Rugby, 1969

burg, Austria, an oasis of medieval castles, streets, beer and people, where Mr. Exham was able to give us a guided tour. Anglo-Germanic relations were not improved by the German border guards, and we were delayed seven hours at the Bulgarian-Turkish border by holiday traffic, which produced xenophobia from the most unexpected source.

We spent three days in Istanbul, amongst the Topkapi palace, Blue Mosque, San Sofia, and the miles of weird labyrinths of bazaars. The Turkish spoke on sight to us, but were really after our money.

Then to Asia, down the Western coast of Turkey, through Bursa, Ephesus, Pergamum, Troy and other places, past camel trains and mad bus drivers and interminable lira-sapping souvenir stalls. Up through Istanbul again and along the Greek coast to Kavalla, and a visit to the island Thasos, which proved for some to be the most beautiful part of all Greece.

Modern Athens was poor and dusty and hot, but the Acropolis and the surrounding old city, the Plaka, was a jewel in its centre. There was some argument as to how long to stay at Athens, but our "Minitrek" driver, David Bouchier, was finally persuaded to leave for England. Back we came through unbelievable Delphi, the maize fields of Yugoslavia, the thickly wooded slopes of Germany, and group singing on the boat, to arrive in York at 3.00 a.m., a day early.

Preconceived ideas of abroad were drastically amended by the trip. The food was hot, the people normal, and the ancient ruins incredible. Occasionally we cooked supper ourselves in camp, but when we could afford it, restaurants were frequented. Breakfasts and lunches consisted of a jam and sardine sandwich and orange drink. The trip was a vivid experience, and cured some of vehicle insomnia. D.P.

The bad weather from the end of November contrasted with the excellent playing conditions in the first half of the term.

The 2nd XV showed determination when playing teams of comparable calibre. The 3rd XV had some good results; notably the draw with Barnard Castle after being 3-9 down.

The Colts teams' season was badly curtailed by the weather, which provided poor preparation for next year, but some individuals showed promise.

Queen's won both Senior and Junior House competitions, but the House League programme hardly got off the ground.

At the end of the term there was a light-hearted "sevens" tournament, played in fog, between scratch teams of O.P.'s, Masters and Boys, won by the most organised seven drawn from the Senior Colts. J.P.R.

THE FIRST XV As had been expected, the 1st XV had a below average season. However, up to half-term they played their hearts out, and with a little luck the record would have been respectable. They had the better of the 28

drawn games against Bradford and Denstone, and were a shade unlucky to lose, in the closing minutes, a spectacular and hard match to the touring Colston's side.

The pack lacked weight and power, and from half-term met some packs which had plenty of both. As a result, the backs were starved of good ball and distinguished themselves mainly in defence. Unfortunately the forward cover was not adequate to the test.

In the pack Goodrick and Willis always went hard; Pollard was a sound scrum-half and Holmes an effective fly-half particularly in defence; Pearson's early promise was not fully realised because of a succession of nagging injuries; at full-back Oliver always had much to do, and usually did it well.

The Old Peterite match was unusual in that it was played on a Wednesday instead of the usual Saturday. Consequently the O.P.'s were able to raise a very powerful side which was too good for the School. A knotty and experienced front row plus an unerring service from scrumhalf ensured early possession to heavy and hard-running backs, and the O.P.s won 41-9.

v. BRADFORD G.S.

St. Peter's adapted better to the conditions with tactical kicking. Pearson followed up fast to touch down a high kick by Holmes who controlled the play effectively from fly-half. Later Pollard went over from a ruck after a footrush by Lovell had taken play to the Bradford line.

Bradford replied with two penalty goals, but only poor goal kicking robbed St. Peter's of a deserved win. Oliver at full back was outstanding, while the St. Peter's light forwards showed determination in nearly matching the heavier Bradford pack whose close support play was a feature of the game.

v. ASHVILLE COLLEGE

The Ashville backs handled better and ran with more determination than St. Peter's, scoring four tries, mostly from St. Peter's mistakes.

The St. Peter's pack had the edge in tight and loose, hooker Goodrick winning much good ball.

Oliver was again prominent at full back, while at fly half Holmes capped a sound display with an incisive break to score.

Other St. Peter's players to catch the eye were Bailey at centre, Pollard scrum half, and Willis, Gray and Lockwood in the pack.

v. DENSTONE

The ground was extremely wet, but Denstone provided a new non-slip type of ball, so play was open.

The first half was eventful but scoreless; the Denstone No. 8 knocked on over the line after a shaking tackle by Lockwood, while MacLeod and Bailey went close for St. Peter's.

