PRIMARY SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2773, 19 August 1924, Page 3

PRIMARY SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

FOXTON DEFEATED. RANKIN AND STEVENSON’S PROWESS. Last Saturday the local school’s seven-a-side representative football teams journeyed to Palmerston N. where they competed in the annual tournament for the Pirani Shield. Drizzling rain fell in the early stages of - the games; the ground was very heavy, but despite the adverse conditions the boys put up a performance worthy of any primary school. Although outclassed in weight in the semi-final contest, they tenaciously held on to every inch of ground and demonstrated their fitness and ability to participate in formidable forward rushes until the whistle blew. Prominent among the Foxton players hi the A. team were Rankin, who missed no opportunity of carrying the leather far into the enemy’s territory and Stevenson, who again proved himself of sterling value as full back. To find two mare reliable and consistent players such as these, who have established brilliant records during the present season, in any other school in the Manawatu district, would be a difficult task. Owing to the cloginess of the mudj Rex Ball was prevented by his size, from carrying out his brilliant manoeuvres which have, up to the present time, marked his play, but nevertheless, his play was mar* ked by brilliant dashes and many a sturdy opponent- w r as surprised to find himself deprived of the possession of the ball. Foxton succeeded in winning their way' through to the semi-final contest in which they were defeated by the Lytton Street (Feilding) team, the winners of the Pirani Shield, who defeated the former team by points to nil. The following are the results of the games played:—

First Round: —Foxton A., 20, West End 8., nil. Second Round: —Foxton A., 13, Central A., nil. Semi-final:—Lvftnn St. 5, Foxton A., nil. Final: —Lytton St. 6, Terra be End nil. It is encouraging to note that the play of Rankin and Stevenson has, more than once, been highly commended by reputable officials of the Manawatu Rugby Union in Palmerston N, but it is to be regretted that the loeol school is to be deprived of the honour of having two representatives in the Manawatu Primary Schools’ team who will, in the near future, prove their worth against tße Wellington boys; because the present boundary limits preclude the selectors from choosing these two worthy juvenile knights of the leather. While the schools of the Palmerston Centre receive financial and moral support from the Manawatu Union, the Foxton school, with the exception of footballs supplied, lias received nothing from the Union under which it is at present placed. Wherever financial assistance is required by a. school in the Palmerston N. Centre, either for jerseys or travelling expenses, it is given freely by the Manawatu Union, who arc doing their utmost, lo further Rugby football in the primary schools, bnt it is essential that the Rugby enthusiasts of Foxton should be cognisant of the fact that, many of the young players in straitened circumstances find it difficult to pay (ravelling expenses and to provide for themselves a footballer's oulfii. Certainly, it would be heir. fieial fo (be welfare of Rugby football in the Horowhenua district if (lie Rugby fathers were (1) t'o organise a Primary Schools’ Rugby Association with a view to forming a representative team: (2) to help (he noble weak, who are striving at (lie expense of considerable selfsacrifice to fit themselves for future senior contests. The boys are nobly doing (lieir.part to play the game. Tr is high time that the Mother Union should be aware of its duty.