PETERHOUSE
NOSTALGIA
PETERHOUSE
NOSTALGIA
The athletes had a successful year; though the results do not seem as good as they have been in the past this is due to a decrease in numbers rather than to a decrease in interest or in spirit. We still have and should continue to have a small nucleus of talented and ,keen athletics.. 1978 saw one of the finest teams we have fielded for years.
The season started with the Inter-Schools relays Peterhouse came 3rd. The competition was very strong and the standard high. Rain at lunch made the afternoon times slow and competing in field events difficult.
We had a well-deserved win over Marandellas High School gaining 511 points to their 498 - a close thing. There were some good performances by Baines, G., Mpambawashe, P., and Vant, J. (who were the U/19 4 x 100 team), by Musewe, A., Pickering, C., Stringer and Johnson in the U/17's, and by M'Dawarima, M., Hussey, WiIken, C. and Mayo, P. in the U/16's. In the younger age groups Demadema, Mpambawashe K. and Herring all had good results and show a lot of promise.
Our next encounter was with Bernard Mizeki and Waddilove. As usual we came out on top. The attitude of some competitors at this meeting was not as serious as it should have been, but some good results were recorded. There was a whole string of firsts but special mention must be made of Mpambawashe K. who came first in the 100 m, Long, Triple and High Jumps; of Mpambawashe, P· who won the Long and High Jumps and equalled the school record for the 100 m (11,1 secs.); of Baines who won the Javelin, Shot and Triple Jump and of Vant who broke the school record for the 100 m with a time of 11,0 secs.
As usual we were well represented at the Mashonaland Junior Athletics Championships both on the track and in the field. Numbers at the championship were smaller than usual but a high standard was still maintained.
For the first time ever we can boast a 100 per cent. record. Only one fixture was played this term -- against the girls of the High School. Our thanks to them for coming- and providing the referees for the house Senior final. This was a most exciting match with Paget, who've never ever lost the cup, winning by one basket!
Travel difficulties and the problem of building a side from scratch precluded fixtures m Salisbury. The improvement shown over one term's coaching and practice makes one wish that more boys could play the game earlier in their career at Peterhouse.
The junior house competition was exciting, if not particularly skilful. Ellis beat Paget 7-6 in the final.
Lent Term
Rain inevitably played its part in the Lent Term, so that the matches against Umtali and Marandellas were spoilt, and that against Morgan was washed out altogether.
The only result was a victory over Prince Edward, on a damp wicket. They made 70 for the first wicket but then collapsed before good bowling. Our batsmen played aggressively, Bendyshe Walton and R. Baines hitting off the runs at great speed.
Against Allan Wilson G. Baines and Bendyshe Walton added 152 for the 3rd wicket and then G. Baines bowled in his best form. But their last pair hung on for a most exciting draw.
At St. George's we were in trouble at 83-7, but then Cartwright hit out, hitting three sixes. St. George's lost wickets steadily, but again the last pair hung on for a draw. G. Baines again was in top form.
Salisbury Schools Festival
In the week before the September Term we took part in the Salisbury Schools Festival. We played three matches, all at Old Hararians Club.
Oriel started well against us, posting 132 for the first wicket. But then the bowlers found their lengths and only 4·0 more runs were added. But our batsmen were sadly out of practice, and, apart from a stand of 60 by Bendyshe Walton and R. Baines, very feeble resistance was offered.
The next day was a different story. Prince Edward were 54-4 when a vital catch went down, and that wicket added 90. The bowlers stuck well to their task on a very hot day. The early batsmen played steadily, and R. Baines and Cartwright added 80 for the fourth wicket, so we reached 190-4·. Then four wickets fell for four runs before R. Baines, who played a most responsible innings, farming the bowling, hit off the runs.
The third game was against Milton, and we won more easily than we had expected. Cartwright bowled excellently and Bendyshe Walton guided us home. It should be added that Travers, the captain, had hurt his knee, so that he and four other members of the Ist XI were not available. The six substitutes acquitted themselves very well, particularly in their fielding.
Trinity Term
The September term opened at Churchill - still without Travers. We had 100 up for one wicket, but lost wickets in trying to force the pace. Wilken then came into his own as a bowler and we won more easily than the score suggests.
But at home to Umtali we allowed them to get on top and never recovered, though Sandford alone attacked and provided some respectability.
The University brought a very weak team and we won easily.
At Cranborne Travers, though still not fully fit, played a fine innings and the other batsmen hit hard. Cranborne defended doggedly and, in a most exciting finish, we won on the last ball but one.
