Rugby

RUGBY 1st XV

T" SPORT

Nobody was under any illusions about the task that faced the 1st XV this season. With only four old colours available the side was always going to show inexperience and weakness in specific areas. However, the boys approached the job with genuine determination. This desire to make progress was emphasised by the presence of over forty players at the three days of pre-season training before the beginning of term in September. This time was tremendously valuable as it helped to give the whole squad a feeling of purpose. The trial games on the Saturday highlighted the possible strengths up front whilst showing the lack of depth outside the pack.

Bar the final game v's Bradford when Paul Carvosso was away at an interview the front row remained unchanged all season. Paul Carvosso showed just how much a sound technique and real courage make up for physical stature. Certainly with added weight, allied to his real ability, and determination in the loose Paul could make a success in club rugby. At hooker Gareth Silverwood was ever present. Not only has be bulked out but he has retained considerable pace over fifteen metres (thanks Karl Schoeman!). He was excellent in the tight and provided much needed penetration from the lineout and in the loose. He worked hard at his lineout throwing having started the season weakly. The experience he will carry into next season will be invaluable. Angus Gowthorpe made the step up from U. 16 to 1st XV with little difficulty. His work in the tight was always given at 110%. He is aware of the need to build up his mobility and made significant strides in this direction as the season progressed. Again his work at the front of the lineout enabled us to gain vital possession for much of the season. Andrew Ludiman locked the scrummage all season except for the Durham game when a bout of flu prevented him starting the game, even if he actually came on due to injury! A lack of mobility early in the season was outweighed by his excellent work at No. 4 in the lineout and in the tight. As he gained more confidence he became more valuable in the loose. With added strength and mobility he will provide a formidable opponent next year.

Robert Bell took over from Lawrence Patton as the other lock. His speed, commitment and extra weight provided us with a most valuable player in the loose, as well as a tower of strength in the tight. Robert will continue to bulk out for several years and could become a most accomplished club player should he wish to continue in this sport.

In the back row Jason Morris and Jason Mariyappan provided us with a real contrast in shapes and sizes! Jason Mariyappan quickly established himself as an excellent front jumper in the lineout and was only truly bettered in the game against Ampleforth. Jason was a 110% player whose non-stop tackling and support play will be sadly missed next year. Jason Morris captained the side in a most mature and inspirational manner. He provided our most dangerous player in attack with pace and real penetration. Despite his desire to become a back we all agreed that he was better off with the donkeys!! Paul Mulryne and Clifford Coggrave shared the other position in the back row. Both made significant progress especially in attack. With both back next season we will look for much from these players.

Behind the pack we had three scrum halves during the season. Sadly Alex Deighton, having returned from an ankle injury, broke his collar bone badly against Hymers and took no further part in the season. This was a critical blow as he had an excellent understanding with his back row, built up over the past five years. Mike Davies deputised well and made good progress early on. However, the crushing defeat by Ampleforth following two house match semi-finals, and the physical battering against Worksop convinced us that a confidence building rest in the 2nd XV was needed for a boy who was yet to pass his sixteenth birthday. Simon Davies entered the fray and had a splendid end to his rugby career at St. Peter's. He was fearless in attack and tackled with real guts at the base of the scrummage and lineout. His absence for Oxbridge interviews for the Bradford game enabled Mike to return and have his best match of the season.

With the changes at scrum half it was not always easy for Jamie Rigby to establish an attacking pattern of play at fly-half. However, his cool head in defence was invaluable. As a pound for pound tackier I have personally never seen a more effective nor brave individual. Those who watched the Durham game will fully understand why Jamie was awarded his cap. In the centres Chris Richardson and Adrian Robinson were always in the firing line. It says much for their determination that despite playing the majority of the season in a defensive role they finished the season at Bradford playing their best attacking rugby. Certainly they gained much confidence from this and were ever present on tour setting up several quite excellent backs tries. I hope Adrian now has the confidence to push himself in club rugby and I am sure we will see C.J. showing us much more of his attacking flair next season. He has weathered the storm and emerged a much better player.

