Sport 1952-53 Boys

First XV Rugby

Photo contributed by Terry O’Marr. Thanks, Terry. Back Row L-R: Mr. Leonard, Peter Wall, John Jones, Trevor Trueman, Brian Secker, Bruce Ward, Ron Smethurst, Terry Dillon, Mr. Hamilton. Middle Row L-R: Albert Storr, Maurice Poole, Terry O'Marr, Eric Sale, Jim Stead, Roy Frost, Arthur Warden. Front Row L-R: Walter Hebden, Christopher Birkinshaw, Christopher Butcher Playing Record:

Played Won Drawn Lost 1stXV 15 6 2 7 2ndXV 9 4 0 5 This year the 1

st XV has not been doing as well as in recent years. We have only won about half our matches but have

consolation in the fact that several were lost by a very narrow margin of points. The chief difficulty has been to find and re-build the pack, but after much experiment a work-manlike 8 has eventually been settled upon and as a result towards the end of the season we were winnng almost every game. The 2

nd XV has had a poor season chiefly owing to the limited talent available, but their redeeming quality is that from their ranks

have come one or two “new discoveries” who were promoted and have served the 1st XV well.

JONES, J. At the beginning of the season he had the misfortune to sustain an injury that kept him out of Rugby till after Xmas. He started well, and showed promise, but towards the end of the season his play has deteriorated a little. POOLE, M., (Treasurer) A fast and elusive winger whose natural football ability stands him in good stead on the field. He can tackle hard and low but at times should go harder for the line. FROST, R. A reliable partner in the “middle” who relies on weight rather than speed to beat his opponents. His passing, tackling and kicking are beyond criticism, so that he can play proficiently when called upon, at full back. HEBDEN, W. A newcomer to 1

st XV football. Playing out of position on the wing he has shown the makings of a fine footballer

and with a little more weight and experience will undoubtedly do well. STEAD, J. R. W. (Vice-Captain) Playing behind a new and inexperienced pack he has taken, a hammering this year. But has occasionally shown his brilliant football ability in spite of these odds. His injury at the end of the season will keep him out of the 7-a-side, which is a great loss indeed. BIRKINSHAW, C.R. (Secretary) Like his fly-half he has had quite a rough time behind the scrums. This may have made him a little tired in the play. His tackling is sometimes at fault but with a little more weight and experience he will put this right. Occasionally he pulls off a good relieving kick but should not let it become an obsession. SECKER, B. A 2

nd row forward who has adapted himself to play prop. His height makes him useful in the line-outs but his play in

the loose could be improved. WARDEN, A. A prop forward who works hard in the tight and loose but he must realise that absolute fitness is essential for a forward.

WALL, P. A newcomer to school rugby who has won rapid promotion to the 1st XV. He has great enthusiasm and unboundable

energy that is sometimes staggering in its extent. He does an enormous amount of work in the tight and loose. Keep it up, Wall. BUTCHER, C. Quite a good hooker who, though lacking in weight and height, does useful work in the loose and tight. TRUEMAN, T. A 2

nd row forward who does nothing brilliant but is always where he is wanted. In the line-outs, loose and tight he

does good work. STORR, A. The utility man in the side who has played prop, hooker, loose forward and wing. He is fast and can easily beat his man but often, after making a brilliant break, he will hang on to the ball too long and so waste the opportunity. Watch your tackling, Storr. WARD, B. A lock forward who possesses an enormous stride that gives him a deceptive turn of speed. His height makes him extremely useful in the line-outs. But often he does not perform to the best of his ability in the loose and tight. O’MARR, S. T. Playing at loose forward and acting as scrum leader he has had the difficult task of leading a light and inexperienced pack. It is due to his enthusiasm that the pack has often held its own against much heavier opponents. DILLON, T. There is no doubt that he is one of the most improved players in the school. His tackling and spoiling make him a great menace and handicap to his opponents’ half backs. His work in the loose, line-outs and tight is very good. SALE, E. (Captain) Sale’s skill and experience have been of the utmost value to, the side. Powerful in attack and strong in defence he has gradually built up a winning team out of a XV which started the season lacking cohesion and dogged by ill-luck. Selected as Captain for Sheffield and District he reached the final selection trial for the Yorkshire team. (W.J.L.) Ilkley Sevens Rugby

