Rugby Reports 13
(1968-69)

Despite the postponement of six consecutive matches at the height of the season due to the weather, the 1st XV produced some excellent rugby.

The highlights of the season were the well-deserved victory over a very competent Windsor side, and the game with Llanelli Grammar School (one of the best Welsh rugby sides) in which the school won 8-3.

With no outstanding players in the side it was necessary to have a good all-round performance from all members of the team, and it was this which resulted in such excellent games as Windsor (won 8-6), Llanelli (won 8-3) and the narrow defeat of Hampton (3-6).

The rest of the season was extremely inconsistent, several poor games marring an otherwise good season. An Easter Tour to Wales rounded off the season in fine style, however, despite the lack of success in the Llanelli Sevens.

D. Warby and S. Hughes put in a good first year in 1st XV rugby and both should prove reliable players in future seasons. All good things come to an end, and for C. Downing, M. Tolliday and P. Cannon it was their last year in the 1st XV, and their consistently good performances always brought credit to the side. J. Harvey, S. Dennis and R. Pooley improved remarkably as the season progressed and they reached their peaks with excellent performances in the games with Windsor, Llanelli and St. Albans.

J. Checkley was a regular member of the Middlesex side and J. Miller also played a game for his county. With only three boys leaving the team this year, we are looking forward to an even better season in 69/70.

J. MILLER, M6

In spite of the average record of the 1st XV the sevens team was one of the best the school has ever had owing to the large number of ball players available. The team, which was picked from J. Cannon. Checkley, Dennis, Downing, Harvey, M. Hughes, Pooley and Roscoe, had two notable successes. We were only beaten in the final of the Middlesex Sevens by the guest side, Windsor G.S., one of the best sides in the country. Consolation was soon gained, however, when we won the "B" section of the Oxford Sevens for the second time in the school's short history. Everybody produced his best, especially in the final, which was probably the most exciting of all the finals as we pulled back a 13-5 deficit to beat Haberdashers 15-13.

Generally our method of play was to pass the ball quickly from flank to flank until an opening was created for our flyers, Harvey and Dennis. Dennis scored more than twenty tries in the two competitions and, although he enjoyed most of the limelight, it must be said that it was essentially a team effort which enabled him to do this. Roscoe's dependable kicking helped the scores along and numerous individual sparks of genius by every member of the team brought the tries thick and fast.

The trip to Llanelli for the Sevens tournament, although disappointing for the First Team, showed our strength in depth as the Second Team played Cowley, who had two England players and gave them a very good match. All thanks are due to the members of staff, notably Mr. Bright and Mr. Wilson, whose efforts made everything possible.

M. CHECKLEY, M6

The seconds had a fairly successful season, winning six matches, losing five and drawing one. In the winter term the 2nd XV was an extremely strong side, but was weakened after Christmas by the promotion of several boys of the 1st XV and by several Upper Sixth players leaving the school. Towards the end of the season we were fielding what can only be called scratch sides.

Despite the shortage of players towards the end of the season, the spirit and enthusiasm of the regular members of the team was excellent. Captain for the season was C. Howard who yet again proved admirable at this task.

A. M. HUGHES

After three very successful years as a junior team, the Under 16 XV had to be largely rebuilt owing to several talented players taking the opportunity of giving up the game.

Thus, two or three early games were lost heavily while things sorted themselves out. By the end of the season, however, the team was playing confident, controlled and attractive rugby, which reached its dimax with an excellent win over a much heavier High Wycombe team in February.

Several factors were responsible for this transformation. First, there was a nucleus of good players who were extremely tolerant and helpful with inexperienced newcomers. Hill, the captain, was outstanding in this respect and was responsible, together with S. Hughes and Dimmock, a great find as a scrum-half, for controlling many games from the base of the scrum, Others who grew in stature with increased responsibility as senior players were Szelewski, Liebling, Smith and Parish.