In the second half, Pearson was quickly up to gather a sliced penalty to score, while Holmes accelerated through the defence for a try which Oliver converted.

Outstanding St. Peter's forwards were Goodrick, Willis, Gray and Carson.

v. GIGGLESWICK SCHOOL

A drizzle fell throughout the match, and St. Peter's adapted better

to the conditions.

P. Holmes at fly-half harried the Giggleswick full back with high and angled kicks, and once came within six inches of scoring. He received

an excellent service from Pollard.

The St. Peter's try came from good loose possession, and a break by Pearson, who drew the cover before passing to Lockwood, well up on the inside, to score; Oliver kicked the goal, and gave his usual sound

display at full back.

Goodrick, Gray and Raley caught the eye in a St. Peter's pack which

really worked hard to overcome their heavier opponents' eight.

v. COLSTON'S SCHOOL

Colston's School, Bristol, on a mid-term tour, pulled ahead in the closing minutes to beat St. Peter's by 13 points to 11. They scored three

tries from pressure close to the line and converted two.

For St. Peter's, Holmes scored with a determined burst after a heel against the head; Lockwood converted. Holmes also landed a drop-goal from 35 yards, and Oliver kicked a penalty goal.

v. LEEDS G.S.

During a close first half Leeds scored one penalty.

In the second half the heavier Leeds pack took charge, slowing up St. Peter's heel. Leeds scored one try by putting a forward into the line, and one from a two-man line-out and a long throw-in. They also kicked a further penalty.

Oliver was again outstanding at full back for St. Peter's.

v. AMPLEFORTH COLLEGE

After an even first half, the Ampleforth pack began to dominate. Clever running gained three tries for Ampleforth, two by Lucy and one by Bowie, while there was also a pushover. All four were converted and there was also a penalty goal.

For St. Peter's, Morley scored from a sidestepping run after a welltimed pass by Pollard. Lockwood converted and kicked a penalty. Both fly-halves were outstanding, Holmes for St. Peter's and Reichwald for Ampleforth.

v. DURHAM SCHOOL

The St. Peter's backs spent an afternoon of defence in which Bailey and Oliver were prominent.

This would have contained the score, which was only 6-0 at half-

time, had not Holmes and Pearson been reduced to hobbling passengers for the second half.

The Durham pack was quite magnificent in the loose, gaining clean possession with applied power play.

1st XV—S. W. St.J. Oliver; R. D. MacLeod, P. R. Bailey, M. C. Pearson* (Capt.), J. T. Morley; P. Holmes* (Vice-Capt.), D. Pollard; P. S. K.

Crossley, J. C. Goodrick, A. Gray, J. D. Willis, C. D. McAinsh, R. J.

Carson, P. A. Lockwood, J. D. Lovell. *—Caps.

2nd XV—M. J. Jones*; A. Rennie*, R. F. Atkinson, J. M. Collinson, S. R. H.

Astley; I. Robinson*, P. L. Hall*; P. R. Haigh-Lumby*, N. Barnes*,

J. D. Harrison, A. N. Lawrence*, I. D. Raley, J. M. Pearson*, A. S.

Bowie* (Capt.), M. W. Bainbridge*. *—Colours.

3rd XV—Selected from: K. Washington; H. W. Houseman, M. G. V. Stephenson, J. J. Les, K. D. Bowler, C. J. Watson; T. P. Littlefield (Vice-Capt.),

T. J. Young; D. P. Rounthwaite, T. Fisher (Capt.), J. A. L. Whittaker,

P. J. McMillan, G. V. Fisher, J. R. B. Harding, S. R. Shackleton, R.

Ashburn, J. R. Lund.

Under 16 Colts XV—A. H. W. Cooper*; G. A. Hunt, M. H. Drucquer*, A.

Corser, M. K. Green; S. P. Coverdale*, R. T. S. Young* (Capt.); R. E.

Taylor, R. W. Little, J. A. Mitchell, A. D. Penty* (Vice-Capt.), P. R.

Gooder, A. G. Sherriff*, R. C. Parker*, D. P. Atkinson. *—Colours.

Under 15 Colts XV—S. P. G. Muirhead; I. S. Jamieson, S. J. Warren, M. S.

Bidgood, T. M. Bloom; A. M. Buckman, W. F. Elsy; C. T. Bough; S. G.

D. Kirby, C. D. Pallant, K. H. Sargeant, P. A. Winstanley (Vice-Capt.),

D. C. P. Storie, A. T. Vickers, R. N. Kerruish (Capt.). Reserves: A. R.

Hornby, P. A. Ramsden and P. M. Shepherd.

Under 14 Colts XV—Selected from: P. A. Scott; P. N. Adam, I. W. Stephenson, C. F. Baggs, J. C. Cresswell, R. A. Pinder; K. D. J. McCarter, N.

