FOOTBALL.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 48, 18 September 1924, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THE SCHOOLS COMPETITION. WAOTU-LICHFIELD WIN BANNER The final match in the Putaruru district schools’ competition in Rugby football took place at Putaruru on Saturday afternoon, when the Waotu - Lichfield combination played the Putaruru school team. The weather was good, a considerable number of interested spectators attended, and with the excitement of a good game the

“ barrack ” was strenuous. Both teams played well, but the WaotuLichfield combination showed better staying power in a hard game and won by 12 points to 3. They thus win the banner, being one point ahead of the Patetere team, which finished its matches three Saturday’s ago. The full result of the Primary Schools competition is as follows:

A match between the Matamata school team and a representative team from the Putaruru district schools is to be played at Matamata on Saturday. The Putaruru district team, which is to journey to Matamata by the express on Saturday morning, is as follows:—R. Haniaha, F. Hamaha, J. Randall, B. Chapman (Selwyn-Ta-papa); L. Harmon, J. Baldwin, F. Wilks, J. Martin (Patetere); Marsh, K. Battle, R. Allwood, McEwan (Waotu-Lichfiekl); J. Elder, J. Aspden, G. Berg, J. Martin (Putaruru).

PRESENTATION SOCIAL. The general meeting of members and supporters of the Putaruru Rugby Union, which was to have been held last week to arrange the annual presentation social, lapsed, only three members of the management committee attending. The trouble was apparently due to there being several other local fixtures for the same evening, and another meeting will probably be convened. ALL BLACKS’ FIRST MATCH. The result of the first match of the All Blacks’ tour was not received with a great amount of cheerfulness. Eleven to nil after 55 to 4 of the 1905 team was a great come down. If Devon is not a strong county and its players are not in great form then the All Blacks’ showing was poor and far below expectations. From the cabled report little is to be gained proved deviations of main highways.

except that the display was disappointing and the backs were not impressive on the attack. The team should have been in good condition, and with their experience on the voyage Home by this time their passing and handling should have been quite good. It may 'be that the team has yet to find itself, to settle down to the state of confidence in itself and intuitive knowledge of exactly what is going to happen that spells the perfect combination that made the 1905 All Blacks such a wonderful side on the attack. It can hardly be conceived that the All Blacks showed their best form on Saturday. Were it so, then the team’s prospects in the international games would be poor. The next few matches wil.l give a truer indication of the team’s chances.

P. W. D. L. Pts Waotu-Lichfiekl 6 4 2 0 10 Patetere 6 4 ,1 1 0 Selwyn-Tapapa 6 2 0 4 4 Putaruru 6 0 1 5 1 . PUTARURU v. MAT A MATA. .