RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17031, 3 May 1923, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

' The secondary schools Rugby competitions have not yet oommenceu, out xnuioaLions are for a season oi ciotsely-contetaea matches. All tue senoois who compete.! mao season will ue iiaeiy to enter teaniA again, wailflt one scnooi, xtangiora hign mgh cjuiuol nrso aud second ufiteus, urew a College first- and rit Jbeae’s College first; but later tue 'technical college mm tory in the second grade, were, at then this graue was won by Cnrist 3 College, who wore uuueieatea in competition games and later won tne inter-collegiate tournaxiieut in \\ ellnigton. Last season college ueided an exceeumgly line side, but tn.c year it is doubuul whether they will _> c as good. G. ir. M iiaray, who will captain ion are the only backs remaining from at first, five-eighths, wmist, Jjowib is 1 cocond, and liumer-vVesiou, who late last quarter, has gone back to full-back to fill the \acanoy created by T. C. C. Birch leaving the college. \\. C- .Stafford, vicecaptam, will lead the pack, Avlnlst G. Vvil Aiums (wing) and (J- H. Millar are the only two forwards still available. R. Smith, who lust season played in the Waitaki -high School front rank, is now attending Christ’s College, but does not seem very likely to obtain his colours. The pack, on the whole, should average a bout list, whilst the majority, of tne hacks are inexperienced. In a recent game against Ht Andrewk College Christ’s were victorious by a fairly substantial margin, but neither f?t Andrew s liai'e been practising very solidly of lat-e, and although not quite as strong on paper as last season, they shoul 1 acquit themselves quite well in competition games. I). Al’Crostie, who captained thy side last year, is still at the college. Playing at second five-eighth with another old colour, England., at centre, if given plenty of the ball, M’Crostie should prove a tower of strength to his side. Kain, who at wing- forward played so well last year, is also available, whilst with Wilson and Koutledge to lead tlie pack their vanguard should prove formidable. Boys’ High School first fifteen this season, from all accounts, should be a strong side. No less than six of last year’s rearguard are still at the school. G. Mortlock is at present playing at half, whilst H. Brown retains his position of first tivceiehth. The three-quarter line should do well, consisting of three such experienced players as 1. B. Cromb (centre), J. D. .M’Millan (right wing) and G. Berry (left wing). G. Kemp will captain the side from full-back. H. T. J. Thacker (vice-captain) and K. Porterfield are the only two surviving forwards, but G. Esson and T. ±3 Holmes, who were emergencies last season, will again be available. The St Bede's College first fifteen will prove hard to beat this year, for althougn they do not possess many experienced players, their rearguard has already shown a fair amount of combination. Their pack is light and should average about lOst 71b. J. Murphy, who captained the side last season from second five-eighth and centre three-quarter, has been moved into the forward line, whilst J. Tansey, Fealev and Taylor are also available in the vanguard. J. Payne ha.s been elected vicecaptain and will plav at second five-eighth, whilst T. Mullan (half) and L. Spring (fiveeighth) are still at St Bede’s. With such a strong trio near the scrum, if the outside backs can reproduce, in competition matches, the form they have shown recently, St Bede’s should go very close to winning the secondary schools' competiTechnical College are not as strong as they were last season, but if they fielded their full side they would be too strong for the junior grade. The proposal, however. is. 1 believe, to allow certain of thencountry boys, to play in sub-association games, and to enter the team thus weak ened in the second grade. West Christchurch, who last season were victorious in this grade, are much weaker than last year; but. although there was .« proposal that they should go down a grade, it is most likelv that they will again enter for the second division. Two teams from -Christ’s College, two from Boys' Hia-h School, and one each from St Bede’s College and St Andrews College are likely to lie also entered for this grade, whilst Rangiora High School, although at the first desirous of entering for the third grade, are expected to compete in the second. t The third grade, which last year was won by Boys’ High School, seems as "though it will draw very heavy entries, and possibly m*v have to he subdivided. The colts (under 15 years on April 1) competition will again be restricted to one team from each school and from a couple of games played recentlv should prove a very fine “ nursery ” for the younger boys. GAMES. Technical College First Fifteen played Rangiora High School at Rangiora on Monday of this week. The Christchurch team which was at- its full strength proved victorious by 19 points to 11. For Technical B. Marshall scored three lri-s and J. Madden two whilst J. Maxwell converted a couple. Rangiora scored two tries (one converted), and also kicked a penalty goal. The Boys’ High School Colts played Technical College Colts last week and proved victorious by 8 points to 6 after an exceedingly interesting game Wallis scoren a try for Boys’ High School. This was converted by C'orsbie who also kicked a penalty goal. Barclay and Rountree scoredl tries for the losers. On Tuesday Technical College cots defeat ed St Bedes College colts by 18 to nil. Barclay (2). Rountree (2). Nevell and Judkins scored trie? for the winners, norm being converted. Referee: Mr C. J. Gold-