture list was considerably expanded and broadened by the introduction on an official basis of 3rd XV and "Under 14" XV fixtures. thus bringing match experience to a wider section of the School community. House Leagues, both Senior and Junior, were also instituted earlier than usual, and a full programme with many keen contests was completed.

Colts teams, who never cease to be the barometer for our future prospects, met with some successes, but were never wholly convincing.

So another season, as brief as each one is (major fixtures all completed before the last week of November), ended with the usual round of House matches and all arguments temporarily settled. The Old Boys match brought the curtain down on the scene, and prospects for next year should be more promising.

1st XV—R. S. Le Pla; R. H. Parker, C. J. Territt, J. D. Carr, A. L.

McKay; J. D. M. Hackney, J. A. B. Carruthers; J. J. Kettlewell* (Vice-

Capt.), D. H. Rhodes*, A. R. Magson, J. R. Brown* (Capt.), A. M.

Headlam, R. L. Bruce, M. A. Clegg, P. A. Liversidge. * Caps.

2nd XV—M. E. Raine; J. F. Gartside, M. C. B. Burbidge' - , C. J. Parker,

S. R. Hutchinson; J. L. Richardson*, G. R. Monfort*; P. Collins' (Capt.), N. G. Pace*, J. D. Lightfoot, J. C. Cossins*, A. C. Jowett,

T. L. Adams, J. A. Gillies, J. D. A. Platts*. * Colours.

Under 16 Colts XV—D. I. Lewis"; M. J. Howard, I. B. Robertson,

A. H. Baker, M. H. Ibberson; G. W. Cloughton* (Capt.), W. M.

Hudson; M. C. M. Anyan*, P. M. Semper, J. R. Dalkin, R. J. Slade,

M. J. Lunn, R. B. Blackburn, P. M. Emsley, A. F. Stott. * Colours.

Under 15 Colts XV—P. F. Nettleton (Capt.); S. Croft-Baker, T. C.

Mitchell, A. Youle, N. K. Wallace; R. D. Harding, D. J. Emsley;

W. R. Pickersgill, G. F. Eastaugh, M. A. Town, M. J. Oxley, D. J.

Mutch, D. E. Rowbottom, J. M. Winn, J. R. Coles.

Under 14 Colts XV—S. C. Maslin; R. G. Robinson, J. M. Mordue, C. W.

Clegg, S. G. Lancaster; J. J. Vooght, D. J. Emsley (Capt.); G. F.

Hardman, D. C. Ord, P. R. Hart, M. Donnelly, T. B. Ward, J. S.

Atkinson (Vice-Capt.), J. R. S. Lazenby, T. H. Vickers. 30

Wed., 4th Oct. Headingley Wanderers XV Home

Result F. A. A 3 Wed., 11th Oct. Durham School ... Away Lost 8 19 Sat., 14th Oct. Harrogate R.F.C. Senior Colts Home Lost 8 22 Wed., 18th Oct. Trent College . Home Won 9 6 Sat., 21st Oct. Denstone College ... Away Lost 3 55 Sat., 28th Oct. Harrogate R.F.C. Colts ... Home Won 30 3 Sat., 4th Nov. Leeds G.S. ... ... Home Lost 3 11 Sat., 11th Nov. Giggleswick School ... Away Won 8 0 Tues., 14th Nov. Bradford G.S. ... Away Lost 0 20 Sat., 18th Nov. Ampleforth College Home Lost 6 17 Wed., 22nd Nov. Worksop College ... Home Won 15 11 Sat., 16th Dec. Old Peterites ... Home Drawn 16 16

2nd XV Wed., 11th Oct. Durham School ...

