FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 236, 2 October 1920, Page 18

FOOTBALL.

RTTGBY. Says a Napier critic: The form shown by Auckland Grammar against Palmerston seems to warrant the supposition that Tβ Aute could have won the semifinal, for undoubtedly the Maoris, even when in ordinary form, are better than. Palmerston. Xex>fc year, no doubt, To Aute will not be caught napping. The match in wihich Otago beat Southland by 7 points to 3 last week was not a Ranfurly Shield game, consequently the trophy is still held by the most southerly Rugby Union in the British Empire. By winning the Moascar Cup the Ohrietchurch Boye' High School team gained for their Alma Mater not only the Rugby championship of the secondary schools of the Dominion, but also the honour of being the first echool to have its name engraved on a trophy that is of historical interest. The Moaecar Cup is a war trophy won by the New Zealand Mounted Brigade in a series of regimental football matches p'.ayed in Egypt. Moascar, Ismailia, was the eito of the brigade camp, and it was thcro that the New Zealand Division completed ite training before proceeding to France. Many of the brave boyg who played in the matches subsequently gavo their all for the sake of others, and last Tuesday's match was a fitting opening contest, the play being dominated hy tho same dauntless spirit displayed by the old brigade, and the fight being clean and keen to the sound of the "ceaee flre." Upon the return of the New Zealand Mounted Brigade to the Dominion tho Moaecar Cup wkr handed over to the New Zealand Rugby Union for competition among the secondary schools of the Dominion.

The Sydney University team in ita tour of New Zealand in August and September played five matches, winning three and losing two. On August 25 the visitors defeated Victoria College at Wellington by 20 points to 18; at Dnnedin on September 1 they beat Otago University College 45—10; at Christchurch on September 4 they were beaten 17 —9 by the N T .Z. University (combined) team; at Wellington on September 8 they reversed the decision against a team from the combined colleges by 11 points to 8; and in their final game on September 11 at Auckland, they were beaten 17—14 by the Auckland University College.