SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1925, Page 8

SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

VISIT OF NELSON COLLEGE MATCH AGAINST HKIH SCIIOOU TEAMS TO MEET TO-MORROW, The annual Rugby football matefe b#tween Nelson College and New Plymouth Boys’ High School will be played»*4 Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, tomorrow afternoon, commencing at LW p.in. Intercollegiate football is always popular, being noted for its open, spectacular play. The New Plymouth boys gave a great display against the weighty To Aute team on Saturday last. The Nelson team, which arrived last night, is a much stronger combination than has represented the college for some years. It is an even, well-balanced team, possessing speedy backs and forwards of the dashing type. The Nelson team, which is in charge of Mr. McKay, was met at the station by Messrs W. H. Moyes (principal of the High School), A. J. Papps (a master), Mr. L. C. Sladden and Dr. E. F. Fookos (members of the Board of Governors), as well us the high school team, and the boys with whom the visitors are to be billeted during their stay. The Nelson team is as follows; — Full-back—A. Newman (11.7). Three-quarters—D. Barry (11.13), M. Wilkes (9.12), G. G. Hawes (10.11). Five-eighths—W. L. Rutherford, captain (11.0), N. B. Wilkes (8.11). Half—D. K. Carey (8.12). Wing-forward— W. E. Airey, vice-cap-tain (12:2). Forwards—H. K. Campbell (11.7), A. J. Sadlier (11.2), A. .Biggar (ldJ5), P. D. Sladden (12.2), I. Hawksworth (12.10), J. M. Martin (10.12), M. C. Smith (10.10). Emergencies—J ohnson, Shuttle worth and Cooke. The High School team will be practically the same as last week, except that there is a doubt whether Stewart (five-eighth) and Brown (wing threequarter) will be able to play, both having sustained injuries in liut week’s match. If unfit they will be replaced by Riley (five-eighths) and Davis (wing three-quarter). The match will start at 1.15 p.m., and will be followed by the Old Boys —Opunake match, so that it will be interesting to contrast the play of the present boys with that of the boys who helped to place the school on the Rugbymap.

RUGBY CONTROVERSY.

CHRISTCHURCH SCHOOLS. NO MATCH THIS YEAR. In past years it has been the rule to play the annual Rugby fixture between the Christchurch Boys’ High School ami Christ’s College on the first Wednesday in July, Had all gone well this year’s fixture would 'have been decided this week, but the headmaster of Christ's; College, Rev. E. 0. Crosse, has definitely refused to play the mateh on what he considers a public ground. Some time ago, Mr. G. J. Lancaster, headmaster of the Boys’ High School, made certain representations to the headmaster of the college, but Mr. Crosse refused to move from the attitude he had taken up. The result was the announcement that there would be no match this year, and an air of bitter disappointment became prevalent, more especially among the old boys of each school. It has been the time-honoured custom to play the game on the ground of each school in alternate years, but during the war period the Canterbury Rugby Union arranged with the two schools to play the match at Lancaster Park. Mr. Crosse then decided that he would not allow the boys from his school to -play in public, making the announcement that such happenings turned the players into gladiators. Mr. Lancaster was not antagonistic to the proposal that the old custom should be reverted to and the consequence was that the match took place last year on the college ground. This year, therefore, it was the High School’s turn for the game, but as their new ground at Riecarton will not be ready for another season the request was made to Mr. Crosse that the match should take place once more at Lancaster Park. Mr. Crosse, however, answered in the negative and has adhered to that decision ever since. The games between the two schools commenced in I®Bl, the year that the High School wac established.