• • • Home Lost 3 11 Sat., 21st Oct. Giggleswick School • • • Home Lost 0 3 Sat., 4th Nov. Leeds G.S. ... ... Home Lost 3 34 Tues., 14th Nov. Bradford G.S. ... • • • Away Lost 3 12 Sat., 18th Nov. Ampleforth College • . • Away Lost 0 35 Wed., 22nd Nov. Worksop College ... • • • Home Won 20 0

3rd XV Wed., 18th Oct. Barnard Castle School ... Away Drawn 3 3 Wed., 25th Oct. Worksop College ... ... Home Won 13 3 Sat., 11th Nov. Archbishop Holgate's G.S. Home Won 11 0 Sat., 18th Nov. Ampleforth College ... Away Lost 3 34

UNDER 16 COLTS XV Sat., 7th Oct. Ashville College ... ... Home Won 12 0 Wed., 18th Oct. Trent College ... ... Home Lost 8 11 Sat.. 21st Oct. Giggleswick School ... ... Home Lost 3 18 Sat., 28th Oct. Harrogate R.F.C. Junior Colts Home Won 25 0 Sat., 4th Nov. Pocklington School Away Lost 6 13 Wed., 8th Nov. Durham School ... Away Lost 8 24 Wed., 15th Nov. Ampleforth College Home Lost 3 13 Wed., 22nd Nov. Worksop College ... Away Won 5 3 Wed., 29th Nov. Barnard Castle School ... Home Won 11 3

UNDER 15 COLTS XV Sat., 7th Oct. Ashville College ... ... ... Home Won 14 0 Wed., 11th Oct. Archbishop Holgate's G.S. ... Home Won 46 5 Sat., 4th Nov. Pocklington School ... ... Away Lost 8 17 Wed., 8th Nov. Durham School ... ... ... Away Lost 9 11 Wed., 15th Nov. Ampleforth College ... ... Home Lost 12 21 Wed., 22nd Nov. Worksop College ... ... ... Away Won 6 3 Wed., 29th Nov. Barnard Castle School ... ... Home Lost 3 9

UNDER 14 COLTS XV Wed., 18th Oct. Barnard Castle School ... Away Lost 0 14 Wed., 25th Oct. Worksop College ... Home Lost 12 13 Wed., 15th Nov. Scarborough College ... Away Lost 5 28 31

SENIOR HOUSE MATCHES 1st Round : School House beat Grove, 12-3. Temple beat Rise, 8-3. Semi-finals: School House beat Manor, 12-3. Queen's beat Temple, 12-9. Final: School House beat Queen's, 9-0.

JUNIOR HOUSE MATCHES 1st Round: Grove beat School House, 6-0. Queen's beat Temple, 32-0. Semi-finals: Rise beat Grove, 14-5. Queen's beat Manor, 6-0. Final: Queen's beat Rise, 19-5.

SCHOOL MATCHES v. DURHAM SCHOOL Played away on Wednesday, 11th October. Lost 8-19.

The benefits of pre-season training were largely off-set by a spate of injuries, and the 1st XV which took the field for this match looked more like an "A" XV.

Durham opened the scoring with an opportunist drop-goal by their fly-half. The School half-backs soon proved far too slow against the menacing Durham open-side wing-forward. Conversely the Durham half-backs had time and room in which to move in spite of the attentions of Bruce.

Inexperience, slow reaction and hesitancy were mainly responsible for Durham's ascendancy and two further converted tries were scored by them before half-time.

Half-time: School 0, Durham 13.

Within the first minute of the second half Durham went further into the lead with another try, while Jesper (full-back) was still off the field, receiving repairs.

Putting much right that had previously been wrong, the School then came back more and more into the game. Territt was quick to pounce on a Durham mistake, and passed on to Hutchinson for a converted try. A further penalty narrowed the margin, but in the end a further try by Durham settled the issue. The second half was much improvement on the first half. Team: —Jesper; Sykes, Carr, Territt, Hutchinson; McKay, Monfort;

Magson, Rhodes, Kettlewell, Brown (Capt.), Headlam, Bruce, Clegg,

Burbidge.

v. TRENT COLLEGE Played at home on Wednesday, 18th October. Won 9-6.

In half-gale force winds Trent kicked off with the wind at their backs, but the School were soon able to carry play into their opponents' half. The forwards were lively in the loose but the backs lacked cohesion, and

32

finishing was generally poor. Several opportunities to score were thrown away in the final passes, and the only reward for the School were two penalties landed by Carr. Before half-time, assisted by poor tackling, Trent narrowed the margin with a well deserved try.

