Rugby Reports 15
(1970-71)

In terms of results, the 1970/71 season was a poor one, yet in other aspects, effort, team spirit and individual performance, points not as noticeable as facts and figures, the School had great success.

Throughout the entire season a consistent effort was maintained by both regular and reserve players. This common effort removed the burden from individuals and was the deciding factor in the creditable victory at Solihull School and the narrow defeats by St. Benedicts and Rainey Endowed School. This overall keen approach adopted by the boys during the matches acted as a compensating factor for the rather obvious lack of experience. It is perhaps a great pity that more parents could not have shown the same degree of keenness and turned out to watch the School teams.

The crop of good young players owed its success to Mr. Gibson who devoted much attention to the younger boys, and greatly improved the standard of boys such as Tim Bond. Dave Hughes, and Roger Plowman. These three players gave sterling service throughout the season and more than adequately made the step up from Colts to Senior Rugby. If their interest and confidence can be maintained and strengthened, they should prove valuable assets to future school teams.

Mention must be given to the other end of the age scale. The older lads, all of whom have given me their support throughout the season must be credited. Although several will have left in the summer, I should like to thank Brian Dimmock. Graham James, Martin McClelland, Graham Parish and Richard Smith, for their help and advice.

Many of last year's team will be returning for 1971-72 and these should be the nucleus for a very successful team, Special mention must be given to both Michael Barber and Christopher Szelewski whose experience, combined with the tricky genius of "Fabs" Liebling will be invaluable. Chris played a few games for the county U-19 team, and if he can "keep his cool" this coming season should do exceptionally well. Mick Barber should also make this year's county side.

The onus therefore will be on those experienced team members to shield the younger boys, and keep up the good team spirit that exists. This can only be achieved by regular squad training in which the basics must not be forgotten. Tackling, on the whole, was weak last season and resulted in many tries bring scored against us. I would like to thank Mr. Gibson on behalf of the team for his faith and energy throughout the season. I hope sincerely that next year's team and Mr. Gibson have the success they deserve.

DEREK WARBY M6A

Not a successful sevens season for St. Nicholas. To begin the round of competitions, we travelled to Aylesbury for the Buck's School Tournament. We won our first two matches but lost the third, and hence went into the plate competition as runners-up. Unfortunately we were beaten, and did not reach the finals.

In the Public Schools Tournament we did rather better, beating Morley Grammar School 9-0 and Thames Valley 21-6. Our run of successes was ended by Neath Grammar School, fielding two Welsh Internationals.

The day after this defeat, we travelled to Oxford with two teams. In this tournament, the ill-luck that had dogged St. Nicholas' rugby returned. The U.16 team lost 8-6 to Solihull School. We played some excellent rugby, but the loss of Szelewski was too much of a handicap and we made our exit from the competition.

The Senior team were up to this point, faring much better. They had won their first match and were easily capable of qualifying. However, McClelland damaged his eye in a clash of heads with Newing, and followed Szelewski to hospital. We were finally beaten 8-5, after leading 5-0 before the accident. In the final match we beat Wolverstone Hall 16-5 and finished as runners-up. Finally we entered the Middlesex Schools Tournament, but were beaten in the semi-final of the Plate competition, after Warby had broken a bone in his foot.

PI 20 W 5 D 1 L 14 Points: for 244, against 260

47 boys, including five Colts, played for the team, under ten captains. On average, four reserves played in each match, while five games finished with a man off the field. Thus, a coherent pattern of play could not be developed causing team spirit to suffer at times.

If our tackling had been of average standard, the number of defeats would have been fewer, since, on several occasions, enough points were scored to have earned victory. Many easy tries were presented to our opponents, and too many players waited for the pass, bought the dummy or just stood off their opponents. Tackling is a regular part of the game and an offensive weapon; it is a means of gaining "good ball" and of disrupting the opposition's rhythm.

However, there were some highlights. Excellent rugby was played in victories over Vyners (39-0) and Slough 1st XV (23-8) and in defeat against St. Benedict's (3-12). The greatest excitement came against Harrow when the pack produced a stirring second half rally, playing with a fire and unity that was unfortunately never recaptured in subsequent games.

Individually, one remembers the solid work of S. Pearson in the pack: the all round ability of A. Szelewski, top scorer with 78 points; the catching and kicking of A. Haynes at full back; the hard tackling of J. Mulholland, G. Murphy, and P. Thomas; the speed of D. Cox, which earned him six tries, and lastly, the vociferous leadership of P. Jones.

