Rugby Reports 19
(1974-75)

FIRST XV 1974-75

Played 22 Won 10 Drawn 2 Lost 10 Points for: 303, Points against: 239.

When it is realised that five of the 1st XV defeats were by a points margin of seven points or less, it can be seen that this has been a fairly good season.

As usual, not possessing many large forwards, our pack had to base its play on being as mobile as possible in order to be most effective. The back-row of A. McClelland, R. Bentley, C. Simmons and, later in the season, Alan Jones, were particularly adept at harassing the opposition, and being quick to any break-down of play. These aspects of the team's play were greatly aided by our second row players, P. Stockwell, S. Moss and, after Christmas, M. Blake, who performed very well in the tight, and also got into supporting positions very quickly. M. Blake was a useful addition to the team in another respect: he could actually catch the ball in the line- out!

The front-row of K. Price, W. Healey, and W. Lambert, performed creditably, particularly so K. Price in his first season of Senior Rugby. When K. Price has decided which side of a maul he should go in and W. Lambert decides that he will actually go into a maul, then both should enjoy their rugby even further.

At the start of the season the pack were not fit or organised enough to supply good ball to the backs. The team lost its opening two games heavily against Wallington and Gunnersbury and it would be an interesting point to debate whether they would have lost or not, if all the Senior players had managed to attend the pre-season training week.

As the season progressed, the forwards began to supply good ball to the backs and, the backs could be confident that they would, at least, receive their own ball.

At scrum-half, J. O'Connell, the Captain was an inspiration to the side. Although dogged by injury, he was an excellent leader both on and off the field. His fly-halves, first M. Strudwick, and later, P. Murtagh, performed capably, although Murtagh's kicking sometimes let him down. M. Searle and B. Pendred in the centre played steadily, though it was apparent there was no-one capable of that very necessary change of pace.

T. Barber, on one wing, received an ample supply of ball, and ran in some excellent tries. His speed was a great asset to the side and a potent attacking weapon.

Three players, at various times, played on the other wing: R. Burdett, Andrew Jones, and M. Zambuni. All played reasonably well, Zambuni eventually making the place his, as he was just the fastest.

R. Owsley was the regular full-back. At times worried by high kicks, he persevered, and greatly improved, particularly in his positional play.

If one game were to be singled out for special comment, I should choose the match against the Old Boys. With a history of large defeats against the Old Boys, and playing against a much heavier and more experienced side, the School played a hard harassing game which put the Old Boys out of their stride and made the result a far from foregone conclusion. The result of 17-7 to the Old Boys was no disgrace to the school team.

After Christmas, the bad weather, and consequent cancellation of matches, broke the rhythm of the team and it was left to the Devon tour and the Sevens tournaments to round off an interesting season.

Congratulations are due to T. Barber, W. Healey and A. McClelland who represented the County.

Full Colours were awarded to: T. Barber, A. McClelland, J. O'Connell.

Half Colours were awarded to: R. Bentley, W. Healey, P. Murtagh, R. Owsley, K. Price, M. Searle, P.  Stockwell.

The Barber Cup for the most improved player of the season was awarded to M. Blake.

A final word of thanks to all those ladies who organised the teas and who were so cheerful and efficient.

A special thank you to Mrs. Simmons who organised the teas so capably. I hope that her son's leaving the school will not mean it will be the last we shall see of her at school functions.

A. Kerr

FIRST XV TOUR

The tour went firstly to Swansea, where we lost against Bishop Gore School 0- 3. The Devon part of the tour was almost spoiled by rain, but fortunately we still managed to play two games, beating Newton Abbot 28-4, and Plymouth College 10-4.

Despite the weather, the excellent hospitality of our hosts, and the general good spirits of the team enabled us to enjoy a very good tour.

SEVEN-a-SIDE COMPETITIONS

The side fulfilled its potential by winning the Middlesex U.19 Sevens relatively easily: 107 points for, 10 against.

In the major competitions at Oxford and Roehampton, the side never really played with confidence. The character of the side was shown at Roehampton when, having been knocked out of the main tournament by Coleraine, the side had to wait seven hours to play Millfield in the Plate competition in atrocious conditions. They played excellent sevens to win this game.

Seven's Team:

J. O'Connell, A. McClelland, R. Bentley, W. Healey, P. Murtagh, B. Pendred, T. Barber, P. Darrell

A. Kerr

SECOND XV

Played 15 Won 12 Drawn 0 Lost 3 For 327 Against 120

With a very wide scope of talent to choose from, this year's 2nd XV has arguably been one of the best ever. We started the season with a defeat by Wallington, who had already played three previous matches, and after our next match, and second successive defeat, by Gunnersbury, 12-10, we were determined to beat Isleworth on our own ground. This determination to win resulted in us not only beating Isleworth, 24-3, but going on to win ten matches in a row, beating Windsor 14-8, Hampton 16-8, Harrow 44-0, RGS Guildford 14-12, Slough 1st XV 13-10, Richard Hale 16-4, St. Ignatius 16-0, Vyners 42-7 and culminating in a massive 60-0 victory over Latymer just before Christmas. This was a memorable game and showed the skill of our three-quarters to their best advantage, notably Stuart Taylor, a very experienced player of 1st XV quality, Mick Strudwick, who "reads" a game unerringly at fly-half and Steve Bohling, whose best position is full-back, but who filled the vacancy at centre consistently well throughout the season. This game also showed that the forwards really did possess aggression when roused, notably lan Rice and Neil Ashcroft.

