SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 172, 23 July 1929, Page 14

SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

CQI/LEGE DAY ON SATURDAY,

SATURDAY'S GAMES REVIEWED

Already admirers of secondary schools' football are preparing for College Day. This popular iixtuc will be held at Eden Park next Saturday, and it goes without saying that the rival colours will be as much in evidence as ever and the usual hooters, cowbells and sirens again worked overtime. Particular interest will attach to the games this year in view of the fact that, on the records of the teams to date, the issues are every bit as likely to go one way as the other. As the championship stands at present King's College, champions in 1927 and '28, Auckland Grammar School, and Mount Albert Grammar School have all an equal chance, each team having suffered one loss. Auckland Grammar beat Mount Albert by six points to three when the teams clashed in the curtainraiser to the Auckland-Australian 'Varsities' match five weeks back, but a fortnight later the dark blues were beaten at Middlemore by King's College, their old rivals registering two penalty goals to an unconverted try. It was left to Mount Albert to put a check to the maroons' run of successes, and they did so with a vengeance two Saturdays before last, rattling on 20 points to their opponents' 3. Sacred Heart are not in the running for the championship, but their team this year is quite capable of extending any school side. On Saturday King's and Auckland Grammar will meet in a return match and Mount Albert will play Sacred Heart.

The weather on Saturday was all against fast open Rugby, the game played by the schools —out nevertheless the Auckland Grammar and Sacred Heart fifteens put up quite an entertaining showing at the Sacred Heart grounds. It was well that they did, for rain fell without a break throughout the first half, and the spectators who braved the weather were in just the mood to grumble at anything not right to their liking. Grammar got the win and deservedly so, too. The dark blues were on their toes at the kick off and clapped on the pace at the whistle. Almost before ib p y realised it, Sacred Heart were three points down, and Grammar all but pushed them deeper before five minutes, had elapsed. Before the ball became sodden and heavy the backs handled beautifully, and it was these whirlwind attacks of the dnrk blue rearguard that seemed to take the wind out of side's sails. In the second half the pace slowed up a lot, but both sets of forwards splashed about willingly in the Wet going, and there was interest until the end.. \

Trewhella and Mcßeth, the Grammar front row men, gave Newton, the halfback, a number of opportunities, and the stocky Maori lad showed his appreciation by playing a great wet day game. 'Mulgan's hard work was rewarded when Newton gave him the hall near the line and allowed him to fling himself over for a try. Slyfield, the outside fiveeighth, showed a strong cut-in, and it was he who made the opening for the first try. He also scored himself by the help of his cut-in. Savoury was also a good deal,in the picture. The Sacred Heart forwards did well when they kept the ball at their feet, but often a likely breakaway was nullified by one of their number over-running the ball. Scholium, behind the pack, tried hard to show what his backs were capable of. but usually something went wrong. Hura, the captain, was well watched, and was seldom given a. chance. Tororf. -worked hard, and Elliott used his powers of long-range kicking to advantage! Over at Devonport King's College got home by six points to three against Takapuna ■ Grammar. It was a close shave, but the maroons managed it. BrinsdPn,the Takapuna half-hack, played ,r>. nluekv frame against a stronger side. The new team are to hn cnn<rratuhi><vl on their showing, residents who snw the .match voting it one of the best seen on the seaside ground this season.