Photo and names from Bruce Ward. Thank you, Bruce. Back Row L-R: K. (Joe) Pearson, Walter Hebden, Birkenshaw Front Row L-R: Mr. Taylor, Bruce Ward, Terry O'Marr, Eric Sale, Roy Frost, Maurice Poole, Mr. Swinbank A ‘bus load of spectators accompanied the school “Seven” to Ilkley on March 28

th, hoping to see Hemsworth repeat their success

of last year. When the 1st of the 31 matches of the tournament began at 11 a.m. the weather was perfect for good rugby, but by

mid-afternoon rain was falling almost continously to damp the enthusiasm of the Hemsworth contingent, particularly since their team had been defeated in the 2

nd round. It was unfortunate that injury had deprived the school of the services of Stead, but the

team selected Sale, (Capt), Frost, O’Marr, Ward, Poole, Hebden and Birkinshaw encouraged the hopes of their supporters by a first round victory over Silcoates School (10-3). Tries, scored by Poole and Sale, were both converted by Frost. The 2

nd round

match against Crossley and Potter School, Halifax, was a hard struggle in which, through errors of defence and lack of speed, Hemsworth were 6 points down at half-time. After the interval they rallied and Frost forced his way over for a try but there was no further score. The competition was eventually won by Heath Grammar School, Halifax, for the third successive year. J. A. Swinbank.

Colts Rugby

Photo from Les Thomas. Some names have come from Caleb Taylor. Thank you. Back Row L-R: Mr. Taylor, Roy Dyson, David King, Colin Appleby, Alec Wall, Jim Barber, George Thacker, Mr. Swinbank. Middle Row L-R: Caleb Taylor, Brian Nunn, Leslie Thomas, Joe Pearson, Brian Moore, Norman Yates, Barry Longden. Front Row L-R: Arthur Tickle, Colin Thomas

Rugby Under 14 XV

Photo sent in by Bryan and Malcolm Thomas. Some names have been provided by Colin Richardson and Terry McCroakam. Thank you. Back Row L-R: Mr. Swinbank, Colin Thomas, Robert Donkin, Colin Richardson, Ray Noble, Bernard Smith, Geoffrey Marston, Victor Bentham, Mr. Taylor Front Row L-R: Sykes W., Tony Pickering, Brian Moore, Norman Yates, Jim Barber, Arthur Tickle, George Thompson

Cricket 1st

XI

Back Row L-R: Mr Senior, Walter Hebden, Mr. Leonard, Chris Birkinshaw, Bill Baxendale, Roy Hanks, Mr. Hamilton, Don Law, Jim Ainge. Front Row L-R: Don Weaver, John Hardy, Terry O'Marr, Jim Stead, Ted Fox, Roy Frost, Neil Johnson The 1953 season was the most successful ever for the 1

st XI, which won 13 out of the 14 matches played; Ackworth, Barnsley

and Silcoates, our old rivals, all falling victims to the team. There were two outstanding features of this team; the first was its excellence in the field (62 wickets fell to catches throughout the season). Only once did weak fielding let the side down; this was at Wath, when dropped catches enabled the opposition to beat us by 12 runs. The second was the “all round” ability of the team. A strong team was always able to take the field even when regular members were unable to turn out. We look forward to yet another successful season in 1954 with seven former members of the 1

st XI still available for selection. Mr. Rhodes is to be

congratulated on the condition of the pitches which he prepared despite the fact that his task was made more difficult than usual owing to the returfing of the cricket square before the season began. Fox, R. R. (Vice-Captain).

