SCHOOL RUGBY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19058, 10 July 1924, Page 6

SCHOOL RUGBY

SCHOOL RUGBY CARNIVAL TEAMS TO MEET IN ANNUAL CONTESTS. CONDITIONS FABOURABLE FOR BRILLIANT FOOTBALL. Te Ante IL v. Collegiate School n. at 1 p.m. Te Ante XV. v. Collegiate School XV., at 2.30 p.m. That is the programme mapped out for to-day's annual matches wherein the first and second fifteens of Te Ante College and Wanganui Collegiate School will do battle for the winning of their Rugby honours. The venue of play is the Collegiate School ground, which is in very good order and should be all in favour of fast games, provided the rain still holds off. And it is safe to say that there will ‘be very few local enthusiasts absent when the first fifteens commence their duel for supremacy. In addition, old boys of both schools will be there in full strength, for in the past this match has been noted for its reunion of past students of the schools. Visitors are expected from all parts of the Island to view the match, so great a hold has this fascinating fixture on supporters of the game. Today all roads lead to Wanganui. GAME OF THE YEAR. BEST TRADITIONS OF RUGBY UPHELD. TEAMS MEET FOR TWENTYSEVENTH TIME TO-DAY. A muddy ground, with more than a little water lying about. Those were the conditions in which the writer saw the first (to him) match between Te Aute and Wanganui. The scene was the Recreation Ground at Napier, and the year —well that does not really matter. It must have been more than two decades ago, and these schools had been meeting in friendly rivalry prior to that. Much water has flowed under the bridge since that date. The Recreation ground at Napier is almost a thing of the past, for the march of progress saw that nice area swallowed up for building purposes, and at the present time the capital city of Hawke’s Bay draws its electric power from the plant ’built on the old playing ground. A LITTLE HISTORY. Doubtless there will be present at to-day's match old boys of both schools who played in that fixture at Napier. It was not long afterwards that the annual game between the two schools was transferred to neutral territory in place of the home and home system inaugurated when the match was first arranged. It was 1907 when the last contest was played at Wanganui, and afterwards Palmerston North, as the most convenient neutral centre, was decided upon as the future venue. And the Manawatu centre retained the game as one of its big Winter Show attractions. Last year it was decided to revert to annual home and home . matches, the step being considered in ’ the best interests of the schools and the Rugby Union game. So it is that we have the first Te Aute College-Wan-ganui Collegiate School match to be played in Wanganui for seventeen years. Up to the present the two schools have met on the Rugby field no less than twenty-six times, with the following results:— Matches Played .. 26 Te Aute have Won 14 Wanganui have Won 11 Drawn Games 1 TOTAL POINTS SCORED. Te Aute 268 Wanganui .. 233 At the conclusion of the match four years ago a most interesting position was disclosed. At that time twentythree matches had been decided, and each team had won eleven games, the remaining one being drawn. By an extraordinary coincidence the number of points scored by the teams was also the same, viz., 213. Then the Wanganui School struck a lean period, and the next three matches were won by Te Ante by good margins. In 1921 the verdict against School was 26—6, the following season it was 19 —8, and last year 13—6 were the scores. Te Aute were rather fortunate last season in that they met Wanganui early in the year, for the School XV. a few weeks later was to ► weld into one of the best combinations that have ever worn the all white—the School _XV. uniform. Indeed, it will be a long while before such a rare pack of forwards is once more produced by the School, and it might also be said that the backs were also capable of rising to the occasion. It will be remembered that this team scored a

IE AUTE VERSUS WANGANUI PROSPECTS FOR TO - DAY’S MATCH (By “The Observer”) After a lapse of seventeen years, one of the most notable interBchort matches in New Zealand Bagby will to-day be played in Wanganui. This is the annual contest between Te Aute College and Wanganui Collegiate School, to eventuate on the latter’s ground this afternoon. Spectacular and thrilling football is anticipated as the result of the encounter, in which both teams appear to be pretty evenly matched.

