THIRD XV
Thoughnolworldbealcrs,theThirdslookedausefulcombinationatthe beginningoftheseason.ThatwasbeforeG.Mayes,G.Wright,BDoyleand M.MeewerepromotedtotheFirsts.Still,withreplacementsfromtheDs, theThirdsusuallyturnedinverygoodperformances.Theforwardsimproved considerablywithmatchpractice.Attheendo[theseasontheywereableto outplaymuchheavierpacks.A.Redmondhadaverygoodseason.G.Gordon hookedwellandimprovedhisgeneralgame.13.Keyeswasatirelessworker andalmostsnatchedvictoryforusonafewoccasions.TheHowardbrothers werealwaysinthefrayGroverrevelledinrobustplay.T.Murphyusedhis weightandheighttoadvantageandinacoupleofgamesseemedtohave takenovertheroleofline-outexpert.BreakawaysG.QuinnandM.Mee werealwayswiththeplay.G.Quinnalmostturneddefeatintovictory,singlehandedagainstD.L.S.M.MeewasanablecaptainuntilhejoinedtheFirsts.
Thebackline,unfortunately,failedtotakethebestadvantageofthe supplyfromtheforwards.E.Waters,thoughnewtotheposition,gave somefineperformances,.indseemedtohavegotagoodideaofthehalf-back's role.J.Mowry,D.KellyandG.Bloomerlackedpenetrationbutstillshowed, onoccasions,whattheycoulddo.Pity,wedidnotseemoreco-ordination inthebackline.WhenJ.-Mowrygotthebacksmoving,winger,P.King alwayslookeddangerous.P.Boelasfullbackwasusually.._keptbusy.Experiencegainedinhisfirstyearshouldbeofgreatbenefit.
Likewise,allteammembersshouldhavebenefitedbytheirexperience and,thisshouldprovidethat'littleextra'nextyear.
SCHOLARSHIP A GRADE FOOTBALL TEAM
Thefootballseasonbeganwithavictoryoveratouringteamfrom Petersham,aSydneySuburb.Ourteam,withafew'extras'fromSub-Junior, wonbyafairmarginofpointsfromahardandwelltrainedteam.From thenon,oureverpipe-smokingcoach,Rev.Fr.Dempsey,hadusworking liketroopers.Thedailypracticesbecameharderasthetermproceeded.
Theteamobtainedtwopromisingplayers,R.DrewettandR.Mackie, whoweretowersofstrengthduringtheseason.Fr.Dempseytriedhishardest toformapenetratingthrecquarterline,but,sorrytosay,despiteallefforts theyjustcouldn'thandlethatball.
Theforwardsplayedwellduringtheterm,thebrightestplayersbeing M.Lyons,S.Griffiths,J.O'Connor,K.BradfordandespeciallyB.Palm, whomadeaterrificcomebackafterhisycar·sabsence.Thetwowings,P. McMahonandD.Whalley,centresR.LaytonandJ.Murphy,five-eighthR. Symonsandhalf-backR.DrewettwjthD.Williamsonprovidedthebackline. Theconditionso(theteamwaspooratfirstbut,bytheendoftheseasonit hadimprovedconsiderably.R.Symonsthecaptainoftheteamforthelast f:ewyearscouldnotplayinthelastgames,owingtoaphysicaldisability. M.Mazuralsohadbadluckearlyintheseasonwhenhebrokehisarmin amatchagainstShorncliITc.
Althoughmanygameswereplayedduringtheterm,bysometurnofthe wheel,wedidnothaveasmanyvictoriesaswehadhoped.Wewillnot specifywhosefaultitwas.!Someofthejunior-schoolsweplayedwere Shorncliffe,GregoryTerrace,St.James's,St.Laurence·s,andJona.The seasonprovidedmanythrillsandspillsforbothspectatorsandplayersand wefearabrokenheartforourcoach. R.SYMONS
