Inter-School Matches.

NZ Truth, Issue 168, 5 September 1908, Page 3

Inter-School Matches.

WELLINGTON v. #AIRARAPA

The football season, as far "as 'the. Wei-, ling ton public; schoolboys, are concerned; : was practically, brought to a close last Saturday, by what is to them the event ot the year-^the meeting . of two Wairarapa and two Wellington teams at' 'the .Athletic Park.. ' ■•■•-.■ •• <"■ '.' The visitors arrived on Vriday evening (25,t>h) •by th« „expressi S^rain, -and were entertained at dinner by their Wellington Itiends. . : ' - . i

This function, -which proved very enjoyable, was controlled by the President dr the local Schools Onion (Mr W. Hopir kirk). A pleasing ' feature of this gathering was the brevity of j the -'after dinner" speaK§rs 4 some of y/htrh, alter

welcoming the visitors, proeeaded to urge upon Mayor -Hislop, Who was present, the necessity of providing more central play grounds for the children. "" The Wellington llugby Union also came m for its share of praise. This body, recognising, as it does,- that it must look for its future representatives amorigr the boys of to-day, doep all m its power "to foster the game among schoolboys, not only' by granting pecuniary assistance to; the {schools Union, but also by passing m boys free of charge to all thematches under its control. The Wairarapa boys were m great form last Sajjurdayi ■ "In the ' secondary •game victory fell lo Wellington- by the • margin of three ' points— a lucky . try. scored by- Pople very early m the game—, to nil. y ' '

, The visitpts were a very heavy team, but lacked the 'knowledge of the finer points of 'the game. The first spell was .very even, each side in/ turn having the upper hand. The setond spell produced; some very fast playJ The Wairarapa boys had some excellent chances of scoring, but muddled them away. ? More interest was taken m the primary, game, m which . honors rested with the . visitors by eight points (a try by Manning, converted by Nix, who also kicked a penalty) to. nil. -- x ' ■ The feature of the game was the taking and line^kicking of the two' full-backs Westbrpbk (Wellington) and Beard (Wairarapa). J

The locals were superior m loose, op-, en- forward play, but spoilt their good work by failing to tackle the opposing, backs. They adopted the neck-grabbing style/ which did not come off. The /Wairarapa boys thoroughly ••■ deserved their. ;-yria, and on the day. were /the better' team. ' . . ~ ■