The feature of the Falcon match was a magnificent partnership between the Baines brothers who added 169 runs in 100 minutes. Then the brothers bowled excellently, one in each innings, and some fine catches were taken. Rut heavy rain had fallen on the first afternoon, and four hours of playing time were lost, and once again the last pair hung on for a draw.
The Petreans brought a good team, but Bendyshe Walton and R. Baines were at their best, adding 104· for the third wicket. Bawden, M. Seager and J. Travers got the wickets. But the Petreans lost their best players to G. Baines and Wedlock, and Wilken polished off the tail.
Finally an excellent performance all round comfortably accounted for St. George's.
This was a very good team excellently led by Travers, who had a disappointing year with the bat. He was never fully fit in the September term, but still reached 1266 runs for the school. Bendyshe Walton, his deputy, captained well in Travers' absence, and was a tower of strength in the batting. The Baines brothers became most reliable run getters, and the later batsmen played their posts well. G. Baines was the outstanding bowler, reaching 103 wickets. He was fast and hostile and almost always made a break through. Cartwright and R. Baines provided the spin, and Wilken emerged as a most reliable stock bowler.
A. Travers was selected to captain Mashonaland in Nuffield Trials, and Bendyshe Walton and G. Baines were also selected.
The Petrean prize for the most improved player was awarded to G. Baines.
Colours were awarded to R. Baines and R. Cartwright.
A. Travers was selected as captain of Rhodesian Schools for the Nuffield Week in Bloemfontein, and G. Baines was also selected as a member of the team.
A fairly successful and most enjoyable season ended with an excellent performance against Prince Edward. Although we were defeated we were certainly not disgraced. In this match the true qualities of the team were displayed. Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the hockey this side has produced has been their determination to fight back when the chips were down! I have seldom seen a Peterhouse team with such a fighting spirit and their efforts have been rewarded, in particular in the memorable match against Falcon, when they fought back from being 1- 3 down, to score two goals in the final five minutes of the match. This attitude to the game has been tremendous to see and all credit must go to Neil Rogers and his outstanding leadership throughout the season. He has inspired the team with carefully chosen words at difficult times and has led by example through a long and exhausting season. I thank him for his loyalty and co-operation and also compliment him, together with Ian Bendyshe Walton and Rowland Coulson on their mature attitude shown towards team selections.
What of the team? Using the experience they gained on their happy and successful tour to Cape Town, they played some attractive hockey, though perhaps their performances were a little inconsistent. What they really lacked was speed and the ability to capitalise on opponents' weaknesses with hard driving forward play, turning half chances into chances. Our inners were a little slow in this respect, so we lacked the necessary thrust to score crucial goals. Our half-line was steady though also lacked pace and, understandably, experience to switch from defence onto attack quickly and effectively, as well as to dominate the midfield. Our defence performed creditably though all were inclined to commit themselves to tackles far too often. Again, with more experience these faults will gradually disappear. I have only one criticism of the team from the coaching point of view. I knew that they would give all they had in matches but it was disappointing to see the attitude of some of the players when criticised. Hockey is " game in which one can never stop learning. One needs to exchange view points, fair enough, but one must also listen and digest views from more experienced players. The team must always come before self, a point which all would do well to
The following boys represented the Ist XI this season. Numbers in brackets indicate matches played:
Goal-Keepers : Campbell-Morrison I G·: (21); Cocks tie. Udal, G.: (S); Cocks tie.
Backs: Rogers, N. : (30) ;Captain; Colours. Cartwright, R. : (30) ; Colours; Mashonaland 'C' Halves: Ireland-Jones, N.: (30) ; Cocks tie. Wedlock: (29); Colours; Mashonaland 'B'. Atkinson, S.: (18); Cocks tie. Leaver, M.: (14); Cocks tie. Seager, R.: (11); Cocks tie.
Forwards : Rautenbach, S.: (17); Cocks tie. Powell, J.: (14·) ;Cocks tie. Baines, R.: (28); Cocks tie Coulson, R.: (29) ; Colours 1977; Mashonaland 'A'; Petrean mug for the most improved player, 1978. Bendyshe-Walton, I: (29) ; Vice-Captain; Colours; Mashona- land 'C'. Pink, C.: (30) ; Cocks tie; Mashonaland 'C'. Also played: Kennedy (2) ; Patel (2).
Finally my thanks to all responsible for the maintenance of the fields, to all our loyal parent and school supporters and to Mrs. Bekker for her excellent catering. Best wishes to those who are leaving and good luck to those who are staying. With the experience gained this season, Peterhouse should produce an excellent team next year. I am only sorry that I shall not be here to see it. My thanks to you all for two most enjoyable and memorable years on and off the hockey field.
