PRIMARY SCHOOLS TOURNEY.

Shannon News, 9 August 1927, Page 3

PRIMARY SCHOOLS TOURNEY.

FOXTON WIN NOAD SHIELD.

Much interest was displayed on Saturday in the Primary Schools seven-a-side tournament for the Noad Shield, played on the Levin Domain, in the presence of a good attendance. Eight loams were entered, two each from Levin, Otaki and Foxton, and one each from Shannon and Ohau, and the tournament was divided into six rounds and a final, each game being played in two seven-minute spells. The final, between Shannon and the somewhat heavier Foxton team, was well worth watching, both sides showing a creditable knowledge of the principles of Rugby. In the first spell Foxton had affairs pretty well all their own way, and the half-time score of eight points to nil in their favour decided the game. The first score came from a try by Matthews, which was converted by Hirini. This w r as followed by a try by H. Gardner, which M. Gardner failed to convert. In the second spell Shannon, with the breeze behind them, predominated on the offensive and at one stage all but scored in the corner. The referees for the tournament were Messrs McGregor, Kingi and Hopa, and the last-named controlled the final.

Subsequently, Mr Marsh, president of the Levin branch of the Educational Institute, complimented the -Foxton team on their success, and asked Mr R. J. Foss, headmaster of the Levin District High School, to hand them the beautiful silver shield presented by Mr W. Noad, of Levin, to be played for each vear by the primary schools of the district.

Mr Foss congratulated the winners, and explained that Mr Noad, with the idea of fostering primary schools’ football, gave the shield to the Horowheiiua Rugby District Council, who in turn handed it to the Institute, with a request that conditions should be drawn up under which it could be "competed for. The initial tournament had been fraught with great success. In the early stages it was obvious that it was going ro be fought out between Shannon and Foxton. Mr Foss referred to the Foxton school’s previous success in carrying off the Hobson Shield for athletics. and complimented the school on its prowess. The one thing apparent to all who had -watched the game was the gentlemanly spirit in which the Foxton team competed and carried off the honours of the day. > Mr Foss called, on '-lie Shannon team to give three cheers for the Winners, and the boys heartily responded. Mr F. Mason, headmaster of the Foxton school, said he had been extremely proud to head Mr Foss’s remarks. . To a certain extent, the school merited them, but they had some very fine raw material, and in the hands of the teachers and his assistant, Mr Procter, those boys had risen to the occasion and done their best. He thanked Mr Noad for the interest he had taken in school football. He also wished to mention the name of Mr 11. McDonald, who as secretary, had been most assiduous in carrying out his duties. At-the call of Mr Mason, the Foxton boys gave three hearty cheers for Mr Noad, followed by three for the Shannon team.

The results of the games were as under Levin A 8 v. Foxt-cn B 0. Shannon 23 v. Otaki B 3. Fuxton A 8 v. Ohau B 0. Otaki A 6 v. Levin B 0. Shannon 3 v. Levin A 0. Foxtou A 21 v. Otaki A 0. FINAL. Fox ton A 8 v. Shannon 0. .