comfortable win in the Triangular tournament held last year at Christchurch. • WHAT OF TODAY'S GAME? It is exceedingly difficult to sum up rhe relative performances of the two first fifteens. Take Te Aute first. They play in the senior competition in Hawke’s Bay, and have been meeting with a fair share of success. Then recently they played their usual fixture with M.A.C., and on a ground where the turf was totally obscured by mud and water, they gave a magnificent display of the handling game. The Te Aute boys threw that ball about as if it was absolutely dry, to the amazement and delight of the spectators and the envy of other players present. An old Wanganui representative spoke of their display as nothing short of wonderful. Te Aute have some outstanding players. First of all there is the little halfback, Potaka, a great player. Then there is Ruru, a fine three-quarter who takes the direct route for the line, and when required he can dodge and twist his way past the best of them. The forwards are very heavy, and with Walker, Wanoa, Leech and Tibble at the head they will take a power of stopping once they get under way. It may not be out of place to add a critic’s account of their last match at Hastings: Te Aute played very bright and spectacular football, their backs throwing the ball out well, while their forwards played a consistently good game. COLLEGIATE SCHOOL’S CHANCES. With the decided improvement evident in their play during the past couple of weeks, the chances of the local boys must be considered as fairly good. The Te Aute players are said to be on the heavy side, but if they average more than the School pack then they are heavy indeed. The local forwards are a good lot, better individually than as a combination, and if they can bring off any concerted movements this afternoon their stock will be high. The same remark applies to the scrum work, and in this connection one is somewhat apprehensive, for to date the hookers have not been able to get the ball as they should against comparatively weak opposition. A good lot depends on getting possession of the ball, and if the visitors excel here they should win. Bethel, Bullock, Jury, Bernauand and Ritchie are fine forwards. The School backs are full of possibilities. Behind the scrum is McKenzie, and he knows? how to send the ball out, albeit at times he is too keen to get hold of it. Latham is the first fiveeighth and the makings of a topnotcher, too. He goes straight with an awkward running action, but against the good tackling which will be in evidence to-day he may not go far. The best back on the side is Scanlon, who partners Latham. This player is full of resource on the attack, and a nice swerve takes him a long way through the opposition. On the defence Scanlon is determined and afraid of nothing. In the centre is Carrell, the captain, and he is a typical lad for the position. Duncan and Ormond, on the wings, are both dangerous, endowed with good pace to carry them to the corner, and able to inswerve when necessary. The game is going to be a very close one, and whatever the result, that the best traditions of the game will be upheld goes without saying. Local enthusiasts will like to see a Wanganui victory, but nobody will begrudge Te Aute the honours should they go their way. One thing is confidently anticipated, and that is a thrilling and spectacular exposition. In that the spectators will not be disappointed. Perhaps the heavy Te Aute pack will carry the day. THE TEAMS The first fifteens will take the field as follows, the weights being given in parentheses: Wanganui Te Aute. (white) (red and black) Full-back: B. Gardner (9.4) Turei (12.1) Three-quarters: E. Duncan (11.0) Smith (10.4) C. Carrel (12.0) Ruru (10.12) A. Ormond (12.4) Ihaia (10.0) Five-eighths: A. Scanlon (10.3) Kepa (9.3) T. Latham (10.10) Pipi (11.6) Half-back: McKenzie (10.0) Potaka (9.1) Wing-forward: D. Ritchie (11.4) Wiremu (12.0) Forwards: C. Jury (10.4) Leach (12.8) H. Bullock (10.3) Rua (12.7) H. Hinds (10.8) Wanoa (12.10) D. Gorringe (13.0) Kereopa (12.11) R. Bethell (12.2) Grace (12.4) R. Cleland (11.9) Mackey (11.8) F. Bernau (10.7) Tibble (12.11) THE WEIGHTS AVERAGED Wanganui Te Aute Backs .... 10 12 10 6 Forwards .. 11 3 12 54 Team .... 11 04 11 6