R. B. C.
Ist XI Results:
v. Marandellas (friendly)
v. Marlborough won 3-0.
v. Marandellas won 10-0
v. Paul Roos won 3-0.
v. Bernard Mizeki won 12-0.
v. Westerford won 3-2
v. Oriel drew 1-1.
v. SAGS won 3-2.
v. Ellis Robins lost 1-2.
v. Bishops lost 1-3
v. Petreans won 5-4.
v. Sinoia won 3-1.
v. Fish Hoek won 1-0.
v. Michaelhouse lost 2-3.
v. Wynburg lost 2-
v. Allan Wilson drew 1-1.
v. Plumstead lost 0-1.
v. Petreans won 9-1.
v. Rondebosch won 3-2.
v.Umtali won 1-0.
v. Pinelands drew 1-1
v. Ellis Robins lost 0-1
v. Morgan High won 3-0.
v. Churchill lost 0-4.
v. Hamilton lost 2-5.
v. Marandellas won 3-0.
v. Plumtree lost 2-3.
v. Falcon drew 3-3.
v. Milton won 9-4·.
v. Prince Edward lost 1-2.
Big Side
This was not a vintage year: too many promising players were lost before the season started, with the result that a proposed tour of Natal had to be abandoned; and when the season did get under way May we found ourselves with only two regular members of last year's side. Of these, Gareth Baines, the captain, spent the first half of the season on the touchline owing to an ankle injury, and Alastair Travers, who captained the side in Baines' absence, spent the second half of the season crippled by a knee injury which eventually necessitated the removal of a cartilage. Inexperience, then, was the decisive weakness of the side especially among the forwards, whose play was often indecisive because the inexperienced were being led by the inexperienced - or, if you like, the blind by the blind. In the end, the burden of leadership settled on the shoulders of Charles Pickering, and he will be captain for 1979. The play of the forwards certainly benefited enormously from the rugged but cheerful driving to which they were subjected by Mr. Mike Banfield who came out from Marandellas once a week to help with training; his hard work really was appreciated sometimes at the cost of a very late supper - and we all hope that Mr. Banfield will help us out again next year, when most of that same pack will be hoping for a second helping of that same training fare. Forwards to catch the eye apart from Pickering were Michael Jackson, small but tough at loose-head prop; Tim Denton, who came late to the lock position when Julian Vant fell ill, but who made the position his own; and Charles King, a tireless eighth-man and the fittest player on the side who well deserved the Petrean award for the most improved player of the season.
Outside the pack there was more experience and more promise, but in fact the three-quarter line only rarely played as an effective unit; perhaps they just didn't see enough of the ball; and certainly matters were made no easier by the crucial absence of Baines and Travers, both of whom had the size and the speed to make a telling break against good defence. Grant Sutherland, at scrum-half, though rusty from a year on the hockey field, proved in the end to be the most menacing player on the side: his pass was uncertain, but his break when he judged it correctly was devastating· On the wings, Philip Mpambawashe and Fedor Scholvinck had some good runs, but the former in particular was too hesitant to use his size and speed.
So, it wasn't expected that we would win many matches; nor did we. We began and ended the season with unimpressive victories against Bothashof and Cranborne respectively Between these, we suffered heavy defeats at the hands of a fierce Oriel and a strong Churchill side; lost several other matches and to a certain extent salvaged our pride by a most exciting win against Marandellas High School, when all the betting was against us, and a satisfying draw against Falcon, whom we actually led by 11 points at one stage.
During the season colours were awarded to only two players: Gareth Baines and Alastair Travers.
Ist XI Results:
Bothashof (A), won 13-6
Mount Pleasant (A), lost 12-11
Marandellas (A), won 13-11
Oriel (H), lost 16-44
Churchill (A), lost 0-44
St George's (A), lost 12-21
Allan Wilson (H), lost 3-16
Petreans (H), won 42-10
Umtali (H), lost 12-16
Ellis Robins (H), won 10-6
Sinoia (H), lost 0-9
Falcon (A), drew 15-15
Cranborne (A), won 8-6
Of the 2nd XV Mr. Johnson, their coach, notes that the fact that all the team's stars were given a trial in the Ist XV at some stage during the term reflects the high standard of some of the players as well as the difficulties of team-building in 1978. Though rather light at forward, the pack usually managed to gain a fair amount of possession; outside, the central trio usually ran strongly, but movements tended to be orthodox as the players were often short of practice together. In defence, all the team were afraid of committing themselves to the tackle early in the season, but the strength oi their play improved in the later stages. Covering was good at times, but faded in the latter part of games against stronger opposition. Once again, the larger schools proved to have too much depth of talent for our smaller numbers, but the team played well when in its own league.
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