SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

Northern Advocate, 25 August 1924, Page 7

SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

WHANGAREI DEFEATS lIELENSVILLE. A GOOD EXHIBITION. The contest between representatives from the primary schools of the districts of Helensvillc and Whangarei took place at Kensington Park on Saturday afternoon and resulted in a win for Whiingarei by 20 points to six. The game was fast and at times aroused great enthusiasm among the spectators. The encouragement given to this class of football by the Primary Schools Union is undoubtedly doing a lot of good for the game and should have a big tendency to improve the football of the future. Although llelensville were beaten by a fair margin of points they put up a plucky fight and gave a very good exhibition of the code. The superiority of the Whangarei backs was a big factor in the success of the home side. The following teams took the tieid---Helensvillc —Full-back, J. Williams; three-quarters, E. Smith, A. Gibbs and G. Millward; live-eighths, H. Cushman and R. Sellars; half, N. Sandin- rovv, B. Hjorthj forwards, front row, C. McMurdo and A. Cooper, second row, V>. Keanc, B. Ilagan and S. Strange, third row, T. McGarvey and •?. /Msworth. Whangarei.— Full-back, McDonald; three-quarters, Judd, Whitelaw and Edmonds; five-eighths, Meyer and Finnigan; half, Cracket; reiver, Wilson; forwards, front row, Green and Baker, second row, Heffernan, Cossill and Purchase, third row, Bushill and Hollows. Mr B. Martin controlled the game. A couple of scrums in mid-field marked the opening and the visitors secured possession on both occasions. From the second one Sandin set his backs going , , but Whitelaw nipped in between Cushman and Sellars and sent the ball out to Judd who put in a nice run up the line. From a line-out on the visitors' 25 Cracket sent the ball to Meyer, to Whitelaw, to Edmonds, the latter getting over near the corner. Edmonds failed to place a goal.—Whangarei 3, Helensville 0. From a clash in mid-field Cracket secured and with Green rushed play to the A r isitors' final line, where a scrum ensued, the visitors obtaining a force therefrom. Following the drop-out Gibbs and Cushman started a sortie for the visitors, play being sent to neutral ground by the defensive tactics of Whitelaw and Edmonds. A passing rush by the home backs looked like being fruitful, but WhitelaAV jambed Judd too close to the lino. A passing rush by the home backs across to the other side of the field saw Finnigan "dummy ,, nicely and allow Edmonds to notch another try. The latter failed with the kick. —Whaiigarci G, Helensville 0. Hollows, Purc.has, Cracket and Finnigan became associated and were joined by Edmonds, who kicked too hard and the visitors forced. As the bell sounded for the first quarter the home forwards were having the better of the play. On the change of ends Wilson led the home forwards in a frontal attack.

Oushman and McMurdo checked the movement and turned defence into attack Hjorth joined in and attempted to drop a goal. It was a good effort but missed and Whangarei forced. Solltirs, who played a splendid game throughout, fielded the drop-out and set his side on the attack; over-eagerness, however, frustrated a good chance., Green and Cossill came to the aid of the defenders. Smith improved the visitors' position with a solo effort. Play was now confined to the home team's area and was of a fast an<l willing nature, Cellars being noticeable • for support to the attackers. At hist Heffernan raised the siege with a good dribble. JFinnigan, Edmonds and Meyer went to Iris aid and a prettypassing bout between the last threenamed ended in Meyer getting over wide out. Edmonds again failed with the kick. —Whangarei 9, Helensville 0. The visitors were by no means downhearted and went to the attack with a will, the whole of the forwards putting in some fine work. Bushill, however, seized an opening and started a movement from the home team's 25. The local lads came away with a great rallly and one of the prettiest passing rushes seen for many a day was brought to fruition by Finnigan scoring after practically every player in the Whangarei team had handled the ball —it was a beautiful piece of work. Edmonds did not succeed with the kick and half-time sounded with tin scores. —Whangarei 12, Helensville 0. Sellars sent the visitors away, after making a fine opening and operations

hovered near the local team's last line. From a scrum in this locality the visitors got possession, but faulty handling by the backs marred the good opportunity. Finnigan in attempting to clear was detected in a breach and Strange had a shot, the ball ball landing on the top of the cross-bar and going over.—Whangarei 12, Helensrille 3.

The visiting backs got moving quickly and a nice passing rush ensued between Gibbs, Cushman, Sellars and Millwaru. McDonald was equal to the defensive portion and cleared nicely. Fumbling on the part of the local backs let the opposing forwards in and had Cushman, who assisted them, not hesitated a certain score would have fallen to his lot. Play now went up and down field, each side striving to find an opening, but without avail. Sandin at one stage put in a clever run, but failed to get past Judd. At last Green headed a strong sortie of the local forwards which compelled Williams to get rid of the ball very smartly. Meyer fielded his kick and set out at top. He transferred to Edmonds and the latter with a speedy run down the wing out-distanced the opposition and touched down near tl\e post. The scorer added the major points making the figures—Whangarei 17, Helensville 3.

The final quarter opening was marked with a lot of play in neutral ground. n.jorth and Sandin at last made an opening for the visitors, but little came of it as Millward in attempting a short follow-on kick sent the ball out at toueh-in-goal. The home forwards then commenced to harass the opposing backs, who were called upon to use their best defensive tactics. After a protracted siege Meyer secured n-n-.l sent the leather on to Judd. The latter raced down the line and passed in-field to Whitelaw, who succeeded in getting over near the corner. The kick at goal was not successful—Whangarei 20, Helensvillc 3.

After an exchange of kicks Cushman, getting under way quickly set out for the line. He beat practically half the home side, lack of support by his co-backs losing a golden opportunity. The ground gained, however, was advantageous and the visiting forwards rallied. Finnigan in attempting to releieve was detected in an offside position close to the uprights. Strange took the kick and piloted the leather over.—Whangarei 20, Helensville 0. Time was called shortly after. The visiting forwards are a good, hard-working lot and are deserving of praise for the splendid manner in which they stuck to their job. Tiie backs are a, fair lot, but were out-class-ed by the opposing rearguard. Sandin, Sellars and Cushman were the most prominent. The local team is a very line combination. The barks are exceptionally clever and deserving of great credit. Whilst the forwards did not put up such a good showing as they did against Northern Wairoa, still their