The big discrepancy in the weights of the forwards will make a vast difference in favour of Te Aute. The two junior teams are as follows: Te Aute:—Sydley; Raana, Huata (captain) and Teihi; Rapaera and Seymour; Mika; wing-forward: Horawai; Wicklisse and Raroa (hookers); Green, Hakaraia and Davis; Atkins and Smith. Reserves: Chesley and Rorua. Wanganui:—R. L. Craig (10.11); threequarters: H. H. Mackenzie (9.8), F. W. Jull (10.11), W. I. Bunny (10.0); five-eighths: R. A. Burny (9.0), H. C. Wilson (10.7; half: S. F. Besley (9.13); forwards: W. P. Nelson (10.0), T. Baine (10.11), A. C. Williams (12.6), C. A. Steele (11.11), C. R. Judd (11.2); L. E. Clark (10.0); D. R. Tiffin (11.3); wingforward: H. Pitts-Brown (10.7). Average weights: backs, 10.1; forwards, 11.0; w£ole team, 10.8. The referees are: Senior, Mr R. P. London; Junior, Mr F. C. Atkinson. ALL BLACKS IN FORM FOR.WARDS AND BACKS DO WELL. BIG SCORE AGAINST METROPOLITAN. New Zealand 38 Metropolitan ...... 3 Received July 9, 9.55 p.m. SYDNEY, July 9. The All Blacks defeated the Metropolitan team this afternoon by thirty-eight (not thirty ; six) to five. The conditions were ideal, with neither wind nor sun. The Blacks won the toss. Play was more spectacular than on Saturday. The forwards played with considerable dash and partici pated in several passing and dribbling rushes, M. Brownlie and Irvine being specially prominent. Dailey played a fine game behind the scrum and set his backs in motion well. Nepia’s line kicking generally was excellent, but he indulged in several speculators. Metropolitan’s fullback, Whipp, was a tower of strength and saved his side on numerous occasions. Many promising movements by the Blacks’ backs were spoiled by offsides or knocks on. OPENING THE ACCOUNT. The first try was obtained as a result of Parker screwing the ball and passing to Nicholls who crossed. Nepia converted. New Zealand 5 Metropolitan 0 A little later the forwards gave Hart the ball and he scored in the corner. Nepia missed with the kick. New Zealand 8 Metropolitan 0 Then from a forward rush near the line Irvine scrambled over. Nepia again missing. New Zealand 11 Metropolitan 0 Metropolitan backs got moving, but indecision by Loudon, who replaced Morrissey (injured) spoiled the chance. A passing rush by the Blacks’ backs and forwards ended in Svenson scaring. Nicholl’s kick fell short. New Zealand 14 Metropolitan 0 From the loose near the Black line Georgeson obtained possession after a tricky run, wherein he beat several New Zealanders and scored. G. Walker converted. Metropolitan 5 New Zealand . . . . . . 14 Just on half time, from a scrum, Cuppies forced his way across. Nicholls failed to convert, and the spell saw the scores: New Zealand 17 Metropolitan b The Blacks maintained superiority in the second spell. After a brilliant passing rush Lucas scored, and Nepia failed to convert. New Zealand 20 Metropolitan 5 Then Masters crossed from the loose and Nicholls converted, making the scores: New Zealand 25 Metropolitan 5 Shortly after Masters ajein dashed across and White converted: New Zealand 30 Metropolitan 5 A minute later Hart crossed in the corner and White failed to convert. New Zealand 33 Metropolitan 5 On the call of time, from the ruck after all the backs had handled the ball, Lueas scored and Nicholls converted, the final scores being: New Zealand 38 Metropolitan 5 N.S.W. TEAM OHE SECOND TEST. Received July 10, 1.15 a.m. New South Wales has selected the following team to meet the AU Blacks. —Full-back, Nothling; threequarters: Crossman, Wogan, Stanley and Foote; five-eighths, Sheehan; half-back, Walker; forwards: Davis, Blackwood, Thompson, Fox, Bonner, Greatorex, Hoskins, Thorn. PIRATE CLUB. All members arc requested to attend on Rec. this (Thursday) evening at 7.30 for training. By courtesy of the Old Boys Club, members will be permitted to use the training shed to undress. THE LEAGUE GAME BRISBANE, July 9. The English League football team detested Maryborough by 22 points to 3.