COLLEGE RUGBY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 200, 27 August 1935, Page 6

COLLEGE RUGBY

BIG SOCIAL EVENT f MY LADY TAKES AN INTEREST THE GAME AND GOSSIP A College .Rugby match is different from all others. Not from the game’s standpoint entirely, but from another angle altogether—it is a socia* event. The presence of the fair sex in large numbers helps to create the “difference,” which is made more definite by school peculiarities, those little intimate touches whi'ch manifest themselves in war cries, in the method of expressing “hip, hip, hooray,” and m the concerted barracking. Wanganu! has had a feast of College football during the past two week days—Saturday and Alonday. Four colleges have been competing, each with its distinctive war cry, each with its colour? blazoned forth in ties, scarves, blazers and headgear. The tournament been the means of reviving old school memories, and bringing old boys together in happy reunion. And the following of womenfolk, while admittedly not quite a.s conversant with the finer points of the game as their sons, brothers and brother’s friends would like them to be, added to the importance of the occasion. On Saturday the wind was unkind, but the scene was' a> inspiring one. on the Collegiate School No. 1 ground. Aly Lady was bedecked in accord with latest fashion, suits and ensembles in the season ’s appropriate colours, affording a background to the scene. What a glorious opportunitv was presented for the parading of clothes’ Mere man was there, plainly dressed as of old but always conscious of his power in that he could follow the game correctly’ and know Just what the referee kept blowing his whistle for and just when the correct time to cheer arrived. Alothers, sisters, sweethearts, however, looked upon the day as something of greater moment than the mere blowing of whistles and the scoring of tries. It was the same yesterday on Spriggens Park. The big stand was crammed full of Wanganui people, and people from far afield. Tt was interesting tc hear the conversation in the la.ls which occurred in between times—before the match started, at half-time, in between the two matches and in the second-half-time. “That blue look> rather smart,” said mother to daughter. “It does, rather. Do you know who she is? Iler sister married -in London. But look at the lady in grey. She was»divorced a week or so ago.” Then followed a whole lot more about the “lady in grey.” “I wonder where Jack is?” sister asked, craning her neck to look expectantly, towards the drcs&ing-room alley-way. “With the team,” said her father. “He'll be here in a here ho is now.” Jack arrived with a coat over hh? togs. “We’re going to win,” he sail confidently. Sister wasn’t quite so confident, but she lost interest for a minute to exclaim: “What a lovely hat!” Her mother and she forgot all about Rugby while Jack explained to his father the changes in the team. “I think Christ’s College will walk all over Wanganui.” said a man in the seat in front. That brought mother and sister back to earth. “You’ve no imagination,” mother said defiantly. ‘‘l bn sure Wanganui will win. You should have said that when Jack was here.” .... The game had been iu progress some - minutes when Wanganui landed a penalty goal. Mother and sister cheered and shouted with the rest. J( “How many points do they get for that?” mother wanted to know. Dad uttered the word “three” with a definite inflexion of disgust which was entirely lost on the womenfolk, for they had seen something c lse—another figure in grey. “Doesn’t she look sweet,” said sister. “That's a very pretty coat. They’ve only been married a month, and her brother's engagement has just been announced.” .... And the game went, on. The referee awarded a free kick. “What was that for?’’ mother wanted to know. “Lying on the ball,” replied a gruff voi'j.c iu front of her. “And can’t they’ do that?” mother asked. “I thought they could do anything with it.” “Mother!” exclaimed her daughter in a shocked voice. “.Surdy you know better than that.” “Well, they’re there to stop the other side from scoring and if -hey can lie on the ball why can’t thev do it . . . .? ” Sister’s reply was drowned ‘n a cheer which signalised a great run bv tne Wanganui backs. “ What were they stopped for?” sj.-nr wanted to know. “A knock-on.” father answered. ‘‘Look, look,” sister answered, “there’s Bob and Jim, Whose the girl with them?” ... And still the game went on until that great try in the last fifteen minutes o^^ 1 the match, which clinched the issue k ’ far as Wanganui was concerned and gave the, home team the tournament fo’ the first time iu eight years. Mother shrieked and sister shrieked. Mother leant forward and grabbed t!uj hat of the man who said that Christ s College would “walk all over Wanganui,” and waved it excitedly for a full minute. The man himself was so excited that he wasn’t aware Ms head \vn? bare. And the game ended with Wanganui on top, and mother and sister anxious (■> meet Jack and tellJii’H all about it.