Sadly, apart from two early appearances, we were deprived of Chris Caldwell through injury until the final game of the season. Richard King also found his asthma too much and was advised not to play in the second half of the season. Dominic Bell came into the side against Barnard Castle and made the position his own showing courage both in attack and defence. Adam Waters played the whole season on the right wing showing as much genuine ball skill as anybody. He developed into a fine tackier and had quite outstanding games against Ampleforth and Durham. His infectious enthusiasm was never dampened. It is essential to have players in a side who give their all, win or lose, and still smile at the end. At full-back Mike Forrester established himself early and was an essential organiser. His line kicking improved after early hitches and he became a most useful reliever of pressure. Simon Powell, Robert Crossley, Graham Wood, Paul Reavley, David Batty and Edward Savage also represented the side during the season.

I will leave the final words on the season to Mr. L. Bentley, Chairman, Youth Sub-Committee Yorkshire R.F.U., who said of the Bradford Grammar School game in a letter to the Headmaster, "May I say immediately that it was certainly not the one-sided game the score would suggest and I write merely to compliment your boys representing St. Peter's on their tremendous team spirit and individual skills.... Above all, perhaps, was the exemplary sportsmanship which was a credit to both Rugby Union and their School. To your captain, I think, goes special credit for his outstanding commitment and leadership which regardless of his undoubted ability must have been an invaluable asset to his side. It is relatively easy to skipper a winning team but it takes great character to bring out the best in a relatively young and inexperienced side.... I was, as an uncommitted spectator, proud of your team's sustained endeavour and commendable attitude." These words encapsulate my feelings on the season and explain why it was a real pleasure to be involved with coaching this side. Jason Morris and the vice-captain Paul Carvosso always behaved in an exemplary way giving tremendous support to both myself and the squad. For this I thank them. The squad of players made great progress during the season and at no point let their standards fall even in the most difficult circumstances. As young men great credit is due to them, and success cannot merely be measured by results themselves.

Caps were awarded to:

Jason Morris, Paul Carvosso, Jamie Rigby.

The Morris McGrath Trophy was won jointly by:

Jason Mariyappan and Robert Bell.

Finally I would like to thank Messrs. Lawrence, Morris and Allen for their invaluable assistance, and also all the parents who watched and gave much positive encouragement and support throughout the season.

Players representing 1st XV:

P. Carvosso*, G. Silverwood*, A. Gowthorpe*, A. Ludiman*, R. Bell*, J. Morris*, J. Mariyappan*, C. Coggrave*, P. Mulryne*, A. Deighton, M. Davies, S. Davies, J. Rigby*, C. Richardson*, A. Robinson*, D. Bell*, A. Waters*, M. Forrester*, C. Caldwell, R. King, R. Crossley, D. Batty, E. Savage, L. Patton, S. Powell, P. Reavley.

1st XV Results 1990

Sixth Form College Retiring Captain's XV Leeds Grammar School Silcoates Barnard Castle School Hymers College Denstone College Ampleforth College Worksop College Pocklington School Durham School Ashville College Bradford Grammar School Home Home Home Away Away Home Home Away Away Home Home Away Away Lost Draw Lost Lost Lost Lost Lost Lost Lost Lost Lost Lost Lost 674116413066066-14 - 7 -34 -52 - 7 -10 -32 -64 -40 -35 -40 -12 -40

2nd XV

The season got off to a poor start when our rather makeshift side came up against a strong Yarm 1st XV. In the end we did well to hold the score to 0—15. Against a well-organised, but not particularly gifted Leeds side we again failed to impress and were well beaten. Silcoates (away) marked the turnaround for the 2nd XV. A spirited performance was given by all against a very powerful, efficient side and the scoreline did not do our courageous efforts justice. Against Barnard Castle, in appalling weather conditions the side's determination for success was rewarded. We spent the entire match in their half, but despite relentless forward pressure only managed to score fifteen points. Our good form continued against Hymers at home and in a free-flowing match 16—16 was a fair result. Against Denstone the pack continued to show good control in the set-piece play, and for the first time started to run directly at the opposition, keeping the ball alive and setting up good second phase ball for the backs. A convincing victory (31—3) was well deserved. Against Ampleforth we did not play to our strengths and spent the first two thirds of the game defending. When we did start to attack the blind side with back row moves and swift forward support we scored two fine tries in quick succession and ended up dictating the play. Alas it was too late and the side was left to reflect on what might have been.

