FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 174, 22 July 1916, Page 16

FOOTBALL.

BUGBY. (| ; V, correspondent signing himself "X.C.0.8.," writes re the comments by nn American gentleman on the "College Barracking," and refers to the matches played in 1911-12. He etates that the barracking was principally done by the Old Boys, who led the school boys, and ns most of these are now at the front, that it has died away as it has. He conclude* by hoping that American barracking will never be adopted in New Zealand. "X.C.0.8." seems to have peculiar ideas on the subject of barracking, and I certainly must agree with my American friend on the question. Personally, I have seen a lot of College matches, but beyond a big display of flags and some hideous noises through megaphones, etc., I cannot remember anything in the shape of original and interesting barracking. Some idea of what my American friend meant would be gained if '"X.C.0.8." witnessed the matches played by the University team from America some few years ago. and which made a feature of their College yells. They were really good, and a repetition was always demanded.—(Actaeon). PUBLIC SCHOOLS' FOOTBALL. NOTES AND COMMENTS. Owing to "College Day" in aid of the Belgian Children's Relief Fnnd. all fixtures under the auspices of the Auckland Public Schools' Rugby Union were postponed on Saturday last. In the A and B grades three Saturdays will be necessary in order to complete the first round." while in the C grade one Saturday will see the end of the initial round. The following detailed tablre give the positions of the competing school teams in the scvcril grades:—

It ie interesting to note that the present eeason is the ninrteenth eincc the inauguration of the Auckland primary schools' Rugby championships, and the game has made rapid strides in the public school* =-ince ISO". In the opening year there wae but one grade for all school teams competing, Ponsonby being the first winners. But in the following year (IS9S) two grades were decided upon, the A and B grades; while in 1908, ten years later, a C grade was instituted. It is not common knowledge that the grade in which a school team is placed depends upon th-2 number of boys on the roll in standards IV., V. and VI., and not on the standard of -play of the teams, so that it is quite possible during some seasons to find the strongest teams not in the A grade, but in the B grade, or even the C grade. The following have been the winners of the primary schools Rugby championships, the number of occasions being indicated in brackets:—Devonport (7), Ellerslie (6), Newmarket (5), Poneonby (4), Beresfotd (4), Onehunga (4), Epsom (3).ltemuera (2),Bayfield (2), Normal— Wellcsley Street School (2), Parnell (1), Kapier Street (1), Grafton (1), Newton East (1), Vermont Street (1), Xcwton West (1).

MATCHES. A GRADE. Poluts en. I , . \V. I). I.. Kor Ag. J'ts Kemucrn <; 0 — — 71 r, i^ 1-oiisonh.v « S — 1 SI 6 Jc VprmoiU St... « •) 1 1 ;I8 S !) Hcvonport ... ti ;i 2 l :t" 20 » Xnpler St (i ;: 1 j ]7 - J0 T Arondalc « 2 — 4 f) 31 4 1'nrncil l> 1 2 :< 15 4S 4 Mt. Kden « 1 — .". 14 7fl Newton East., (i — ; J o i' Alt. Albert.... « — 'J 4 3 51! 2

B (JBADE. Points Ch. P. W. D. L. For Ar. Vt» Ueresford St. 5 5 — — 93 — 10 Normal 5 3 — — 130 !> in Nenton West. 5 4 — 1 81 6 S lirey Lynn t> 3 — a 41 01 « Unytleia T< :i — J r>8 IS f> Kpsoni .5 U — 'A Xi iS 4 JIangawhau .. fi 1 — 3 6 130 "^ NclFon Si. ... r> \ — 1 S « - Ult-tunoud Rd. « - - — 0 0 105 — C GRADE.

Points Cti. T. AV. D. L. For Ag. I'ts Xfvtmarkct .. « e — — 149 3 11! EUersllP « 5 — I 64 IS l'> PI. riievaller. 9 4 — 2 72 J'J >> Northcutc .... e 4 — 2 IT. 10 S Tn l'npapn.... « S — .", 11" 5i « Mt. Raiklll... 6 1 - j K 40 a KdcDdale 0 - — 0 3 "» -