Half-time: School 6, Trent 3.

Immediately after half-time the School resumed the attack with determination. With the deterioration of the weather and the onset of driving rain, play too deteriorated rapidly. Neither side seemed to have the power or ability to finish a movement, until Trent levelled the score with a further try. A third fine penalty kick gave the School a winning lead shortly before the final whistle. But for Carr's boot the School would have gone under to Trent for the first time since 1948. Team: —Territt; Hutchinson, McKay, Carr, Parker; Richardson, Monfort;

Magson, Rhodes, Kettlewell, Brown (Capt.), Headlam, Bruce, Clegg,

Burbidge.

v. DENSTONE COLLEGE Played away on Saturday, 21st October. Lost 3-55.

The least said about this match the better. The monotonous way in which Denstone gained possession from the loose, the tight and line-outs had to be seen to be believed, and much that followed thereafter does no credit to our rugby annals. A side can only play as well as it is allowed to, and Denstone certainly were allowed to play really well. Everything seemed to go right for them, and everything wrong for the School. Ten tries were scored by our opponents, fitting enough testimony to our disgraceful tackling, and eight conversions along with three penalties completed the score. A penalty for the School by Carr was our sole reward. Team : —Territt; Hutchinson, McKay, Carr, Parker; Richardson, Monfort;

Magson, Rhodes, Kettlewell, Brown (Capt.), Headlam, Bruce, Clegg,

Burbidge.

v. LEEDS GRAMMAR SCHOOL Played at home on Saturday, 4th November. Lost 3-11.

The opening few minutes threatened an overwhelming defeat for the School, for Leeds got the ball regularly from scrum and line-out and the strong running of their three-quarters, combined with weak tackling by their opposite numbers, permitted them to attack constantly; the only things that saved the School were a number of dropped passes and some first-class covering by the School forwards. However, one break-through they could not stop and a kick ahead that bounced very awkwardly for Le Pla led to a second try. The only further score was a penalty and the School were pleased to turn round only 11 points down.

The second half was a different story, as the constant pressure and the fitness of the School forwards began to take their toll, and they not only forced the Leeds backs into errors but obtained possession on numerous occasions, especially in the loose. Unfortunately the backs seemed to have few ideas in attack and only two breaks by Carruthers threatened real danger for Leeds; from one of them he was able to put McKay over in the corner, but Carr failed to kick the goal, as he did with three penalties. The spirited fight of the School pack deserved a better reward. Team : —Le Pla; Parker, Territt, Carr, McKay; Hackney, Carruthers;

Kettlewell, Rhodes, Magson, Headlam, Brown (Capt.), Bruce, Clegg,

Liversidge.

v. GIGGLESWICK SCHOOL Played away on Saturday, 11th November. Won 8-0.

Following upon their improvement shown against Leeds, the School went about their task with greater resolution, and it was this which was the deciding factor in the end in this very close encounter with Giggleswick.

Conditions were dry and good for open rugby, but neither side handled with very much confidence, and as often as not the tactical kick ahead was put into use against two full-backs who were frequently under pressure. The School had the advantage of a strong breeze at their backs in the first half, and thus were able to maintain a territorial advantage. Following a 5-yard scrummage, Carruthers forced his way over on the open side to score near the goal-post for Carr to add goal points.

Half-time: Giggleswick 0, St. Peter's 5.

Brown and Headlam did good work in the line-outs on resumption, and the back-row forwards began to spoil effectively, but play unhappily became heated in the excitement and deteriorated accordingly. On one of the few occasions of pressure on the Giggleswick line Brown was on the scene first to touch down and virtually decide the issue.

Fate had dealt Giggleswick a cruel blow by depriving them of their star player at fly-half (unfit), but on the day the School just deserved to win.

Parker, Carruthers and Headlam were awarded their colours. Team : I. Lewis played at full-back in place of Le Pla (unfit).

v. BRADFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL Played away on Tuesday, 14th November. Lost 0-20.