The substantial victory at Worksop led to complacency in the preparation for the Pocklington match and against a poor side we produced our worst performance of the season to lose 9—13. Durham at home provided good opposition and we lost in a close encounter.

The highlight of the season was against Ashville when everything we had practised worked like a dream and unselfish fifteen man rugby brought an outstanding seventy point victory. The final match was against Bradford Grammar away and it was a measure of the side's progress that we were only narrowly defeated having played by far the better rugby.

The results throughout the season showed that we were a match for all of our opponents. The squad was enthusiastic, playing and practising in the right spirit and it was only our slight lack of confidence and occasional mental indiscipline that prevented greater success.

The following players represented the 2nd XV:

A. Dean (Captain), E. Savage, A. Killip, P. Reavley, C. Barlow, G. Walker, L. Patton, J. Fieldsend, G. Wood, P. Mulryne, C. Coggrave, C. Martin, S. Davies, M. Davies, D. Batty, R. Crossley, J. Higginson, S. Powell, O. Gardner, J. Ward, M. Ludiman, J. Swallow.

D. K. Morris

3rd XV

Played: 12 Won: 3 Lost: 9

Despite the strengthened team resulting from the incorporation of the Under 16 squad into the senior teams, the 3rd XV had a difficult season against a mixture of Under 16 and true 3rd XV opposition.

The best performance was in beating Worksop's 3rd XV by 26—6. Heavy losses in other matches showed deficiencies in physique and team cohesion.

Individuals who played regularly with distinction include Charles Pugh, Matthew Pittman and Anthony Curtis.

G. Lawrence

U.15 COLTS

The Under 15 Colts had a season of mixed fortunes winning just over half their matches. The squad contained talent but they rarely played to their full potential as a team largely due to slow decision making and the unwillingness to release the ball early when support was available. When they did, the quality of the rugby was of a high order as was evidenced in the match at Worksop. The other major limitation of the squad was the arrogance of some leading players who believed they were a lot better than they were which occasionally resulted in complacency. When this happened against Durham, a side who clearly were highly motivated, the defeat was fully warranted.

The season opened with two undistinguished wins against Silcoates and Barnard Castle which was followed by much sterner opposition at Hull. Hymers, thirty-six points up midway through the second half, were playing fast, strong running rugby whilst the School were slow to the break down and weak in the tackle; however, in the last quarter of the game a more determined approach produced two good tries and salvaged some pride.

In the first match after half-term at Ampleforth, the School did well to hold the opposition to 14-4 playing upfield in the first half. Unfortunately, wasted possession in the second half did not produce the territorial advantage expected and instead of the margin being closed the reverse took place. Despite this defeat, there was greater cohesion in some of the team play and this was rewarded the following week at Worksop when the backs for once were able to get good early ball to run in some fine tries.

The match against Pocklington was the most exciting of the season. The visitors led 18-6 just after half-time

but three superb penalties by Gordon Gibb and a try by Michael Hunter put the School ahead with minutes to go. However, Pocklington with the fastest man on the field, scoring with the final move of the game, snatched victory. Whilst this encounter had a lot to commend it, the following game against Durham was the nadir of the season. The final match of the term at Ashville proved too one sided, for a much stiffer test would have been to the team's advantage.

After Christmas, only the return game against Ashville was played due to cancellations caused by the weather.

There was undoubtedly considerable talent in the side but those in key positions were not always motivated to work hard for victory.

Higher standards will only be achieved with greater maturity, effort and determination.

Team selected from:

T. Duncan (Capt.), T. Cockcroft (V-Capt.), P. Taylor, G. Gibb, N. Middleton, S. Clegg, J. Beaufoy, N. McBride, N. Walker, R. Pugh, A. Rigby, M. Inness, R. Silverwood, D. Greeves, R. Clark, S. Parry, M. Hunter, B. Councell. Edward Backhouse came into the squad and filled the problem position of full-back with good positional sense and a strong boot. The team spirit, sound forward platform and flair in running the ball in attack were the key areas in an enjoyable season. Well done to you all.

