SCHOOL & PLAYGROUND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17833, 29 April 1926, Page 14

SCHOOL & PLAYGROUND.

(BY

“DEMONI."

RUGBY FOOTBALL. Last week games were commenced in the secondary schools weight limit grades, whilst the senior teams either took part in the C.R.U. competitions or played friendly matches. This week a start will bo made with the schools fourth grade, but the remaining grades will not commences until after the term holidays. SENIOR TEAMS. A friendly game was played last week between Christ’s College 1. and the ’Varsity junior A team, and, although not closely contested, the match was bright throughout. During the first spell, play was even, the College backs failing to get into action properly owing to the tendency of Taploy (second five-eighths) to cramp his centre, Wilson. The ’Varsity forwards were heavier and frequently broke through, further disorganising the College rearguard. College 1. drew first blood by way of a fine penalty goal kicked by Lumsden. Later in the spell, a forward rush gave Johnstone possession, and after dodging two men, he scored. Lumsden converted, and half-time came with the score 8-0, in favour of College I. On resuming, the College backs soon got into their stride, and from a scrum the ball came out. to Wilson, who cut in nicely and scored between the posts. 1 Lumsden converted. Kicking through and fast following then enabled •Williams to notch a couple of tries for College I. Lumsden was successful with both kicks, and the score was 23-0. College kept up the pressure, and Taploy was the next to score, Lumsden again converting. 2S-0. An intercepted pass found College* in trouble, a good rush by ’Varsity and a timely transfer to Rutherford resulting in a try, which was converted. 2S-5. This success evidently woke ’Varsity up. and another rush, breaking through the defence, Brownlee scored, 2S-S. College 1., however, came again, anrl just before time a forward rush brought play to the ’Varsity territory, where, after a dodgy run, Johnstone scored between the posts. Lumsden added the major points, and the game ended with College 1. the winners by 3.1 to S. Air T. W. Tothill was referee. Another friendly game was played between College 11. and the 'Varsity (under twenty) team. College also winning this match. The game, however, proved a more even contest, College 11. winning by IS points to 3. Hill (2), A. C. Tripe and Douglas gained tries for College, Tripe converting three. Last Saturday. St Andrew’s r. met Technical Old Roys in the under twenty grade, and although they won by 19 points to nil. Technical Old Boys were somewhat unlucky not to score during 1 the second spell, when for a time they were pressing hard. The Technical forwards were considerably heavier than their opponents, but their hooking was not dean, and they therefore, lost most of their advantage in weight. Play was even for the first quarter of an hour, but then At’Donald secured from a scrum near half-way. and passed to Johnstone, who, with a good run, brought the game to the Technical lino before be was tackled. Cordery picked up and scored, 3-0. Loose play followed with St Andrew’s I. pressing, and after a series of scrambles on tho Technical line, Blaokmoro dived over at the corner. Johnstono converted with a good kick, S-0. St Andrew’s continued to hav® the better of the game, and a penalty for offside play enabled Johnstone to bring the total to 11-0 shortly before half-time. At the beginning of the second spell, Technical pressed hartf, and had the better nf the play. Nutt relieved with a good kick to the line, and from a scrum about half-way, Hawkins secured, and a good passing rush, in which Johnstone, England and I. C. Little handled tho ball, enabled the last-named to score. 14-0. Technical pressed hard, and had St Andrew’s on the defensive. They failed, however, to cross the line, and a penalty for handling in the scrum brought relief to St. Andrew’s. Then Hawkins secured from a serum, and a nioo bout of passing, in which all the backs participated, ended in I. C. Lit--1 tie sending tho ball on to M'Donnld, who scored. Johnstone converted, and the game ended with St Andrew’s T. tho winners by 19 to nil. Air Hunt was referee. A fast and interesting game resulted last Saturday, when School 1. and St Rede’s I. met at Hagley Park, and tho final score of 17 points to It in favour of School 1. was a very fair indication of the relative merits of the two teams. Neither team was quite at full strength, but for a game so early In the season the combination shown was very pleasing, the play being fast and exciting right until the final whistle. School I. were heavier in all departments, and their forwards played good, hard football, and it was mainly due to their superiority in tills division that their hacks were uhlc to get going in such good style. School |. were early off tlie mark, and tries by Merritt. Dixon and Smith, one being converted by Dixon, brought the total to 11-rt before St Rede’s scored. Driscoll then kicked a penalty goal for St Bede’s 1., and half-time came with the score 11-3 in favour of School T. On resuming, good forward play by St Rede's resulted in a well-deserved try being scored by P. Anisey. The kick at goal failed, and School 1. came back with a strong attack. Passing amongst the rearguard hud St. Rodc’s in trouble, und .Merritt, dashed over for a good try. Tito kick failing, School I. now led by 14 points to