It was perhaps too much to hope that, after their win against Giggleswick, the School would prove victorious over this unbeaten Bradford side, but it was not so much their defeat which disappointed, as the nature of it.

From one of the very first moves in the match, there was the old, old spectacle of feeble tackling in the centre, and Bradford were through for a try in the first few minutes.

From this early set-back and with all the encouragement it gave Bradford, the School never settled down. Before half-time two further tries and a conversion were scored by Bradford, and to add to the sorry tale Carruthers had left the field with a dislocated finger.

Half-time: St. Peter's 0, Bradford G.S. 11.

Bruce deputised at scrum-half, his old position, but he received little support. The Bradford back-row forwards, particularly in their link-up with their scrum-half, were a source of endless trouble to the School, and two further tries and a penalty for Bradford completed the second half scoring. Team : —Le Pla; Parker, Territt, Carr, McKay; Hackney, Carruthers;

Kettlewell, Rhodes, Magson, Headlam, Brown (Capt.), Bruce, Clegg,

Liversidge.

v. AMPLEFORTH COLLEGE Played at home on Saturday, 18th November. Lost 6-17.

In a good game, in which both sides played fast and open rugby, Ampleforth held a marked advantage in speed and thrust behind the scrum. The School defence had a trying afternoon against a penetrative right 34

centre and his fast wing partner. Le Pla fielded and kicked with cool confidence under the closest pressure and the forwards, though outweighted in the scrums, were a force to be reckoned with in the loose, where Bruce, Liversidge and Kettlewell were always to the fore, whilst Brown did good work in the line-out.

At half-time Ampleforth led by two tries and a dropped goal by Cooper against two penalty goals by Carr. In the second half the Ampleforth backs took charge and Young finished off a splendid passing movement by scoring in the left corner for Cooper to convert, and Tate scored on the right.

v. WORKSOP COLLEGE

Played at home on Wednesday, 22nd November. Won 15-11.

Playing in dry but cold conditions the School caught their opponents off guard and pressed home an early advantage. A well organised pack made several dangerous rushes and from a loose heel on the twenty-five McKay scored in the corner, after Hackney had skilfully drawn the defence; Carr converted. This lead was consolidated when McKay dived over after a clever break by Carruthers; Carr again converted.

The second half saw more organised opposition from Worksop, mainly in the line-outs. It was no surprise when Lyon outpaced a flagging School defence to score an unconverted try for Worksop.

St. Peter's retaliated and their superiority in the forwards led to McKay's third converted try following a rush led by Bruce and Liversidge.

Nothing daunted, Worksop fought back and were rewarded by a try from Bakewell converted by C. Diball, who kicked a last second penalty to bring Worksop within four points of the School.

Colours were awarded to Magson, Carr and Clegg.

v. OLD PETERITES Played on Saturday, 16th December. Draw 16-16.

This was one of the most enjoyable encounters witnessed between the Old Boys and the School for a very long time, enjoyable not only for the players and spectators alike, but for the referee also.

Play was fast, open and adventurous from beginning to end and the ground conditions never better for this time of year.

The star-studded O.P. team were clearly expected to win, but by halftime found themselves trailing by 13 points-3.

Strong language from their captain, C. W. Thompson, at half-time evidently worked wonders, for it was not long before the scores were level at 13-all with two further tries, and conversions by Ratcliff.

The Old Boys' ascendancy continued. After a further try, a seemingly 3-point winning margin was finally snatched from them by Hackney's inspired dropped goal for the School, and the score once more levelled at 16-all.

Lightfoot played in place of Magson (unfit). OLD PETERITE XV M. W. Woodruff; M. E. Kershaw, M. J. Kershaw, E. A. M. Reid-Smith,

J. J. Rhodes; C. D. King, U. A. Alexander; L. T. Beaumont, H. C.

Marshall, C. W. Thompson (Capt.), J. A. Jackson, T. A. W. Kettlewell,

C. H. Lewis, A. McCallum, K. M. Ratcliff. 35