Team from:

A. Fotherby (Captain), M. Abbey, E. Backhouse, R. Bailey, F. Black, R. Clark, S. Clegg, J. Forde, D. Gair, A. Hall, R. Inns, D. Lyons, S. Mcllhinney, R. Maddison, R. Pugh, C. Pyne, P. Ravailhe, A. Roy, J. Sleight, N. Strong and D. Sumpton.

^?. G. Shread

Results:

Barnard Castle Hymers College Ampleforth College Worksop College Pocklington School Durham School Fyling Hall School Home Away Away Away Home Home Home Won Lost Lost Won Won Lost Lost 2 0- 0 12-28 4 - 24 9 - 3 16— 0 0 - 16 3 - 24

Results:

Silcoates School Barnard Castle School Hymers College Ampleforth College Worksop College Pocklington School Durham School Ashville College Ashville College Home Home Away Away Away Home Home Away Home Won Won Lost Lost Won Lost Lost Won Won J. 201212-

4--22 402 1-

6--19 4360- 3 -10 -42 - 0 -24 - 0 - 0 W. R. Hutt

Under 15B XV

Excluding the fixture against Fyling Hall School, which turned into a mixed A and B match, the season's record was three wins and four defeats. The team developed by experimenting with twenty-one different players in a number of positions! However, the side eventually settled and the strengths began to show.

The forwards paved the way with some strong scrummaging work, especially when one considers their lack of bulk in the front row. The two David's (Gair and Lyons) in the second row developed throughout the season. There was also a strong partnership in the back row with the craft of Christopher Pyne, the mauling of Amit Roy and the all round skills of Selwyn Mcllhinney. Nicholas Strong and the Captain Andrew Fotherby played well at half-back together.

In the backs there was a sound blend of strength, size and pace. Fraser Black and Steven Clegg were solid in midfield and worked well together. The try scoring potential lay out on the wings with Phillipe Ravailhe's elusive running and Richard Maddison's speed and power. Under 14A XV

As the results show, this was a very good season despite the lack of any Easter Term fixtures, due to the weather, as notable oppositions were unplayed — Bradford Grammar and Woodhouse Grove — which would have put an unbeaten season into greater perspective. However, unbeaten they were, and such a record happens all too rarely these days and many congratulations must go to all the players involved.

An average of seven tries a match with all but two of the regular players scoring and with so few points conceded all goes to show the strength, in depth, in all departments of the game. A successful ex-Olavite group were splendidly topped up with five players from local Prep. Schools so that each position was filled with a player of sound individual skill who has much potential for the future.

In the opening match against Silcoates each three quarter scored but perhaps Jonathan Noble's try exemplified the team effort when a lineout some thirtyfive yards out was won by us and each back passed just before being tackled for Noble to run some fifteen metres to just touch down as he was tackled; the timing of passes and the determination shown by Jonathan was to become a hallmark of our play. As we got used to Ben Oakley he would not be denied and a No. 8 pick up from the halfway line saw some splendid interpassing with blind side wing forward Lee O'Keefe for Oakley to score — another recurring element in the progress of the team's performances.

Against Barnard Castle in the next game a well worked back passing move with the full-back Neil Forshaw entering the line on the burst, to score himself, exemplified our ability to counter attack so confidently

and another burst of speed later on by Nicholas Wight saw an individual try of some sixty yards as he took the loose ball and sprinted through tackles almost all the length of the field to score against Hymers. The score that stuck out in my mind came from the captain, Matthew Dodgson, a fly-half of unequalled ability and potential in my opinion, who from a scrum just inside the opposition's twenty-two sold two of the most perfect side-steps to score under the posts, untouched despite some eight players trying their hardest to grab hold of him.

