Hockey

N. J. Smith completed the requirements for the Scout Cord before his fifteenth birthday, which means that there are very few among those who have come up from the Scout Troop in the past two years who have not gained this qualification.

The Senior Scout Camp will be held in Newlands Valley, near Keswick, on a site which we visited in 1953 and 1957. Full details will be sent to parents during the Summer Term. SCOUT TROOP

Training for the First and Second Class Badges has been the main occupation this term and I should like to thank Mr. Oxley for his help with the latter. Stevens has gained his Second Class Badge and we welcomed one new scout, R. C. Dixon. Several scouts are now nearing the end of their First Class training and will be going on the First Class Journeys next term as the final test. During the last ten days of term six of the scouts training for the Scout Cord obtained 23 badges between them; 7 Pioneer, 5 Athlete, 5 Sportsman, 5 Cyclist and 1 Reader. This means that Burnell, Crossley and Thiriwell have now qualified and will be presented with their Cords next term. Moffatt obtained his earlier in the term.

The annual camp will be held in the North Wales area at the end of the summer term and it is hoped that as many scouts as possible will be able to attend.

The most outstanding feature of the 1962 Hockey season was undoubtedly the weather: not for many years has so much Hockey been played by all three games, and the enthusiasm, especially among the beginners, was most encouraging. For this happy state of affairs we must thank not only the weather but also Mr. Johnston for his hard work in keeping the pitches in perfect condition and doing all he possibly could to ensure that they were usable, even if it did rain a little.

Although conditions were all in their favour, the 1st XI was not a very strong side: with four of last year's forward line and only Jesper and Gildener in the defence it was expected that it would be in the latter department that our problems would lie. It certainly proved difficult to find the right combination in the defence, but once it was found they did not give a lot away. It is true that this was in large measure due to some brilliant goalkeeping by Gildener, but Lightfoot and Kettlewell, though somewhat ponderous in movement, learned to tackle well and to stop the ball safely. Jesper, moved of necessity from left-half to centre-half, took some time to settle down to this difficult position, but by the end of the season he was playing well and competently controlling the centre of the field; as Captain he was a little diffident in encouraging his team and pulling them together when things were going wrong, but he set an excellent example of keenness, which is reflected in the readiness of ten members of the team, with four of the 2nd XI to take part in the Bridlington Hockey Festival at Easter—a very worthwhile venture, inspired and efficiently organised by Gildener. With no ready-made left-half available it became necessary to bring Hunt back from inside-right to fill the position; this he did most competently, rapidly adapting himself and developing a very good cross pass. Richardson was the original choice for

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right-half and played quite promisingly, but he eventually gave way to Territt, who, though crude at times, played very hard and gave his opponent little rope.

The forwards were disappointing, but allowance must be made for the removal of Hunt, which possibly rendered Hutchinson less effective on the right wing; however, he did get plenty of the ball, once he had learned to drop back for the pass, and most of the attacks came from this flank; if he can learn to vary his play more, Hutchinson ( - mild do very well in Club Hockey, where his centres will receive more constructive treatment than Carr and the other forwards seemed able to give them. One of the most difficult things to learn in Hockey is to receive a pass, control the ball and get in a hard, accurate shot in the space of a few seconds and in the close presence of numerous defenders, so it would be harsh to criticise the three inside-forwards too severely: they must realise that constant and thorough practice is the only path to success. Carr had plenty of dash and could shoot very hard, but, alas, too seldom did he get a shot in and too often was it inaccurate when he did! However, he always tried hard and he must not get despondent when things do not go just right. Headlam kept his place on the left wing, but, as last year, he promised well in practice only to fail too often in matches; nevertheless, he will grow out of this and he has the ability to do well, if he does not worry too much. Hackney was the greatest disappointment after the promise he showed last year: there were occasional flashes of brilliance but far too many damp squibs of muffed passes and slowness to the ball; so, in later games, Robson played inside-left, showing far more direct approach with a good shot and reasonably safe stickwork. Reiss promised to fill the vacancy at inside-right but lack of positional sense and agonising slowness were too great a handicap, and Cloughton in only his second season of Hockey was brought into the side; he has great promise with a good eye for an opening; when he becomes more confident with his stickwork he should be a great asset.

