for most of the second half with only fourteen men, and in the close game at Trent the team did not do themselves justice. Having said this, it must be admitted that the four high scores against them were due largely to some very poor midfield defence. If backs will not closely mark their opposite numbers, it throws an impossible burden on their forwards; and if these same forwards are more interested in wrestling the ball free than in tackling the man and stopping dangerous movements, they must expect their opponents to take full advantage of the free running opportunities thus presented to them. Macclesfield, KES and Burton all did this, eventually with considerable aplomb; and even though we ourselves took advantage of similar freedom against Adams' and Ratcliffe, the lesson was never learnt, so that the final two games were the worst we played all the season.

On the credit side, the forwards played very well as a unit, with Kennedy always in the van awl Doohan frequently catching the eye with some splendid covering and intelligent use of the loose ball. Among the backs, Devenney showed that he had a good eye for an opening, but was often selfish and in some games developed an almost pathological inability to take a pass. O'Regan was always ready to take on any opposition at the base of the serum, but his passing was often wild and he can he grateful to Ruane's ability to take almost everything thrown at him. The full-lack position created problems which were never satisfactorily solved, whereas the wingers Knowles and O'Malley had little opportunity to show their paces.

The season began with a fine display by our forwards in the second half against Adams' when they turned a 3-0 deficit into a convincing victory with tries from Knowles. Connolly and Doohan (2), one of which Devenney converted. At Ellesmere some good loose play by the forwards kept the score down to 11-8 with Cotton pressing for the equalising score when ten minutes from the end they broke away and scored under the posts. The absence of Devenney since half-time now told against us and two more scores were conceded to make the result look more one-sided than it was. The game against Burton is only memorable for the bizarre sight of Mott's dislocated thumb and some bad defensive mistakes. fly 11w scored our try and Devenney converted it. At Ratcliffe the team played some of their best Rugby of the season: Devenney (2) and Byrne scored tries. Devenney added the goal points to one of them and Deneny dropped a goal. Against Trent, Knowles scored a try which Devenney converted. This proved to be the last time the team were to play anywhere near their best, although Kennedy and Knowles scored tries against Macclesfield, with Knowles intercepting and sprinting sixty yards which augured well for the athletics season. He converted it too!

During the season badges were awarded to Kennedy, Doohan, Devenney and O'Regan.

UNDER 14 FIFTEEN

The following boys played: M Cunningham. P Ruane,

B Edgeworth, W Kinsella. V Earley, P Vernon, P Denieffe, D White, M Northard, C Allen, D Allen, N Laskowski, D Thompson, A Byrne, M Wheeler, J Smiley, A O'Malley, J McConnell, C Doherty.

RESULTS

v Abbotsholme   A   Lost   0-47

v King's School, Macclesfield H   Lost   3-26

v Trent College   H   Lost   11-14

The first match of the season was a disaster. There was practically no tackling from the Cotton side and the time came when several opponents were over the Cotton line offering the ball to one another in order to allow more to join In the scoring! White was the only one who tried to tackle. The lesson was taken to heart and in the next match play was much better. Cotton kept level with Macclesfield most of the first half with Northard scoring a good try, but they let the opposition get ahead in the next half. In the last match, against Trent, Cotton looked like winning till very near the end. The points in this match were shared between Thompson and Earley. As in previous seasons it seems to take Cotton a few games to get into their stride and then the season is over. They either need more matches or, more to the point, they must make better use of club games and practices.

UNDER 13 FIFTEEN

The following boys played: F Ferguson, .1 Dwyer,

D Allen. A Conway, W Garvey, K Devenney, A Jacob, M Northard, P DenIeffe, P Hough, P Scott, M Mellor, M Kennedy, P O'Higgins, M Price.

The team had only one game this season, at Alderwasley. This proved to be the usual keen struggle between the two sides, and Cotton won 5-3, Denieffe scoring a try which was converted by Northard.

CROSS COUNTRY 1969

It was with n sigh of relief that we returned to the country from the hard, hard, roads we were forced on to by the Foot and Mouth epidemic last year. But we found a season's holiday had given the paths and hedgerows a new look and the first few runners do October went armed with knives and axes to hew out a new way through. We found we had to be careful, even well on in the season, to make sure there was always someone in any group who remembered the way from two years ago. But such small hurdles are made to be overcome. The record shows with what success.

We must thank Mr Clark for his encouragement and interest and for the injection of fresh ideas into our training. We shall remember him with gratitude long after he is back in New Zealand. Richard Browne captained the team with energy and efficiency. P Kavanagh and N Baggott came in together to win the Upper School Cross-Country and, with N Stack, they were awarded their Full Colours.

RESULTS

Cotton 'A' v Ratcliffe. Won 35 points to 50.

Cotton 1st v Ellesmere and Wrekin. Ellesmere 45

points. Cotton 61 points. Wrekin 68 points.

Cotton Under 16 v Ellesmere and Wrekin. Ellesmere

32 points. Cotton 56 points. Wrekin 114 points. Cotton 1st v Manchester. Lost 55 points to 24. Cotton Under 14 v Manchester. Lost 44 points to 34.

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