POOTOALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 May 1920, Page 2

POOTOALL.

AUSTRALIAN A’ N. Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION]

SYDNEY, May 7. A deputation from the Rugby League asked the Minister of Education to alIjow the public'.schools to pla y the League game. x The deputation stated that up to the present, school authorities had bnrred the Northern Union code, on the very contentious ground as to whether the ■League was? a professional body or not. The deputation denied that the League was a purely professional body and denied that any player whatever in New South Wales earned his living by playing the game. The deputation also asserted that the bulk of the boys would prefer the Lea.gue game if permitted to play it. The Minister, in reply, stated that he was of opinjon that school boys should be allowed to play any game they liked. If the amateur organisations desired to place difficulties n the way of boys playing tlie League game, then the schools would accept the challenge. He therefore announced that the embargo against playing the League game was off. WELLINGTON V. NEW ZEALAND SERVICE TEAM.

WELLINGTON, May 7. Glorious weather favoured the rugby football match between the New Zealand Service team and the 1919 Wellington representatives, played at the Athletic Park to-day in the presence of the Prince and some 10,000 spectators. Owing to his having another engagement at Petone, the Prince was unable to stay for more than twenty minutes, but in that time he saw some inerdstjng football. The match was not the best exhibition of the game that has been seen on the Athletic Park, but it was not without many interesting phases.

Although Wellington were defeated by 23 to 8, they were leading by a narrow margin at half time. At that stage it looked as if honours. would be fairly even at,the finish, but towards the middle of the second spell, the home side seemed to slacken off in their efforts and consequently they were wholly outclassed.

The work of the' Service team was excellent. A set of fine forwards told their tale, and this largely accounted for Wellington’s defeat. If anything Wellingtons were a nippier hunch than their opponents,, but the tackling of the Service men proved very sure. Tries for the Service were scored by Moffit (two), Storey (one), Beilis (three) West f(one). O’Brien cfon verted one try. For Wellington, on a try each were got by Barker an f l Calcinni, Malin converting one.