TECH. OLD BOYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 260, 2 November 1935, Page 3 (Supplement)

TECH. OLD BOYS.

Rise of the College Team in Rugby. The day Poneke gave Grammar Schools' Old Boys that awful thrashing in the Bert Palmer Memorial match, at Eden Park, three years ago, "Ponty" touched the shoulder of the spectator in front of him—thinking it was "Ces" Badeley, his old comrade of 1920 on the All Blacks' tour of New South Wales. The gentleman pleaded not guilty, but admitted he was a brother. On the writer introducing himself, "Vic" reckoned he had been waiting twelve years to meet the fellow who had had the temerity to suggest that the Auckland centre voyage by collier to Newcastle, thence to Sydney as a reinforcement for the New Zealand team, then short-handed through illness" and injuries, and committed to play three more games, owing to the passenger steamers for return journey to the Dominion being held-up by a strike. On peace being eventually declared. Vic volunteered the information that as coach of that season's Technical College Old Boys' team, he had lost his original 17 meii by the end of the first round, and before the season had ended he had passed no less than 37 players through his hands, while no less than six different captains had operated. The fact that three short years afterwards the green mid golds should be Bugger premiers of Auckland is one of the romances of football. Striving always to the end, smiling at defeat, and taking success quietly, Technical had ever been a popular team, and when they step out at Eden Park next winter the crowd is sure to give the team a royal welcome, in recognition of its fine performance in annexing the 1035 championship.