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Rugby
As the growing sport of rugby has not been given extensive magazine coverage in the last few
years, I was chosen for the unenviable task of making a 'splash' of rugby.
The truth of the matter is that hardly anything important or exciting occurs during the season.
Whereas in football there are knockout cups, and in table-tennis there is the challenge of
winning a local league, in rugby there is nothing. All we have is the enjoyment, which I am
sure, every rugby player has in each game that he plays; but that is almost impossible to write
about. |
Well, I have had my little moan, which at least has taken up a few lines, so I had better
set about reporting what took place during the season.
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It is obvious from the growing enthusiasm shown by the many boys who are competing for team
places, that the sport of "rugby football" is on the increase in the school. As many as five
teams have been fielded, ranging from Under 12's to the 1st XV, which when you come to think
of it, is quite an achievement, considering that five or six football teams were fielded at
the same time. Besides the games on Saturdays, a team taken entirely from the sixth form was
fielded on Wednesday of each week until Christmas.
It was then decided to disband the team - I think the record of ten matches played and ten
defeats may well have had something to do with this. |
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Another consideration which went towards this decision was the fact that the
opposing schools were fielding their strongest teams, while our side was considerably weaker
than that put out on Saturdays. It was also evident that the side was not really playing
together as a team. However, many thanks are due to those who played, who, I am sure, enjoyed
themselves.
The record for the season from a success point of view makes fairly dismal reading, with a 30%
victory rate for the U. 12's, rising to 50% for the 1st. XV, but the number of games played
shows that there is at least a rival to football as the major Winter sport.
The poor record of the younger teams was probably largely due to the lack of available
fixtures, although it can be said that several rather heavy defeats (84-0) etc. did not
inspire confidence. I hope these rather serious setbacks haven't dampened enthusiasm, or
even encouraged desertion to the other sport. The middle school, I am glad to say, had a
rather better season, with the 14's winning three games and losing three, while the 15's
won seven and lost eight. Apart from these matches, three games were played under the title
of 'colt' games, the team consisting of some of the better players from the 14's and 15's.
Of these games, two were won.
The 1st. XV, after starting very well in the period before Christmas, tended to fade away as
the season progressed. Their final record was: P ... 16 W ... 8 L ... 8
Considering that the services of three or four very good players from last year were lost, the
team played very well, and past players were not missed as much as expected. In fact, the team
was quite a success, combining well together - although results do not really show this.
Special mention must be given to Rory Linden-Kelly, without whose superb all-round play and
captaincy the team would not have been even half the success it undoubtedly was. Also to be
mentioned are Tony Powell and Bob Knowles, the former for his deft kicks and positional play,
the latter for his continuous help and encouragement to the players. In fact, the whole team
should be congratulated on its displays during a season in which with a little more luck and
consistency, more games could have been won. But, due to the departure of six or seven players
to Universities or jobs, the team will not be able to grow and mature together. This will leave
the burden of keeping a successful team on the shoulders of the remaining nine, who will have
to coax along the younger players next year when inexperience may well be a deciding factor.
The season ended with the traditional School v. Old Boys match, resulting in a victory for the
Old Boys by 6 points to 3. This year the Old Boys team consisted of two members of the school
staff and H. Jones of Wasps 2nd XV, aided by old school stars of several years back. The game
was, as the score suggests, very close and hard fought. However, the fight was knocked out of
the school when, about a quarter of an hour from time, a hotly disputed try was awarded against
them; a try had been given next to the comer flag, but the flag had been knocked inwards,
suggesting that the scorer was out of play before he touched the ball down. All was forgotten
that same evening as beer quenched all arguments.
Well, I think that's all I can say in compensation for the dismal coverage of rugby over the
last few years, and I hope that things will prosper in the future. Before I finish, thanks must
be given to Mr. Whittacker for all the time he has spent on refereeing, organising training
sessions, and encouraging the teams. I hope he has had as much pleasure watching us (sometimes
it can be rather painful) as all the teams have had playing.
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