SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10764, 12 May 1911, Page 4

SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

(Per Pbess Association.) Wellington, May 12; The question of school football was discussed by the Rugby Union. Several speakers strongly urged that "if boys were not encouraged there would be no men playing the game later on, and the fact was stressed that the "Soccer' faction had been working harder in this direction. than the Rugby Union. The recent trouble in Wellington with the Marist Bros, was referred, to, and a motion was passed that the Wellington Rugby Union be congratulated on the action it was taking in trying to prevent any team from being excluded from football. , The Union voted the usual amount for fostering school football throughout New Zealand.

OLD BOYS v. UPPER WAITAKI

Yesterday the local football season opened, but- the meagre attendance gave but scant encouragement to the Rugby Union. Even the advent of the new club did not create sufficient interest to attract spectators, and we ; roust admit that those who stayed away were fortunate, for though two matches were to be seen for the admission fee. tliere was not sixpence worth of football on view. The Old Bovs made their initial appearanceplaying the Upper Waitaki team, whose 'game was destructive rather than constructfve',- albeit good-natured. The scrums' were useless, from which arms arid legs stuck out at all angles. Therefore, the ball came away but slowly and the backs had few chances. Lawson and Ireland for the Okl Boys made one or two good openings, which Scolon ' : twice, and Grenfell once, turned to the. best' advantage, while Coonev scored a snirlrt trv in ! the corner, airid R. Ongloj* ' kicked a" penalty goal and converted a ; try, making the score 17, as against the ICurow team's three, which came in the shape of a try scored from a scramble on the line. Gaard, Blacklock and Giliiiore worked well fox the visiting team, and. all worked, hard, the fullback being particularly safe. For Old ; jfby's;- Slolloy', 'Mian, 'and Eraser were the most serviceable' forwards, while of the backs all did well what they, were asked to do. . ■.. ATHLETIC y. EXCELSIOR. i The Athletics had lost-many of their best' players-, including the two Gurrans, ■!. .Taylor, B rente n, Grant, and Scott, but they came,to light again yesterdijS if ilot"'as string as ever, at. dill events very virLfe. Their game against the Excelsiors was wot very interesting,' because the backs on both sides suffered from laelc of form, and were altogether unenterprising. The Reds scored a' very -easy win by 28 to 3, but though they were milch the better side the points greatly flatter them. Ross' kicking was a valuable • asset, ' for; li'e converted' four tries from positions within a few yards of the. touch-line. Both packs were good; individually, Lee'was the best of the Reds 'ai'M , Gopdall was usually prominent among t'he Blries. Doran was the most useful Athletic back, and Martvn might lie placed in, the same category in the Excdl'sib'rs; The referee 'in this game omitted to notice that on almost all occasions when" "fair catches were made others than the catcher claimed the marli. - : He f was riot up t-o his best form yesterday.