The Schools' Match.

NZ Truth, Issue 64, 8 September 1906, Page 3

The Schools' Match.

Wairarapa Defeats Wellington.

The annual match between' the Wellington, and Wairarapa school reps, always creates much enthusiasm amongst schoolboys. Last Saturday's game at the Athletic Park proved no exception to the rule, barring that the ,: Wairarapa boys gained a victory first for thirteen years ! ' The visitors were much bigger and heavier than the Wellington boys. Their forwards, headed by Kautson ajid Beard, played a fine game ;, but the back division lacked combination, and most of them had an inclination ■to wait till the ball bounced instead of taking it "on the full."

Although 'beaten m the scrumsj the Wellington forwards played pluckily, and towards the finish were holding their, own. The : local backs were rather, disappointing, little combined play .being attempted, A even ; when? they got possession. Bender, Russell and Finlayson played the rbest games lor Wellington. Some fine line-kicking was shown by both sides, Fairbrother arid, Firilayson' being* especially good.. ; • „•,'. Tlie.;game,. though keenly, contested, was. played m the best of: spirit,' and resuited m 'favor of /Waiiarapa* by... 6 points, (two tries) to 3 (a try). .Mcßarron! iand ' Fairbrother scored for '.the visitors, -and' Bender for Wellington. - ' ' ■ .

The jQrst school rep. matcK,- between.' ■W?ifi%ton;,and^WairaXjat>a; v i^»ii-.place i ' \n. Masterton m IS92L'; The'^ellingtpn-: team, won, by. •two; tries, gained r rtb:>niyC. v Next^Bari^he qtyyritry te_am wpn.by a .'try. $7ejlij[i ; gton team 1 of that 7 year incited Wallace , C . B.ush , E. Wy lie ,. andJßuddle. Since 1893, Wellington 1 sained a, • succession of wins till this year.;;, • Some' idea of the Value' of .school football, can be gained, by ■ noting thej number 'of players who have, performed both as school and Wellington £eps. : At least half-a-dozen members,, feS the team that represented Wellington . against Auckland on Saturday gained theiri.school rep. caps. What a pity it is that all those who pass through the .various . school teams do not. continue to play the same "clean" game of their schoolboy days. If they did so> no more would' be heard of the "Rugby Rough."

. At the dinner given to the school rep. .teams, at G-odber's oh Saturday night, Messrs Barber, Fisher, and Hof? M.'sH.R., ami B. Wylie and S. Brown were amongst the guests. /The Wairarapa team was heartily congratulated, and the Wellington Rugby Union was, thanked -for /the great assistance it has giveffi to School football. '