Collegiate Rugby

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 194, 18 August 1936, Page 3

Collegiate Rugby

EXCELLENT GAME ASSURED.

ST. PAT'S TO PLAY “SCHOOL” NEXT SATURDAY

A secondary school Rugby match that should be productive of fast, open football has been arranged for this coming Saturday, when the Palmerston North High School will encounter the redoubtable team from St. Patrick’s, Silver-

stream. On the three previous occasions the Silverstream. team has played in Palmerston North, tho boys have provided such interesting games that an excellent attendance is assured for the coming match, and if the weather is suitable a very keen match should result.

St. Pat’s, Silverstream, has met, and defeated the High School twice, the seasons being in 1933 and 1934 wheu tho scores were G —s and IG—O. The first game, us the score indicates, was a particularly closely contested match, tho highlights of which were tne ciover last-minute try Fletcher registered under tho posts; tho try Reid scored for the visitors with two men hanging on to him; and a kick by K. O'Connor that came within inches of finding tho uprights from beyond half-way near the side line. Incidents such as these were outstanding in a game full of movement, and if tho visitors this year are slightly lighter forward, the pack is even faster, with a clever rearguard to utilise the opportunities offering. Up to the end of last season, St. Patrick’s, Silverstream, had played 24 college matches in five years, winning 19, drawing one and losing four, with 312 points for, and IG7 against. This season the team has been doing well in club matches, and is so far unbeaten in college matches. Last season the High School team did particularly well in the junior club competition, in which they were run-ners-up. Had the team been at full strength during ,the holiday period, when they lost two matches, the team would more than likely have won first place. The school’s list of successes in their annual engagements last season was very gratifying. Wins wero recorded against To xkute College (G —3), Wanganui Collegiate School (8 —0) and Wanganui Technical College((23). The Napier High School, however, managed to do what the other secondary schools had failed to do, a field goal turning the decision in favour of the Napier boys. This year the High School boys have been doing well again in the junior competition and, although a light team, they made an excellent stand against the very heavy Te Aute fifteen during Show Week. Since that game the ioc’H boys have shown improved form, and, as they have yet to win their first match against St. Patrick’s, Silverstream, they will bo trying very hard to lower the colours of the visitors.

In the three past years the St. Patrick’s team has visited Palmerston North to assist charitable aid funds, but the proceeds from Saturday’s game will be held by the Manawatu Rugby Union as the nucleus of their fund for the erection of the proposed grandstand at Rugby Park.

High Schools at Play

On Saturday tho second and third Rugby fifteens of tho Palmerston North Boys’ High School journeyed to Dannovivke to engage the llannevirke High School’s first and second fifteens respectively. The homo teams were much superior, however, especially in their first fifteen, which defeated the Palmerston North second team by 45 points to three. They received the ball from the majority of tho scrums and broke through the defence of tho Palmerston North backs without effort. The visiting third fifteen did not fare any better in their efforts and were defeated by 29 points to nil.