E. A COX

The season started badly with a poor game against a strong Wallington team, which we lost by a large margin. The following match was against Gunnersbury which, for obvious reasons we wanted to win, and in this aim we were successful. It was a good match, well played by everyone; outstanding was our new 'find', P. Haynes, who showed a lot of enterprise when in attack.

During the next couple of weeks we beat Northwood by 40 points; and then we played another local rival - Harrow County. This game had been very close the previous year and we thought our very much-improved team would be victorious. However, it was not to be - Harrow seemed to have improved as much as we had, and we lost narrowly. We missed our speedy winger, M. Johnstone, who, although not the greatest ball player is capable of running in the tries given the opening (and the ball).

Although we won three of the four games that followed it seemed evident that if we were to become the complete team, the defence in the centre of the field had to improve. After a lot of practice and aching shoulders, we achieved this aim. It proved to be vital in the ensuing games in which we beat Reigate and Thames Valley. The two centres, C. Hampson and C. Thomas regained their confidence and played well.

At this point praise must be given to our two half-backs, M. Huddleston and B. Nash, who played superbly throughout the season, more than compensating for their lack of size by tackling in defence and running as hard as anyone in attack. The whole team seemed to revolve around this successful partnership which so ably linked the forwards and backs.

After Christmas things did not go so well for the Colts; we suffered injuries and we lost our next four games.

The last game against the touring team from Yorkshire, Hipperholme G.S., was perhaps the most exciting game of the season, in which the tremendous team spirit that had existed through the season was at its best enabling us to win 6-5.

Everyone played well; the forwards worked hard and gained possession, notably through S. Moss, D. Banks and K. Lee. The backs too played well, tackling very hard and attacking fast.

I can safely say the season was a success and all enjoyed the matches and the tour, if not the preparatory training sessions!

J. HALL

I should like to certify that the above report is correct in all but one respect; Hall has modestly omitted to mention the back row's contribution in general, and his own in particular, as Captain, to the success of the team.

P.J.C

The Junior Rugby XV had a most successful season, playing fifteen matches, losing three and drawing none.

Wallington, Reigate and Dulwich College, the teams that defeated us were all sufficiently talented and well disciplined to gain adequate ball from our forwards and by hard running in the backs eventually showed our weakness in defence.

The forwards developed well throughout the season and the strong front row of Lambert, Szelewski, and Stockwell, obtained a lot of ball. They were ably supported by Devenish and Bareham in the second row, two players who, though coming into the team late in the season, have grown in confidence and ability with every game. The back row was sharp and talented with McClelland particularly hard working, both in attack and defence. Some of the forwards still have a tendency to fringe on rucks and this is a fault which must be overcome next year.

Apart from the three defeats, the backs had a fairly easy season as they were given plenty of good ball and plenty of time in which to use it. Barber showed himself to be a very good, well balanced player, although he kicked too often, and Wise proved to be an elusive runner, although he was rather suspect in defence. Haugh has sufficient ability to fill the fly-half position next year, but he must work hard to appreciate the tactical importance of the position.

Certain players deserve special mention: first Murtagh, captain for the year, was an extremely talented wing forward, but was forced to play in the centre towards the end of the season in order to provide a certain stability and security to the backs. Bohling, Harries and Dunlop must also be praised for their loyalty to the team throughout the year, although they did not play in all the games.

The Juniors should do very well next year. The main obstacle to complete success does not appear to be a weakness in any position but is likely to be a lack of discipline in their rugby, together with the fact that too many people show temperament on the field. They must appreciate that these faults can only help the opposing team.

A. M. HUGHES

The Minor XV had an average season winning six and drawing three of their fifteen fixtures. The team performed very creditably at times. the draws at Reigate G.S. and St. Benedict's School being well merited results, but on other occasions they struggled against less formidable opponents.

As is usual at this level the games were often dominated by individuals, and the Minor XV relied a great deal on the strong running of Wilford who scored over twenty tries. Unfortunately, other members of the team began to think they had no part to play, being content to stand back and watch as opposed to getting involved in what is, after all, a team game.

In addition to Wilford, who during the season became a much more determined player, Partington and Searle showed great promise at half-back, and Boyd played very soundly at full back. The forwards, with the notable exceptions of Dickens and Owen, lacked the necessary hardness and mobility. Too many of them played on the fringe of the action rather than in the thick of it, with the result that very little possession was won for the backs. However, the boys concerned are very keen and willing to learn, and I feel sure that with a little more experience they could become a more than useful side.

I. CLARKSON