The 2nd XI also had a moderate season, but Baker and Gow showed much promise, whilst Gartside played well on the right wing and McKay performed prodigies in goal.

There appears to be much promising material in Game 3, who, as usual, continued to play as long as Mr. Craine had breath to blow his whistle, and the School Hockey owes a tremendous debt to him for the willing hours he has spent inculcating the first rudiments of the game and inspiring enthusiasm into the 1st XIs. of the future.

TEAMS 1ST XI tG. Gildener; J. J. Kettlewell, J. D. Lightfoot; C. J. Territt, 1- M. C. M. Jesper (Capt.), P. Hunt; S. R. Hutchinson (Vice-Capt.), G. W. Cloughton, J. D. Carr, M. E. Robson, K. W. Headlam. t —Cap.

2ND XI f A. L. McKay; T. L. Adams, D. R. Gow; J. L. Richardson, f A. H. Baker, tC. J. Parker (Capt.); J. F. Gartside, S. H. Reiss, P. W. Shepherd, tJ. D. M. Hackney, J. R. Rowbottom. f —Colours. 26

1st XI Sat., 27 Jan. Wed., 31 Jan. Sat., 3 Feb. Wed., 7 Feb. Wed., 14 Feb. Wed., 21 Feb. Wed., 28 Feb. Sat., 3 Mar. Wed., 7 Mar.

2nd XI Sat., 3 Feb. Wed., 7 Feb. Wed., 14 Feb. Sat., 17 Feb. Wed., 21 Feb. Sat., 24 Feb. Wed., 28 Feb. RESULTS v. Leeds Corinthian v. Trent College v. Welbeck College v. Horsforth Shirkers v. Scarborough College v. Bootham School ... v. Worksop College v.Old Peterites v. Styx H.C.

v. Welbeck College v. Fulneck School ... v. Scarborough College v. York H.C. 'A' XI v. Bootham School ... v. York H.C. v. Worksop College ... Home Lost 2-5 Home Lost 2-4 Away Drawn 5-5 Home Lost 1-8 Home Drawn t—t Home Lost 1-3 Away Cancelled Home Lost 1-3 Home Cancelled

Away Drawn t—z Home Drawn 1-4 Home Drawn 3-3 Away Lost 3-5 Away Won t—o Away Lost 2-5 Away Cancelled

MATCH REPORTS v. TRENT COLLEGE Played at Home on Wednesday, 31st January. Lost 2-4

This match had to be played on the 2nd XI pitch because of heavy overnight rain and conditions were very bad. From the start the School seemed quite unable to hit the ball hard—an essential on this sort of ground—and Trent were soon two goals up. They continued to play very good hockey considering the conditions and, but for poor finishing, would have had a considerable lead by half-time. As it was, in one of the few School attacks Headlam scored a very fine goal from the left wing. The School improved slightly in the second half, but there was still far too much dithering and poor passing; Trent scored twice and Carr ran through to get a consolation goal just before the end. This was a very disappointing display by the School and they were lucky to escape a much heavier defeat.

v. WELBECK COLLEGE Played Away on Saturday, 3rd February. Drawn 5-5.

In great contrast to the previous week this match was played on a perfect surface, which produced an excellent game of hockey. The School team had been reorganised with Hunt at left-half and Reiss at inside-right; the former settled down very well and played a good game but Reiss was lost for much of the time and seemed unable to control the ball at all.

Hutchinson, after a good run, put the School ahead, and after a breakaway goal by Welbeck Headlam and Carr put the School two up and prospects of a victory looked bright. However, failure to cover in defence gave Welbeck two goals before half-time and two more immediately afterwards; the pendulum had swung with a vengeance. Both teams continued to hit the ball about well and play moved very rapidly from end to end; in mounting excitement Headlam and then Carr scored to bring the scores level again; and just before the end Carr hit a screaming shot into the top of the net from a short corner, but jubilation was premature, as the umpire quite correctly decided that he had not stopped the ball sufficiently before shooting. In any case, a draw was a very fair result to a game played with great enthusiasm and in an excellent spirit. 27