January saw the arrival of the toughest match of the season, against Reigate, whose 2nd XV had not been beaten on their home ground for five years. This match lived up to all its expectations and was probably our best display of the season, even though we lost 14-3. The score did not do justice to our rugby, which matched Reigate's high standard, and I know that everyone in our team gave as good as he got, especially Dave Boyd, our experienced full-back, playing his final season's rugby for the school, and Richard Burdett, a versatile player, who captained the team after Christmas.

After Reigate, we beat John Fisher 9-4 in a hard "forwards" match, against some of the biggest opponents put out against us all season and the final game of the year on the school calendar resulted in a good win against RGS High Wycombe, which added another 35 points to our season's total of 324 points against 117.

All in all, I should like to congratulate all my team mates in the 2nd XV for their sustained efforts and great achievements. On behalf of the team, I should also like to congratulate Mr. Cahill for doing such a fine job in coaching our team and for seeing us through our darkest hours. Many thanks.

C. S. Thomas.

THIRD XV

Played 9, Won 3, Drawn 0, Lost 6, For 66, Against 270

The 3rd XV was faced by the usual problem of difficulty in getting fixtures. It was forced, therefore, to play strong Under-16 sides and, in two matches, the 1st XV of another school. Although the team was rarely the same from match to match, it played well to win 20-10 against Northwood 1st XV.

Thanks are due to those players, not normally to be seen on a rugby field, who helped the team when there were problems with selection, and who showed no little skill, perhaps even surprising themselves.

A. Kerr.

UNDER 15 XV

Played 18 Won 6 Drawn 0 Lost 12, For 176 Against 406. This year's Colts XV have had a very rewarding season.

Their performances in all matches have been

ENCOURAGING.

Well led from the forwards by Captain lan Hudspeth, the team has produced Rugby which has, on several occasions, gratified and encouraged those who have watched, refereed and coached them.

ENTERPRISING

The squad has long suffered from a dearth of hefty three-quarter backs, and this season, a measure of success has been achieved by playing diminutive ball players alongside devastating crash-tacklers in the centre.

ENTHUSIASTIC

Undaunted by previous disastrous encounters with the opposition, the team approached each match with a remarkable enthusiasm. An example of this is in the match with R.G.S. High Wycombe when they fought hard and scored two fine and well-deserved tries after being 24-0 down.

The squad has been a credit to the School both on and off the field. One referee mentioned after a match that he had never refereed such a clean and well-mannered side as ours, and that they were a credit to the ideal of School Rugby.

A.R.T.

UNDER 13 XV

Played 15: Won 8: Drawn 1: Lost 6: For 215: Against 190

This side has had a variable season. The team started well by winning their first four matches, but were then guilty of over-confidence, several games being lost which should have been won.

The side played well towards the end of the season, their last game, against R.G.S., High Wycombe, being a 14-8 victory, where the School played intelligent and mature rugby.

The strength in depth in this age group was demonstrated in the excellent Junior House Competition which was notable for the high standard of both forward and back play.

Several players showed outstanding improvement, the most notable being Simmons, Gislingham, Telfer and Causton.

The side should do well next year if all 15 players accept their responsibility to tackle.

Borough Sevens

This competition, against all the better rugby schools in the Borough, was played in appalling conditions. Both the 'A' and 'B' teams won their way through to the semi-final stage but the 'A' team was knocked out by Bourne School. The 'B' team then played some of their best, hard-tackling rugby to beat Bourne in the final. The team was Thomas (capt.), Callaghan, Owsley, Gislingham, Goldberg, Ayres, Simmons, Telfer.

UNDER 12 XV

Played 4: Won 2: Drawn 0: Lost 2: For 42: Against 36

Although only four matches were played this proved to be a promising first season's rugby for the U 12's.

The strong point in the side was undoubtedly the pack's performance in winning good possession. The three-quarters tended to be rather erratic, but could on occasions move the ball well to the wings.

Of the pack, Brown (the Captain,) Harris, Marshall, White and Elford were excellent in the loose. Price and Mason formed a competent second-row.

The backs were fortunate in having such talented players as Hughes, Taylor, Sarrat, Porterfield and Smith, who with experience could be a very effective unit. Mr. O'Connor was most encouraged by their keenness to do well and their enthusiasm on the field.

The U-12 side entered the Tiffin 10-a-side competition and came through. convincingly to beat St. Benedict's 12-0 in the Final. Hughes in particular played exceedingly well and scored some very fine tries by his strong, determined running. He was undoubtedly the best player in the competition.