-  SPORT REPORTS

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Association Football

 

A brief examination of the above table shows that the four school football teams have not had a very successful season, but what this table fails to show is the sporting spirit in which all games were played.

The 1st XI have the worst record, but this is mainly due to the almost impossible odds they were up against.  The boys of both North Manchester and Counthill Grammar Schools have played football ever since they entered the school at the age of eleven, but our boys, on the other hand, have played rugby until the past season, when they were called upon to play Association Football. Nevertheless, the senior boys never gave up, even when losing nine goals to nil at North Manchester.

Congratulations to the U/15 team.  These boys have lost only one game since Christmas.  Before Christmas they lost three of their five games but with the start of a new term came a new determination.  They played better football and combined together more.  They entered the Athletic Cup knock-out competition and played through to the semi-final in which they suffered defeat at the hands of North Chadderton Secondary Modern School.

The standard of play this team has produced is shown by the result of their match with Uppermill Secondary Modern School, who are league leaders of the Oldhatn Schools' Football Association; the U/15 team defeated Uppermill by 4-0.

In the junior school the U/14 team has had an average season.  They have won three and lost three. These boys will improve as they play together more often.

The U/12 team lacks understanding between its members, but we cannot expect too much from boys who had probably never seen one another until last September.  They all try their best and with more practice should prove successful.

The outstanding fixture of the season for senior boys was the match against the Old Boys XI on Good Friday morning.  The weather did not look too promising at the start but the school took the field with a team strengthened by three members of the staff, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Wright and Mr. Petford.  It is disappointing to note that two of the boys selected to play failed to put in an appearance but two of the old boys kindly filled in their places.

The school lost the toss and Peter Marner, captain of the Old Boys XI, elected to play with the slope. The play started at a brisk pace and continued that way for most of the game.  Play was always open and clean and a very friendly atmosphere existed both on and off the field.
When the final whistle blew the score stood at 4-2 in favour of the Old Boys.  The scorers for the winners were Anderson (2), Marner and Stuttard.  Mr. G. Wright and Bentley scored for the school.
The game was enjoyed by both players and spectators, the latter consisting of many ex-pupils.
I should like to conclude with a fitting remark by Fred Fox, the goalkeeper for the Old Boys.  After the game Fred said to me, "The school found out that the Old Boys were not quite as old as they thought!"

To all Old Boys I say, "Thank you for a good game and here's to the next time".

Now, on behalf of all who have played football for the school, I should like to thank Mr. Cooper, Mr. G. Wright and Mr. Handforth for the time they have willingly given to coach the teams and to referee games.  Also on behalf of the rest of the school and staff I should like to wish our teams the best of luck and more success in the future.

F. W. McCANDISH

 

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Rugby

 

As can be seen from the table of results, the teams representing the school at Rugby League continue to carry on the good reputation gained by former teams.

The 1st Year team, although not quite a brilliant side, has started its playing days well and with further practice will eventually be a reasonable side.  They are ably led by W. Scholes, who is well supported by all the other enthusiastic playing members.  This team has won its League and also the Cup, after a hard tussle with Clarksfield.

Although they have not won all their matches, as have the 1st Year team, the 2nd Year XIII have quite a respectable record, winning nine matches out of twelve.  They did not win their League, but were the first team to put a Knock-out Trophy on the display shelf.  The captain of this team is R. Millward, who is a hard-working player and a good leader.

The 3rd Year team has had a very successful season, playing ten matches, in League and Cup, and have only 18 points scored against them, whilst scoring 230 points themselves.  This team has won both League and Cup in their section.
The leader of this fine side is G. Lawton, a forceful player, and he is well supported by F. Stuttard and B. Lyons, a fearless player.

In spite of this brilliant record, the 4th Year XIII are the school's "pride and joy".  They have won the League and Cup in their section, and by so doing they qualified to represent Oldham Schools in the "Daily Dispatch" Competition.  Although they were well beaten in the latter competition, the main reason for the defeat was the fact that the Widnes school which they played had a greater number of boys from which to "mould" a team.
As captain of this team, A. Brierley is well supported by D. Schofield, M. Ratcliffe, J. Hardy and W. Patterson.

Five people from the 3rd and 4th year teams have represented the Oldham Schools regularly in inter-town matches and we look forward to a repetition of this form next season.

Besides playing in League and Cup matches, the 3rd and 4th year teams had an enjoyable day's outing at York, where two matches were played against a school to which a friend of ours, Mr. Sheppard, has moved.

Both matches ended in victory for our teams, the 4th Year X11I winning 35-0 and the 3rd Year XIII winning 34-0. This latter victory was due to fine displays by McCandlish and Smith, two of the 6th Form and former representatives of the school.

After the match, an appetising tea was taken at a cafe in York and visits were made to the Minster and the famous York Museum.

I must finally add that, although the teams must be complimented on their performances, the person who must be congratulated is Mr. Nicholls, who has given much of his own time to coach the teams. He has been aided in his task of coaching the 1st Year team by F. Smith and F. McCandlish.