Hockey Notes

Training in the Easter Term has again been devoted to Head of the River Races. This year, however, there was a change in organisation: Mondays and Fridays were devoted to the training of the School crews, while on Wednesdays and Saturdays all oarsmen below the 1st VIII trained for the House Head of the River over 11 miles. The principal advantage here lay in the stimulus derived from competition between Houses and in the fact that every oarsman could be coached every outing by a master.

This organisation proved most satisfactory and some keen racing resulted. In the event Queen's proved the most mature crew and won comfortably from Temple and School House, both of whom, however, had made the very most of their limited resources. In assessing the value of this race, it is clear that all bar the best oarsmen derive great benefit from the extra coaching and from the example of the crews' senior members. The latter are bound to receive less attention than when rowing in School IVs, yet their own oarsmanship has clearly gained from their experience in helping the junior oarsmen in order to produce the best crew possible. It seems likely that the event will be repeated next year. The Summer House Races, in which all oarsmen compete, will of course continue to be held in July.

Only this year's captain, T. B. Ward, remained of last year's 1st VIII, and to him must go much of the credit for the swift progress made by a relatively inexperienced 1st IV. In the Schools' IVs at Nottingham Head of the River they produced their best form and came 2nd out of the 21 crews. This was a considerable achievement, for starting 20th, among the new entries, they were bound to find disturbed water and to steer a less than optimum course when overtaking slower crews. The 2nd IV unfortunately had to forego this event in order to provide substitutes for the House Head of the River.

At York the School won the Schools' IVs for the third time running, though neither the 1st nor the 2nd IV produced the form it had previously shown, 3rd and 4th IVs were entered and acquitted themselves well in view of the fact that the House event had left them only two afternoons a week for training.

It will be most interesting to see how these Easter Term events may have affected the standard of rowing in the Regatta season.

D.S.M.

RESULTS Head of the Trent, Nottingham, Schools' IVs Division (21 entries, 2 miles).

St. Peter's School 1st IV: 2nd in 10 min. 55 sec. Head of the Ouse, York, Schools IVs. Division (12 entries, 2/ miles).

St. Peter's School 1st IV: 1st in 12 min. 34 sec.

St. Peter's School 3rd IV : 3rd in 12 min. 46 sec.

St. Peter's School 2nd IV: 4th equal in 12 min. 59 sec.

St. Peter's School 4th IV: 8th in 13 min. 14 sec.

House Head of the River Races (1 miles) 1st Queen's. 2nd Temple. 3rd School House. 4th Dronfield. 5th Grove. 6th Manor. 7th Rise. 33

1st IV

Bow, T. B. Ward; 2, J. K. Park; 3, P. T. Summers; Stroke, W. N. Marshall; Cox, P. R. Bailey. 2nd IV

Bow, M. A. Groundwater; 2, K. J. Sargeant; 3, R. I. Moss; Stroke, P. R. H. Blackford; Cox, D. P. Turnbull. 3rd IV

Bow, A. J. Moss; 2, A. S. Carr; 3, J. N. Yellowley; Stroke, P. S. Oglesby, Cox, M. G. Pace. 4th IV

Bow, M. K. Bowen; 2, I. S. Donaldson; 3, A. W. Parker; Stroke, P. Scaife; Cox, R. F. Davies.

Playing conditions were the best for many years and only one match was cancelled. The new organisation with boys divided into five league teams as well as the Game 1 and 2 had a successful start but because of the short season this term, only six weeks, the league programme was not completed. By having a league programme for the first part of the season and playing most of our fixtures in the latter part we hope to get better selection for the first and second XI's and also get more practice in before playing school fixtures.

With only three of last year's First XI left, several combinations had to be tried, particularly in the defensive positions, and many players had to adjust to new playing positions. This produced a rather inexperienced side for our first matches but rapid improvement enabled them to give a good account of themselves against a strong Old Peterite and Styx Hockey Club sides at the end of the season.

During the holidays J. E. Dickinson played for the Yorkshire Schoolboys against Cheshire.

ist XI

RESULTS Wed., 8 Feb. v. Bootham School ... ... Away Lost 3-7 Wed., 15 Feb. v. Scarborough College ... Away Won 2—o Sat., 18 Feb. v. York H.C. znd XI ... Away Lost o-5 Sun., 19 Feb. v. Pandas H.C. ... ... Cancelled Wed., 22 Feb. v. Worksop College ... Home Lost 0-3 Wed., 1 Mar. v. Nunthorpe G.S. ... ... Home Won 4-3 Sat., 4 Mar. v. Old Peterites ... Home Lost o-2 Wed., 8 Mar. v. Styx H.C. ... ... Home Lost o-3 2nd XI

RESULTS Wed., 8 Feb. v. Bootham School ... ... Home Won 2—I Wed., 15 Feb. v. Scarborough College ... Away Lost 2-3 Sat., 18 Feb. v. York H.C. 4th XI ... Home Lost 1-5 Wed., 22 Feb. v. Worksop College ... ... Home Lost o—t Wed. 1 Mar. v. Archbishop Holgate's G.S. ... Home Won 4—o 3rd XI

RESULTS Wed. I Mar. v. Archbishop Holgate's G.S. ... Away Won 3-1

34

1st XI v. O.Ps. Result: Lost 2-0.

Conditions were ideal for a fast fluid game, however, neither side were able to build up constructive attacks, individual play was the feature of the game. The O.P. team had a formidable defence and an excellent midfieldtrio which thwarted most of the School forwards efforts. The School survived a strong opening attack and the play centred around the School's circle for most of the first half. The O.Ps. were rewarded by a goal before half-time. In the second half the same pattern continued but the School came into the game in the last quarter, however, it was the O.Ps. who settled the issue by scoring a second goal.

OLD PETERITE HOCKEY TEAM

J. Annequin (42-52); M. Hallas (43-47); K. Ratcliff (44-50); G. Todd (54-64); W. Pickersgill (60-66); R. Jackson (47-51); E. Graham (32-37); M. Hodd (43-51); J. Vooght (56-66); M. Ransom (53-50); T. Huzzard (46-55).

1st XI v. BOOTHAM Played away on 8th February. Lost 7-3.

As the score suggests, Bootham dominated the majority of the game. They scored first in the opening minutes of the game, and from that point on the School defence was never settled. The equalising goal was scored by Zissler, but Bootham added two more goals before half-time. Another goal by Zissler, scored by deflecting a hard cross ball from the right-wing, made the score 3-2, this gave the School attack more confidence. However, Bootham ran in four more goals when the School defence became panic stricken. Morris scored before the end, but the School forwards were never really in the game. The result reflected the lack of team practice, and what was a potentially good defence, failed to play as a unit but played as individuals.

1st XI v. SCARBOROUGH COLLEGE Played away. Won 2-0.

The reorganised defence found the necessary co-ordination and confidence, and by the end of the first half, they dominated the Scarborough forwards. The School forwards were constantly on the attack and the first goal was scored by Richardson from a short corner, this followed a number of near misses. The second half followed the same pattern; the halves cut off all attacks and distributed the ball well. Fisher, who deputised for Waller, had a particularly fine game at right-half. The full backs covered each other well and did not hesitate in clearing the ball. The second goal was scored by Morris following a bad clearance from a short corner.

1st XI v. YORK H.C. 2nd XI Played away. Lost 5-0.

The game was played at New Lane, where the playing conditions were excellent. The School played well against a more skilled team, and held the score to 1-0 at half-time. This goal was scored when the defence stopped playing on hearing a whistle from a nearby game. The entire first half was spent defending, but the game opened up more in the second 35