Against Ampleforth scoring some five tries in the first twenty minutes stifled the counter-attack that they are so noted for, but perhaps this game's most memorable score came from Simon Rivis from a pivot penalty involving Richard Brown who took on nearly all the opposition's pack to make the ball available, for it to be passed down the line through four forwards' pairs of hands and then all the backs with the outside centre scoring in the corner.

Our next game against Worksop was played in very wet conditions and to suit the weather the forwards rose to the occasion, visibly enjoying the close encounters that the conditions dictated. Prop Michael Helme opened the scoring with a robust effort after a mixed backs and forwards ruck, bursting through tackles to score in the corner after the kick-off had been fumbled and the pursuing players relished the opportunity to bruise their way forward. Second row Michael Catling and back row Lee O'Keefe put in crunching tackles with splendid regularity to stifle any movement forward by the opposition and the win was secured by their valiant efforts.

Our opening score in the opening minutes of the game against Pocklington showed further proof, if any was needed, of the maturity in unselfishness by Oakley after a No. 8 pick up just inside the opposition's twenty-two, when he drove into two players to make the ball available for the scrum-half, Tom Archer — though he himself showed individual skill in side-stepping opposition to score under the posts. Some thirty-six points later, and without a personal score, Oakley again unselfishly cleaned up a ruck, took the ball on but committed opposition players for second row James Hiles to get on the score sheet — at the expense of himself perhaps — the hallmark of real potential in No.8 Ben Oakley, hardly seen in someone of his age.

Ben made up for not scoring in the next game against Durham by getting three of the five tries we scored, often by sheer individual drive and determination, ensuring a win we might not otherwise have got.

In our last game against Ashville, the constant backing up by David Todd was rewarded with an early try, and penetrating running by flying-wing Scott Bradley who was also our very successful goal kicker, set the seal on a most rewarding term and season, as it turned out, due to the weather.

It is not easy to pick out individuals who deserve particular mention as all of them played some exceptional rugby at one time or another through the season. But Ben Oakley and the captain Matthew Dodgson showed themselves to be, in my opinion, a couple of the best allround players we have had here for some time. Though I am sure the way ahead will have its setbacks, the future looks extremely promising as the forwards and the backs, under their leadership, looked the most complete and balanced units I have seen here at School and so long as they wear their success well they all look to be a formidable force for the future.

J. A. Owen-Barnett

Results:

Silcoates Barnard Castle Hymers College Ampleforth Worksop College Pocklington Durham School Ashville College Home Away Home Home Home Away Away Home Won Won Won Won Won Won Won Won 4 22 82 63 62 24 62 04 2-

6 - 0 -10 - 7 - 0 - 0 - 8 - 0

U.14 B XV

Played: 9 Won: 1 Lost: 2 Drawn: 0 For: 188 Against: 52

This year's U.14 B XV squad proved itself to be talented and able to score points. In only four matches were points scored against them.

Throughout the season Barefoot and Whalley propped with determination and talent, and demonstrated good mobility. Mosby cheerfully offered a reliable back-up service. At hooker, Lakin was fleet of foot and effective in defence. The second row combination of Cox and Milne became quite formidable, offering strength and power in the scrum, and more determination than height at the lineout. In the back row Bradley and Williams covered much ground and attacked and defended with guts. Bradley's skills with the boot were invaluable, the highlight of his season being the drop-kicked conversion from the touchline against Pocklington. The pack was led by Pitt, at No.8, whose vision and skill were an example to the entire unit.

From the scrum-half position Metcalfe captained the team courteously and by example, always giving 100%. Dowds, at stand-off, had a good season developing both handling and kicking skills, and had to work hard not to lose his place to the up-and-coming Brierley. In the centre, Drysdale and Atkinson became a formidable team creating many scoring chances with their speed and handling. Leveson, Midhage, Falconer, Clark and Erkut willingly took turns to fill the wing positions, each able to attack with certain speed and defend stoutly. Marlow found himself out of position at the start of the season at fullback, but swiftly learned to fulfill the role with great ability in every respect. With eight tries he was this year's top scorer.

Many thanks to all those who played this season and also to Mr. John Owen-Barnett for his invaluable advice and assistance.

M. J. Grant