1916-17 SCT Campaign

SVC v. ST. ANDREWS (21st October).

OUR Senior team had their first "out match" to-day. The weather looked gloomy in the forenoon, but still the rain held aloof. After tossing, Castleknock decided to play with the incline, and on starting became dangerous immediately, and soon were rewarded with a good try per Hanrahan, which was not converted. Not long afterwards Sweeney (our skipper), obtaining the ball in the line-out, succeeded in crossing the line after running almost half the field, and O'Reilly added the necessary points. The second half was pretty even, and no further scores were obtained, thus leaving the home team winners by 8 points to nil. Among the forwards Sweeney was easily the best on the field, while he was well helped by Cullen, Delaney and Hanrahan. Both halves played well, while Doyle and O'Carrol were the better three's. McElligott at full was sound, but did not always find touch.

Result :—Castleknock, 8 points ; St. Andrews, nil.

On November 11th Castleknock travelled to Croydon Park to play their fixture with Mount joy. The play was rather rough and mostly a forward game. The Mountjoy team were superior in weight, but Castleknock outplayed them " in the open." Mountjoy got going first, but our halves did their work well, and soon Castleknock looked dangerous. However, the Mountjoy defence was sound, and although S.V.C. were pressing there were no scores at half-time. Soon after resuming play Castleknock rushed down to their opponents' line, and after some good back play between Corbet, Doyle and McMahon, the latter succeeded in crossing the line. Sweeney added the points from a difficult angle near touch. Castleknock still strove hard for another score, and McMahon and McGahey were held up on the line. The final result was 5 points to nil for S.Y.C. Among the forwards Sweeney was as brilliant as ever, and was well backed up by Cullen, Meagher and Pelaney. Corbet, O'Reilly and McMahon were the better backs, while McElligott was as reliable as usual and his kicking very clever.

Result :—5 points to nil for Castleknock

SVC v ST. COLOMBA'S (29th November).

The day was wet and not very suitable for football. However, as the visitors arrived the home team turned out. Immediately after starting the superiority of the home forwards became apparent, and they soon commenced the scoring. The home backs passed very well considering the slippery ball. The second half was as uneven as the first, and the final score was 1 goal and 7 tries (26 points) to nil. O'Carrol (2), Delaney (1), Kennedy (1), Cullen (1), Corbet (1), Hanrahan (1) and McDonald got the one goal. Among the backs, Corbet, O'Reillv, O'Carrol and McElligott were the pick ; while Cullen.. Delaney, Kennedy and Meagher were the pick of the forwards.

Result :—26 points to nil for S.V.C.

SVC v. BELVEDERE (17th February).—

FIRST MATCH.

Our first match in the Senior Cup was against Belvedere. We expected a very hard match, and were not disappointed. We appeared in our first match without Corbet, our scrum half, but McEvoy did his work right well. Belvedere opened the score by an unconverted try. Just before the interval Delargy put his side level by a fine penalty goal dropped from a most difficult angle. After the interval Castleknock got a try per O'Carrol, and all seemed over when Belvedere succeeded in equalising the score.

Result :—6 points each.

THE REPLAY (20th February).

The re-play took place on the following Tuesday, when another strenuous struggle resulted in yet another draw, each side obtaining one try. Belvedere started off with a good rush, and after some fumbling obtained a try, and they were leading by this score at half-time. Castleknock commenced the second half with renewed vigour, and fought like demons to draw even, the forwards in particular doing ripping fine work. Nevertheless it was only in the last five minutes that O'Carrol succeeded in crossing the line for a try, due to a cross-kick by Corbet. Castleknock deserved to win this second match, the second half being played practically in the Belvedere " 25," but the Castleknock team seemed to lack scoring abilities.

Result :—3 points each.

THE THIRD MATCH (22nd February).

The Castleknock forwards got going without delay and brought the ball up to the Belvedere line, and after remaining there for about twenty minutes failed to score. Play was then more even till halftime. Contrary to expectations, in the concluding moiety the Belvedere pack proved superior to the Castleknock pack. Nevertheless it was a quarter of an hour from no side before Belvedere succeeded in scoring an unconverted try. A few minutes from full time Belvedere obtained another unconverted try. Thus Castleknock were defeated in the preliminary round of the Senior Schools' Cup after three very hard-contested matches.

NOTES ON THE PLAYERS.

The Castleknock three-quarters were not familiar enough with the ball, especially in passing, although they kept a very good defence. The forwards were a very even pack, and played an exceptionally good game, but their hard work was lost to them by the kicking of the opponents' halves. McElligott at full was splendid; his fielding, kicking and tackling were top-hole. O'Reilly at out half showed speed and a good kick. Corbet at scrum got through an immense amount of work; the way he stopped the opponents' forwards was remarkable, and his kicking was useful. O'Carrol was the best of the middle line, saving many dangerous situations by his clever kicking, and he obtained all our tries. Cullen, Delaney, McGahey and Kennedy stood out best in a fine, even and clever set of forwards, which deserved to go further than the preliminary round.

CASTLEKNOCK v. ST. ANDREWS (14th March).

We had our return fixture with St. Andrews to-day on their grounds at Donnybrook, and after a hard-contested game won by 3 tries to nil—O'Carrol, Doyle and Delargy scoring. The Castleknock team showed good form, and soon after starting scored an unconverted try. Castleknock kept pressing, and several attempts were frustrated on the line. After resuming play, Castleknock got 2 more unconverted tries. They had easily the better of the concluding period, and should have obtained a few more tries. McElligott at full was as sound as ever. O'Carrol and Doyle showed up in the "threes." Both the halves played well, Corbet saving many dangerous situations. Among the forwards may be mentioned Cullen, Delaney, Kennedy and McGahey.

SVC v. PAST STUDENTS (25th March).

The Past students arrived out with a rather heavy team, and after a well-contested match had a lucky win by 9 points to 8. The Present were 8 to nil at halftime, but the Past obtained 3 unconverted tries in the concluding moiety. The play was very fast and even, although the Present were slightly the better team and deserved to win, being on the Past line for the concluding ten minutes. McElligott was sure at full and kicked cleverly; the scores were not his fault. O'Reilly's kicking was useful; Corbet worked as hard as ever and obtained a fine try; Doyle and McMahon were the better " threes"; Cullen, Delaney, Kennedy and McDonnell were the pick of an even, hard-working forward line.

INTER-PROVINCIAL MATCHES.

This year we were rather unfortunate in having only one representative on the Inter-Provincial matches against Munster and Ulster; several of our forwards would have probably figured had they been in better form for the Cup matches. Ted McElligott, however, who played full-back in both these matches, fully justified the selection of the Leinster " Five." His display in Cork was exceptionally brilliant, but he even surpassed himself in the match at Lansdowne against Ulster. His tackling and fielding were far superior to ordinary school-boy football, and his play during the match was one of the features of the day-—he never made a mistake the whole time, and gained the highest praise from the critics.

PHILIP McGAHEY.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS.