FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3160, 7 October 1914, Page 55

FOOTBALL.

By Full Back

RUGBY.

Among tho champion footballers in England who joined the colours when the war broke out was A. D. Sloop, of the Harlequins, an English international and one of the finest backs playing. By the way, tho Harlequins have had their ranks almost decimated by tho calls from the Regulars and the Territorials, and when the mail left it was doubtful if there would be enough men left to play. Blair Swannell, the English Rugby footballcr, who toured New Zealand with BodollSivright’s team, and who subsequently settled down in Sydney, has joined the Australian Expeditionary Force, and will leave for Europe as captain of a company of infantry. Swannell served in tho Boer war in tho English Imperial Yeomanry. On the inauguration of tho Territorial system he took a commission as an area officer, and at the outbreak of the war held the rank of captain. The English Rugby Fool ball Union have given £250 to the Prince of Wales’s Fund, and offered the Government their ground at Twickenham. Tim Scottish Rugby Union have subscribed £SOO, and placed Invcrloith, the famous enclosure at Edinburgh, at the disposal of tho authorities. The Irish Rugby Union have sent £2OO, and an allied body, tho Leinster Union, £SO. The Scottish Football Association have voted £IOOO. and the Celtic Club £lO5. Incidentally, it may bo said that the Marylebone Cricket Club have allotted £250. The Irish Union have taken stops to form a corps of Irish Rugby Uinon players, and the kindred bodies in England and Scotland have recommended their men to join the forces, military or civil, now being built up either for active service or work of some kind in the home field. There arc a number of ex-Otago representative players resident in Wellington these days, amongst others being tho Hon. Lymes

Alien (1882), J. O’Shea (1890-91), R. M. Isaacs (1887-1892), T. Cross (1198-1800), R. Fordvee (1895-1886), Professor T. A. xinnter (IbSSj, W. E. Hay Mackenzie (1895ISOC), W. A. Grenfell (1691), P. Nichol (1878-82), H. Paten, R. Paton, J. R. Burt (1896-1901), Dr W. J. Cran (1889-95). L. M. M‘Kay (1903), Malcolm Ross (1885-86), W. H. Turnbull (1838-89), and A. Mason (189598). OTAGO BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL. An interesting ceremony took place at the Boys’ High School on the 29th, when Mr H. Harris (president of the Otago Rugby Union), accompanied by Dr Evans (one of the vice-presidents), attended to present the flags won by the Rugby teams during the season just concluded. The First Fifteen won the Third Grade flag, having gone through the season with a record of 15 wins out of 15 matches played; while the Junior B team won the senior schools contest. A flag was also presented to the Remove Form for winning the contest open to first and second-year forms. In introducing Mr Harris and Dr Evans to the school, the rector referred in complimentary terms to the many privileges granted by the Rugby Union to tile school in past years, and stated that the school owed a deep debt of gratitude to the Rugby Union for the consideration it had always shown. Mr Harris thanked the rector for his remarks, and expressed the conviction that, from what ho had seen of the school First Fifteen this year, many of the school team would be found in the near future upholding the honour of the province at, worthily as the old boys had done in the past. Cheers for the victorious teams and for the president of the Rugby Union concluded a most pleasant function. SCHOOLS’ FIVE-ASIDE TOURNAMENT.. ■ The schools’ football was brought to a close on Saturday with a fivc-asidc competition for B and C Grade schools. Results:— B Grade. —First Round: Christian Bros. A 10 points, Christian Bros. C 3 points; Normal B 6g points, Christian Bros. B 3 points; High School 6 points, Green Island A ml; Green Island B g point, Kaikorai nil; Normal A a bye. Second Round: Christian Bros. A 3 points, Normal A nil; High School g rioint, Normal B nil; Green Island B a bye. Semi-final: Christian Bros. A 7 points, Green Island % point; High School a bye. Final: Christian Bros. A 6g points. High School 3 points. C. Grade.—First Round: Christian Bros. A 9 points, St. Patrick’s 3 points; St. Clair 6 points, Ravensfcourne B nil; Ravensbourne A points, Christian Bros B nil. Semi-final: Ravonsbourno A 6 points, Christian Bros. A nil; St. Clair a bye. Final: Ravonsbourno A (H Blanc, R. Guthrie, C. M‘Ewan, W. Budge, W. Boswell) 5g points, St. Clair nil.