Second, several newcomers, who had spent their junior rugby years in the "B" team, took their opportunity of 'A' team rugby in their stride and improved by leaps and bounds. Hing, for example, completed a very mobile front-row and has a crunching tackle - a quality not shared by many props: James (wing forward) was very quick about the field and was always looking for something constructive to do with the loose ball: Newing (fly-half) quickened his pace appreciably and was taking the opposition on with great confidence by the end of the season. A great discovery was Lars Goldsack, with us for a year from Norway, who took to the game like a duck to water, and possesses all the qualities of a really fine lock or back-row forward.

Lastly and this has been true of this group of boys throughout the School - they took their rugby seriously, trained hard, were prepared to listen, and tried to work for each other the whole time; a pleasure to work with and support.

P. J. CAHILL

The Colts enjoyed an average season, winning as many matches as they lost. What was potentially a strong team was weakened by a dislike of hard work, both in practice and in the actual games. There were, however, some signs of development, especially in newcomers Salama and Ramseyer,

In the games themselves the backs, with a pair of match-winners in Barker and Cox, were repeatedly handicapped by lack of "good ball", and for this the forwards must take most of the blame. They were quite lively in the loose, but time after time Peters, a determined if deliberate scrum-half, was afforded no protection whatsoever, with the result that he was constantly under pressure. Despite this, Crombie at fly-half played with great assurance and maturity. The team were frequently thankful for his relieving boot.

On a successful tour the team could have and should have won all three games, but wretched handling prevented winning scores in the first match against Hereford High School. One of the highlights of these matches was the confidence and skill shown by the four juniors who accompanied the Colts: A. Cox, Harding, S. Papworth and A. Szelewski. They should form the nucleus of a good Colts team in the coming season.

Finally, I should like to thank S. Martin, who proved to be an excellent captain, for his keen support, and to wish him and the rest of the team success with their rugby next season.

I. R. CLARKSON.

Although the Junior XV lost only two games throughout a long season, I have serious doubts that they will be as successful in the future unless some basic faults are remedied. They tend to rely at the moment on good individuals who will be less able to win games "off their own bat" as time goes on. At present, Szelewski is scoring many opportunist tries from the back of the scrum and line-out, as well as kicking goals from all angles: Veal and Cox are still able to use weight and speed to mow down the opposition in their path.

Already, towards the end of the season, ominous signs were showing. Good ball was becoming scarce through timid, half-hearted rucking and there was little determined play at the front or in the middle of the line-out. This caused a lack of confidence at half-back so that eventually the supply of the ball to the backs had almost completely dried up.

It is a special pity if these faults are allowed to ruin the team's record because there are several very good individuals in the team, in addition to the ones already mentioned. Harding is an excellent prop, who is very fast about the field as well as giving valuable support in the tight to Papworth, a very fast striker. Hughes is one of the few vigorous forwards, who also does sterling covering work. Plowman improved rapidly in the centre, compensating for a certain lack of physique, by determined running and a rare ability to make a gap out of nothing.

In the end, however, it is the abilities and efforts of the team as a whole which will secure success.

P. J. CAHILL.

In terms of results - only three wins - this was a disappointing season. The main weakness lay in the pack, many of whom were reluctant to "get stuck in". The backs showed poor teamwork in defence so that though generally willing to tackle, they were often not in a position to do so. At times there was an alarming lack of urgency and determination. Players seemed to wait for the ball to jump into their hands (as if by magic) and looked mortified if a grateful opponent picked it up, went forward and perhaps scored.

However, over the season, the rugby improved and against R.G.S. High Wycombe the high standard achieved augured well for the future. Individually, too, several players stood out. The back row of Hall, Johnston and Foulkes played hard in defence and attack, while Moss developed late into a useful all round forward. Of the backs, Hampson was the most thrustful, while Huddleston and Nash linked well at half-back. Nash proved a keen captain and led by example, notably in his tackling.

With tougher approach and more hunger for the ball, this team could develop into a very useful one.

E. A. COX.