Gray; T. J. Ward, M. S. Bruce, R. R. R. Claybum, D. J. R. Eddell,

A. R. D. Heddle, M. W. Berry, A. G. B. Perks (Capt.), R. A. Elwen, R.

D. Millikin.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS

1st XV Result F. A.

Sat. 27th Sept. Harrogate R.U.F.C. Colts ... Home Lost 5 11 Wed. 1st Oct. Headingley Wanderers XV ... Home Lost 12 30 Sat. 4th Oct. Headingley R.U.F.C. Colts... Home Lost 3 6 Sat. 11th Oct. Bradford G.S. Away Drawn 6 6 Wed. 15th Oct. Ashville College ••• Home Lost 11 19 Sat. 18th Oct. Denstone College ... ••• Away Drawn 8 8 Sat. 25th Oct. Giggleswick School ... ••. Away Won 5 0 Mon. 27th Oct. Colston's School, Bristol ••• Home Lost 11 13 Sat. 1st Nov. Leeds G.S. •.• Home Lost 0 12 Wed. 12th Nov. York R.U.F.C. ••• Home Lost 3 39 Sat. 15th Nov. Ampleforth College ••• Home Lost 8 23 Sat. 22nd Nov. Durham School ... ••• Away Lost 0 26 Sat. 29th Nov. Worksop College ... •.• Home Cancelled Sat. 6th Dec. Pocklington School ... ••• Home Cancelled Wed. 10th Dec. Old Peterites ••• Home Lost 9 41

2nd XV Sat. 4th Oct. York R.U.F.C. Colts ... Home Won 28 0 Wed, 8th Oct. Woodhouse Grove School ... Away Won 17 8 Sat. 11th Oct. Bradford G.S. Away Lost 3 5 Wed. 15th Oct. Ashville College ... Home Won 11 0 Sat. 18th Oct. Durham School ... Home Drawn 3 3 Sat. 25th Odt. Giggleswick School ... Home Won 19 11 Sat. 1st Nov. Leeds G.S. Home Lost 3 19 Wed. 12th Nov. St. John's College 'A' Away Lost 0 54 Sat. 15th Nov. Ampleforth College Away Lost 6 9 Sat. 29th Nov. Worksop College ... Home Cancelled Sat. 6th Dec. Pocklington School ... Home Cancelled Wed. 10th Dec. Scarborough College 1st XV Away Lost 10 26

3rd XV Wed. 8th Oct. Woodhouse Grove School ... Away Won 11 3 Sat. 11th Oct. Barnard Castle School Away Drawn 9 9 Sat. 18th Oct. Durham School ... Home Won 6 3 Sat. 25th Oct. Giggleswick School ... Away Lost 3 6 Sat. 15th Nov. Ampleforth College Away Won 3 0 Sat. 29th Nov. Worksop College ... Home Cancelled Wed. 10th Dec. Scarboro' College 2nd XV ... Away Won 5 3

Under 16 Colts XV Wed. 1st Oct. Archbishop Holgate's G.S.... Away Lost 0 19 Sat. 11th Oct. Barnard Castle School ••• Home Won 14 0 Wed. 29th Oct. Ashville College ... ••. Home Drawn 6 6 Wed. 12th Nov. Ampleforth College ••• Home Lost 5 14 Wed. 26th Nov. Durham School ... • •• Away Cancelled Sat. 29th Nov. Worksop College ... ••• Away Cancelled Sat. 6th Dec. Pocklington School ... •.• Home Cancelled

Under 15 Colts XV Sat. 4th Oct. Archbishop Holgate's G.S.... Home Won 22 8 Sat. 11th Oct. Barnard Castle School Away Lost 5 15 Sat. 18th Oct. Scarborough College ••• Home Won 14 8 Sat. 25th Oct. Giggleswick School ••• Home Won 9 8 Wed. 29th Oct. Ashville College ... ••• Home Won 12 6 Wed. 12th Nov. Ampleforth College ••• Home Lost 5 17 Wed. 26th Nov. Durham School ... ••• Away Cancelled Sat. 29th Nov. Worksop College ... ••• Away Cancelled Sat. 6th Dec. Pocklington School ••• Away Cancelled

Under 14 Colts XV Sat. 4th Oct. Archbishop Holgate's G.S.... Home Won 9 3 Sat. 11th Oct. Barnard Castle School Home Won 41 0 Wed. 12th Nov. Scarborough College Away Won 14 11 Sat. 29th Nov. Worksop College ... Away Cancelled Sat. 6th Dec. Pocklington School Away Cancelled

32