Cricket 2nd

XI

Back Row L-R: Len Whitehouse, Colin Holder, Terry Dillon, Brian Ridgeway, Robert Walker (Scorer) Front Row L-R: Sam Chambers, Eric Chivers, John Winter, Donald Richardson, Don Law, Brian Secker, Terry McCroakam The 2

nd XI, under the captaincy of Richardson, G. won 4 of the 6 matches played. Of the remainder, one game was drawn and

one was lost.

Colts Cricket

Back Row L-R: Sykes W., Humphries A., Mr. Allan, Ray Noble, Mr. Senior, Barber A., Arthur Tickle. Front row L-R: Gary Jordan, Alan Vest, Kenneth Bramham, Brian Moore, Keith Limb, Norman Yates, David Sumnall.

School Athletics Team

Back Row L-R: Joan May, B. Adamson, Ann Greetham, Brenda Ackroyd, Eileen Tate, Roy Frost, Maurice Poole, David Hodgson, Roy Gaskell, Third Row L-R: Wendy Taylor, Vivienne Newton, Doreen Honeyben, Janet Newton, Valerie Manning, Janet Turner, Miss Parkin, Mr. Leonard, John Linacre, Edwin Sanderson, Geoffrey Marston, Batten J., John Sudworth. Second Row L-R: Ann Ward, Madelaine Knapton, Marjorie Hawkins, Margaret Butterfield, Joan Taylor, Herbert James, Brian Moore, Trevor Trueman, Joe Pearson, Eric Sale. Front Row L-R: Dorothy McIntyre, R. Britton, Valerie Higham, Pat Brooke, Molly Hepworth, Dixon R., David Sumnall, Brooke N., Howard Taylor.

Trevor Trueman (High Jump) Herbert James (440 yards) Joan Taylor (High Jump)

The 1953 Yorkshire Schools’ A.A. Championships were held at Sheffield and, as members of the Ackworth and District School Sports’ Association, some of our best athletes were chosen to enter The County Championships in competition with several hundred competitors from the whole of Yorkshire. We had our successes, for Joan Taylor tied for first place in the Senior Girls’ High Jump, and Margaret Butterfield was second in the Senior Girls’ Long Jump. Moore, B. won the Junior Boys’ 440 yards in 56.3 secs., and James, H. took second place in the Senior Boys’ 440 yards. As a result of these Championships, Moore, B and James, H. were chosen to represent the County at the All-England Schools’ Championships at Uxbridge. We must also congratulate Trueman, T. who won the High Jump in the Yorkshire Open Youths’ Championships, and received a gold medal for this performance. The annual Cross Country Run was won by Talbot. The first place in the Seniors was taken by Limb, K.; and the first place in the Juniors by Moore, B.

Margaret Butterfield, L6A. The 1953 School Sports were held on the 15

th July. Altogether nine new records were set up, viz

Pat Brook and M. Hepworth Junior Girls’ 80 yds Time 10.2 secs. A. Lockwood Girls’ Open Discus Distance 72’ 24”. Thompson, L. Boys’ (Under 15) Pole Vault Height 6’ 10”. M. Hepworth Junior Girls’ 100 yards. Time 12.5 secs. Trueman, T Senior Boys’ High Jump. Height 5’ 4” M. Hepworth Junior Girls’ Long Jump. Distance 14’ 2”. Jordan, G. Junior Boys’ High Jump. Height 4’ 2”. Price House Junior Relay. Time 1 min 31.6 secs. Boys’ Athletics Team

Back Row L-R: Howard Taylor, John Sudworth, Batten J., David Hodgson, Mr. Leonard, Roy Frost, John Linacre, Edwin Sanderson, Geoffrey Marston. Middle Row L-R: Maurice Poole, Eric Sale, Brian Moore, Herbert James, Trevor Trueman, Joe Pearson, Roy Gaskell, Front Row L-R: David Sumnall, Dixon R., Brooke N.

U15 Boy’ Athletics Relay Area Champions

Back: Malcolm Slatter. Front L-R: John Linacre, Brian Moore, Norman Yates.