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Rugby Reports 17
(1972-73)

First XV 1972-73

Second XV

Third XV

Colts XV

Colts XV Seven-a-Side

Junior Rugby XV Report

Minor XV

Under 12 XV

First XV 1972-73

By D. HUGHES (Captain)

The First XV finished the domestic season with a playing record of twenty-three matches played, eight won one drawn, and fourteen lost. This was by no means a poor season, however. Two games were lost by one point and another by only two. Furthermore victory against Gunnersbury was snatched away with the very last move of the match and we had to be content with a draw. In the first five matches we had three defeats and a draw which meant that the successful start to the season which is essential with school sides was missed, but it says a lot for the spirit of the side that we came back with two big victories. In the second match against R.G.S. Guildford, the team performed creditably for they had a very successful season. The away game against Reigate, one of the top ten school sides in the country, was far closer than the score 62-6 indicated. The side travelled all the way to Northampton who were predictably strong but despite an injury in the first few minutes to the vice-captain, D. Hughes, went down by 10-0 in a very close game.

There were several highlights to the season. The Old Boys were given a real fright while the school led for most of the first half, it was only in the final ten minutes that the score reached a more expected level. The best game of the season was undoubtedly played in the pouring rain in Wales. The side lost D. Banks with a nasty head injury after only ten minutes but with magnificent defence kept the Welshmen from scoring. A solitary penalty goal in the first half kept us in front and it was not until late into the second half that they finally scored a try. The conversion was missed which left us trailing by one point. Victory was finally denied when a second penalty, in the final minutes, bounced the wrong side of the upright. The season finished on a high note with a decisive victory over the strong High Wycombe side.

The strength of the side lay with the forwards where the competition for places was very keen. Deserving of special mention were Huw Harding, Steve Moss, Dave Banks and Billy Lambert in the front row, John Hall and Dave Warwick in the second row (and D. Hughes at No.8 - P.G.). The backs lacked any real pace and hence often failed to penetrate but Barry Nash and Brian Pendred provided regular and determined support.

Mr. Gibson was an inspiration in himself and his vivacious support from the touch line will be sorely missed this season. However with most of the forwards staying on this year, an excellent season under Mr. Kerr is in prospect and I wish them every success.

Finally I would like to express the thanks of everyone to Mark Norris who came on a years visit to the school from America. He knew nothing of the game when he arrived but by the end of the season he was a regular and a very popular member of the First XV.

D. HUGHES (Captain)

Second XV

By Mr. E. A. Cox

1972-73 proved to be the 2nd XV's most successful season for several years. Had it not been for the usual crop of injuries, especially to the backs, and the frequent team changes (again over forty players represented the team) the tally of wins would have been higher.

The strength of the side undoubtedly lay in the pack in which the front row, variously composed of P. Devenish, W. Healey, W. Lambert, S. Moss, P. Stockwell and J. Szelewski, was outstanding. By technical skill rather than brute force, parity in the set scrum was always achieved, while in many matches the opposition pack was completely disrupted. The front row was helped by a powerful shove from the rest of the forwards.

An unusually high proportion of 'good ball' was obtained from the line-outs by the clean catching of G. Thompson and N. Veal, but rucks and mauls were less productive. The back row, again a varied unit, was generally chose from D. Beatty, B. Dunlop, A. Foulkes, C. Simmons and N. Veal, who covered well in defence, but sometimes failed to position themselves intelligently in attack. The front five were exceptionally mobile, with hooker W. Healey a decisive tackler and prop P. Stockwell scorer of five tries.

With an abundance of clean possession the half-backs, J. O'Connell and D. Haugh, got their three-quarters moving well and showed good judgment in making individual breaks. After Christmas, the loss of D. Haugh, who had developed into an extremely sound fly-half, proved a severe handicap and the three-quarter line never again functioned smoothly as a unit. However, the more regular players, P. Harries, P. Murtagh, G. Pendred and S. Salama, all showed promise, while J. Szelewski made a successful conversion from hooker to centre and T. Barber scored eleven tries. T. Barwick, a courageous full-back, was always safe in defence and frequently dangerous in counter attack.

Of course, with nine defeats, there were faults. Although most players tackled if they 'had to', they often allowed opposition attacks to build up because they failed to defend aggressively. Mauls were frequently indecisive with a single opponent being allowed to buy time when outnumbered by our players. The handling by the backs was sometimes sloppy, so that vital momentum was lost by the failure to put the pass in front of the player at waist height. Curiously enough the best exhibition of handling came in atrocious weather conditions -high wind and driving rain - when the backs ran in thirteen tries against St. Albans G.S.

The 2nd XV did not like to lose and played some of its best rugby when facing defeat, notably against St. Ignatius College (lost 9-19) and Northampton G.S. (lost 23-29). Team spirit ran high, especially in the Christmas Term, and was a major factor in the draw (10-10) with Harrow C.G.S. by a side containing seven reserves and in victories over Broxbourne School (24-19), Hampton G.S. (13-10), and Richard Hale School (24-7). Perhaps the best achievement was the first-ever defeat of the Old Boys (11-6), in spite of the loss of our flyhalf at half-time.

At its best the 2nd XV played skilful team rugby with great zest. During the Christmas Term in particular, with A. Foulkes an enthusiastic and efficient captain, it was refreshing to see the mutual encouragement between players and the meeting of adversity with renewed efforts rather than recrimination.

E. A. Cox

Third XV

The third fifteen, though abounding in natural skill, was not a very consistent side. The first few games of the season resulted in fairly heavy defeats. Later there was a sudden revival, culminating in the crushing of Harrow County 27-12. The Reigate game was also closely fought, resulting in a narrow defeat. The team did nothing by halves and its defeats were heavy. Being an all-out attacking side, the defence was not strong and the season ended as it began with a defeat, but the players enjoyed it nevertheless.

Our thanks are due to Mr. Haydon, for his continued support, and to the many non-regular players for their varied contributions.

R. Hayes

Colts XV

The season started very successfully with the side losing only two of the first eleven games before Christmas. The most notable win was against Reigate: 13-15.

Unfortunately, the team was unable to maintain such a good start, partly because of injuries, and partly because of the loss of a key player in Rob Wilford, and this led to losses against St. Benedict's, John Fisher and Surbiton.

Neverthless, the side put up a fine performance against Tiffin to win 11-10. One of the most outstanding features of the game was the tackling under severe pressure, an asset which contributed to many of the team's wins.

Probably more than anyone, Peter Darrell deserves mention, scoring many solo tries from inside his own twenty-five, and finally ending up as top scorer.

Also worthy of mention are A. White for his tremendous hooking and good penalty kicking; A. Rowley who became a much more aggressive player after Christmas, and the entire back row of N. Owen, R.Bentley, C. McDonald and G. Cosgrove, whose rucking and general 'ball-getting' led to a lot of good ball for scrum-half Stuart Taylor.

Thanks are extended to Rob Wilford for his service to the team before he left for Marlborough in February, 1973.

G. Partington

Note: Gavin Partington has said very little of his contribution to the team this season. He has been a very good captain, and as a player has matured as the season progressed. My thanks to him and to all the players for an enjoyable season.

Rob Wilford deserves our congratulations in gaining his county cap.

A. Kerr

Colts XV Seven-a-Side

In our own Warby Sevens we were convincingly beaten in the final by a strong Tiffin side. Still, this competition served as good practice for the Middlesex Sevens.

Having survived a few shocks in the early rounds, the seven started to play well in the Middlesex competition. In the quarter-finals we met St. Benedict's and, in a game which most people rated as one of the best of the day, we narrowly lost.

A. Kerr

Junior Rugby XV Report

After the first training session it was obvious that the Junior XV had a strong pack of forwards but lacked speed and size in the backs. In order to eliminate this weakness it was necessary to convert M. Ellis, a strong-running forward, into a centre. Although this move proved successful there was still a distinct lack of reserve three-quarters.

Nevertheless the side made a splendid start to the season, scoring over 200 points in the first six matches. Wallington, Gunnersbury, Vyners, Hampton, Guildford and Harrow County were all soundly beaten. The forwards were extremely effective and gained consistently good possession from both the loose and set play. Consequently the backs were given every opportunity to run the ball which they did in devastating fashion. M. Strudwick, at stand-off, and N. Pendred, at inside centre, developed a fine understanding and scored many memorable tries. They were well supported by wingers M. Zambuni and A. Jones.

After Christmas, however, a number of players sustained injuries which prevented them from playing for the rest of the season. The loss of Ellis, Pendred and Studwick in the backs was a cruel blow, and because of the lack of reserve three-quarters the side never fully recovered. N. Ashcroft was moved to centre but he too sustained a bad injury and missed the last few games of the season. The results in the second half of the season were therefore very disappointing. The forwards continued to play well with K. Price, I. Rice and A. Blundell turning in very consistent performances, whereas the inexperienced reserve backs struggled against bigger and faster opposition.

Junior colours were awarded to K. Price, an outstanding captain, M. Strudwick, N. Pendred, A. Blundell and I. Rice.

N. Charleston

Minor XV

The Minor XV finished the season with the unenviable record of having lost every game heavily except one, which was a scoreless draw.

The reasons are not difficult to find. The players, without exception, are physically very small and this is coupled with an understandable, if disappointing, lack of physical involvement, tackling being practically non-existent.

The team's weakness is most pronounced in the forwards where there is a distinct lack of vigour and determination. The result was that the backs were continually under pressure and went through most games without seeing one good ball. In normal circumstances the latter may have developed into quite a competent unit, although little excuse can be made for their fragility in defence, often early in the game.

There were redeeming features. The boys invariably accepted their often humiliating defats with sportsmanship and good grace, attendance at practice sessions was always very good and, considering the often depressing circumstances, team-spirit was very high.

In the future, the pre-requisite is a little more height and muscle, for which we can only pray. Once this is achieved, I am sure there will be a gradual increase in confidence, totally lacking, of course, up to now and, eventuallly, some success, for there is a great deal of footballing ability in the team.

A. Paul captained the side until Christmas, N. Hicks took over in the Spring term and the following boys played most regularly for the team: J. Andrews, D. Darrell, R. de Beger, G. Evans, M. Farley, T. Gibson, S. Gilbey, G. Hills, K. Jackson, C. Jennings, P. Jones, A. Jungreuthmayer, M. Kendall, J. Laxton, G. Payne, C. Phillips, M. Stevens, L. Talbot, D. Yuill.

A. Taylor

Under 12 XV

This first year XV showed great promise in their first term's experience at rugby. After some disappointing results early in the season, the team, well led from scrum half by captain N. Searle, linked well and developed a 'hunger' for the ball.

Towards the end of the season, the backs were enjoying the possession won by the heavy, efficient forwards from the set pieces. Neal and Gross were outstanding in defence and special mention must be made of Squires, who worked hard in the loose, and who led the forwards with great spirit.

A. Taylor

1973 School Magazine