AMONG THE LOWER GRADES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 4 August 1941, Page 7

AMONG THE LOWER GRADES

HIGH STANDARD OF PLAY SEEN Because of the drain on players in the senior grade due to their absence on war service much emphasis has been placed this season by Rugby administrators on the fostering of lower grade teams whose members will be the senior players of the future. In the local competitions the season is well advanced and teams by now have built up their combinations. The boys playing in the third and fourth grade teams are turning on some really first class displays of football. The passing, handling and kicking and general high standard of play of some of these teams is a pleasure to watch. Competition is very keen and a good spirit of sportsmanship exists. COLLEGE STRIKE FORM The College Ist XV struck more ike their true form on Saturday when they defeated the Rival junior team by 49 point: to <i. Mnzengarb. playing on the wing, scored 9 tries for College. Tlie team has been a little disorganised so far this season by illness and injuries with the result that it has taken longer than usual to build up a sound combinAU( KLANI) HEAT WAIKATO Auckland, Aug. 2. After having much the better of the game f rom the territorial point of view, an Auckland representative Rugby team beat Waikato 8-3. Boggs and McLean scored tried for Auckland, the latter converting one Higginson kicked a penalty goal for Waikato. W'WGANUI BEAT W'AIR A RAPA Wanganui, Aug 2. hi a game full of action, in spite of the wide margin of points separating the two teams, Wanganui beat Wairain na 21-3 at Spriggcns Park to-day. The we liber was fine and conditions were favourable for football. The game was more even than the scores suggest, but the spoiling play of the loose Wanganui forwards, combined with a solid defence, effectively checkmated any scoring moves made by the Wanganui scored two trios within the first eight minutes, establishing a lead from which Wairarapa could not recover. At half-time Wanganui were leading 13-0.