G, but a nice cut-in by Driscoll (first five-eighths) and a timely pass to T*. Anlsy gave St Rede’s their second try. J. 7fendren converted, «ml St Rede’s were now only three point# behind. Fast up and down play followed, in which St Rede’s made every effort to score. Tho 1 High School defence, however, was sound. Another attack by the rearguard transferred play to St Bede’s quarters, where Dixon scored. The kick was unsuccessful, and the game euded soon afterwards with the score 17 to 11 in favour of School I. Mr Murray wan referee. School IT., playing in tho under nineteen grade, found Merlvalo too heavy, and were outclassed, losing by 46 to 3. For School IT., Rogers scored a try. Mr Lawson was referee. Playing in the under seventeen grade. Technical IT. defeated Linwood by' 19 points to nil, whilst. Technical HI. beat Albion B by 55 points to nil. In the under fifteen and a half grade. Technical IV. beat Technical VI. by 21 points to nil, whilst Technical V. beat Sydenham by 35 points t.o nil. k s HEAVY-WEIGHT GRADE. Only two games were played in tho under Sst 71b grade, last week, the remaining match being postponed. As this grade contains- seven teams, fourteen rounds will bo required to complete a double series of games. Three rounds will probably be. played before t.ho term holidays, and this will leave eleven rounds to be completed during the second term. If bad weather occurs it may therefore prove difficult to complete the com petition. Poor form was shown by both of the teams in the game between Technical A and Technical R, and although the A team won by 8 points to 3, there was little to pick and choose between tho two teams. Drouigoolo and Gal vert were the scorers for the A team, one try being converted by W. Hobson. Forbes secured a try for the losers. Air G. S. A. Rilteliff was referee. The match between School A and St Andrew's was postponed. West Christchurch proved too strong for School R, who were defeated by 50 points to nil after a game which was too one-sided to bo interesting. Hailing and Jostlind each scored on four occasions, whilst Charles (2). Sutherland (2). Milne <l> and Wilkins (1) also secured tries, four or which were converted by Milne. Air W. W. Brussington was referee. Cuthcdral Grammar had the bye. LIGHT-WEIGHT GRADE. Owing to the largo entry of eighteen teams, it was decided to divide, the under 7st Tib grade into three sections this season. With six teams in each division a complete double series can be played in ten rounds, and with the early start, little difficulty should be found in completing all matches. UPPER BZVXBXON. The upper division of the light-weight grade comprises two teams from Boys' High School and one each from "West Christchurch. St Bede’s, St Andrew’s and Technical College. Only two games took place last week. and from the form shown in these, tho prospects are bright for a keenly-contested competition. The match between St. Bede’s A and West Christchurch A was very evenly foqght out. the. former team being .slightly superior in the rearguard, whilst. West Christchurch had the better forwards. W. Quirk scored a. try for St Bede's A, whilst R. Line kicked a. penalty goal for West Christchurch. Air A. Thompson was referee. 1 The match between Technical A and School B was also fairly even. Technical A winning by 14 points to 3 after a bright and interesting game. Brown secured a try for School B, whilst South (2), Parks (1) and Williams (1) scored tries for the winners, one trv being converted by Crisp. Air J. Nicol was referee. The game between St Andrew’s and School A was postponed.

MIDDLE XJXVXSXOM’. The light-weight middle grade als*o promises to become an interesting competition, and is composed of two teams from each of Boys’ High School and Technical College, and one each from Cathedral Grammar und St Bedes t.ol--10 The game between St Rede’s R and Cathedral Grammar was keenly contested throughout, hud although play at times was n. little ragged, both teams give promise of developing well if combination can be developed. The result, a win for St Rede’s R b.v 3 points to nil, just about, represented the relative strengths of the two fifteens. M’Cormiek was the scorer for St Bode s B. Air Al. K 'Technical l !* proved too good for Technical C, and ran out winners by 18 points to nil. For the R team, Grenfell scored twice, whilst Alexander, Junes, C. Harper and I. Harper also secured tries. Air R. Welch was referee. The match between School C ana School 1> was rather more closely contested, the O team winning by 1- points to nil. Thomas showed good term, notching three tries, whilst Innes also scored. Air 1. H. Skipwovth was relevee. ♦.» j; LOWER jpXVIjBXON-. The lower division of tho under 7s~ 71b grade will consist cf two teams from each of Technical College and Boys’ lUgh School, and one each lrom West Christchurch and St Redes College. Although two of the games wero rather one-sided last week, with further practice the lo.wev teams are sure to develop, and closer games can bo expected in the. future. West Christchurch R tried conclusions with School F. and an interesting game resulted in a win for West Christchurch bv 7 points to nil. For the winners Gray scored a try and Angus potted a goal. Air R. Chinnery was referee. School K proved too strong for .St. Becle’a who were defeated by 33 points to 3. For the losers Dicdrich.s scored a trv. whilst for School E, Al Phaii (31, Thompson (2), Cook (1) and Grant Cl) gained trios, Thompson and Cook each converted one. Two potted goals were also recorded, Cook and Ilounsell being successful in this respect. Air J. Hendren was referee. Technical D were too strong for Technical E. and won by 21 points to 3. For the winners. Craighead (21, Fraser. Browning and Price secured tries, Fraser converting two and Hen wood one. Al'Kenzie scored for the E team. Air A\ . IS. Harris -was referee.