REASON FOR ABANDONMENT

Evening Star, Issue 21903, 14 December 1934, Page 12

REASON FOR ABANDONMENT

HIGH SCHOOLS’ RUGBY TOURNEY EXPLANATION BY MR F. H. CAMPBELL Mention of the unfortunate position that arose, last season in respect to the High Schools’ Rugby .tournament, making it necessary to abandon the fixture, was made by Mr I l '- H. Campbell at the Otago Boys’ High .School break-up ceremony last night. It was his hope that the tournament would be reinstated next season, and that the difficulties of recent years would be satisfactorily overcome for all time. •As one instrumental in the organisation of the tournament in 1915, Mr Campbell said that it was regrettable that it had had to be abandoned. A year after the institution of the tournament the masters of the four high schools concerned (Christchurch, Timaru, Otago, and Southland) had viewed seriously the playing of boys who. were not bona' fide scholars-—boys who had secured their matriculation and should have. gone on to the University. It had been decided then that none but bona fide scholars would bo permitted to play in the tournament, which had continued successfully. until one school had played term students. When the same procedure had been attempted last season the tournament had been abandoned. A pistol had been held at Otago’s head, the other schools saying that they would not play unless they were allowed to include term students in their teams. ' • , Since 1883 matches had been played each .year between Christ’s College and the Otago Boys’ High School, and at no time had there been a semblance of a difference. Why could the position in regard to the tournament not be the same? The.boys looked forward to the tournaments, and it was to be hoped the schools that were to blame, for its abandonment would reconsider their attitude so that the fixture could be held again next season. “ Winning the game does not count; it is the spirit of goodwill that is created among the boys that means everything,” Mr Campbell concluded.