SCHOOL SPORTS.

Waipa Post, Volume XXI, Issue 1281, 15 August 1922, Page 5

SCHOOL SPORTS.

FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL.

VISIT OF TE KUITI SCHOOL CHILDREN.

The visit of teams of children from the Te Kuiti school to play games with the pupils of the local s'chool passed off very successfully on 'Saturday last.

Football. The first game was a football match between the primary teams of the two schools. This was a very even match, Te Kuiti having the better of the first spell, and Te Awamutu of the second. Each scored a try, but Te Kuiti goaled, and so won the match. Te Awamutu was unlucky to lose, and Bowden made desperate efforts to score, but missed by inches, being pushed out just at the corner. For the winners Garlick scored, and /Hickson goaled by a very fine kick. The latter played a very fine game at full-back, fielding and kicking very accurately. -In the forwards the Smith brothers and Blackham shone out prominently. For Te Awamutu Watson, who played a very fine game, scored after a loose rush. Trevor Clark was the most prominent forward on the local side. Among the backs Ramsay, Hall, Gibson, and Bowden played well, Bowden especially showing great determination. The play of the Te Awamutu boys was very creditable, especially as on the last occasion that they met Te Kuiti they were beaten by a cricket score. Basketball. After lunch the primary school girls met at basketball. Te Awamutu at once assumed the lead, and kept it throughout, eventually winning by 18 points to 4. All the girls played well, but Mavis Crotty and Mavis Spinley as goal-throwers and Eleanor Peake and Phyllis Walters in the centre, with Gladys Scobie and Ida Rhyder as defenders, are worthy of special mention.

It is needless to say that this win was very popular. The Secondary Games.

As the football teams marched on to the field it was at once manifest that Te Kuiti had the advantage in weight, especially in the backs. The first quarter was remarkably even, Te Awamutu securing the 'ball from nearly every scrum, but the best use was not made of the leather on these occasions, too much kicking being indulged in. The change over saw Te Awamutu on the defensive, several certain scores being averted by the determined tackling of Johansen-, 'Patterson, and Cuthbert in the backs and Flay in the forwards. The Te Kuiti forwards now dominated the game. From a line-out near the goal Te Kuiti’s fulHback, Lee, snapped up and scored, the try being converted: Te Kuiti, '5; Te Awamutu, 0. Forward play was now the order of the day, and* Te Kuiti carried play to near Te Awamutu’s 25, where Harrow made a splendid opening for Wilson to score. The kick failed: Te Kuiti, 8; Te Awamutu, 0. After half time Te Kuiti’s backs indulged in spectacular passing movements, all of which were frustrated by the tackling of Te Awamutu, Johansen and Flay being particularly prominent at this stage. Te Kuiti now resolved to once more make it a forward game, and three tries quickly followed, none of which was converted. 'The game ended: Te Kuiti, 17; Te Awamutu, 0.

Among a fine lot of forwards, Mullins, Lee, and Wilson stood out prominently for Te Kuiti, while the pi'ck of the backs were the Darrow brothers at half and five-eighths respectively.

Secondary Basketball. This was a much more even game than the scores indicate. At half time Te Awamutu was leading: 11—9, but faded out in the last half, Te Kuiti piling u pa score of 27 against 13 in a few minutes.

Teams Entertained. 1 The teams were entertained to lunch and tea by the Te Awamutu school children. Mr Battson. chairman of the local school committee, in a few well-sel-ected remarks, briefly welcomed the visitors, and congratulated them on their good wins. In thanking Mr Battson and the staff for their very hearty reception, Mr McCormick referred to the excellent spirit in which the games had been played, and remarked on the opportunities which school children nowadays had for social intercourse compared with those of a few years ago. In apologising for the large family he had brought he expressed the hope that Te Awamutu would return the compliment on the occasion of the children’s next visit to Te Kuiti.