War, polio, influenza — nothing has got in the way of the annual First XV interschool between Waitaki Boys’ High School and Timaru Boys’ High School.
For 137 straight years, the schools have met on the rugby field in the traditional clash.
No other New Zealand school fixture can match that record, and some even claim it may be the longest unbroken sporting exchange in the southern hemisphere.
Possibly, only twoBritish interschools — those between Scottish teams Edinburgh Academy and Merchiston Castle School (continuous since 1858) and between English schools King Edward’s Birmingham (alma mater of J.R.R. Tolkien) and Bromsgrove (1875) — have longer continuous records in world rugby.
So, it is understandable both schools were eager to see the tradition continue.
The interschool was supposed to be played in Oamaru on August 25, but was postponed when New Zealand went into Level 4 lockdown.
It cannot be played atLevel 3, but will be allowed to go ahead with a restricted crowd at Level 2.
That should, fingers crossed, happen on September 22.
‘‘We’re going to play it — it’s a no-brainer,’’ Waitaki Boys’ deputy rector and First XV manager Rogervan Booma said.
Van Booma said the players, like all athletes, needed a little reconditioning time after the lockdown layoff, and there were also academic requirements to accommodate.
He has something ofa split loyalty — though he will be firmly in the Waitaki corner — as he is an old boy ofthe Timaru school.
Timaru Boys’ has a ceremony for the exchange that involves a bottle of ‘‘speedy oil’’, first concocted in 1913 and alleged to have played a partin the school going on a long winning run.
Waitaki does not have the oil but would happily settle for a return of the O’Neill Shield.
Timaru Boys’ has been going through a purple patch and has thoroughly dominated the interschool in recent times, but Waitaki still holds the overall advantage in the clash —68 wins to59 with 10 draws.
Waitaki has also been building nicely this season, having competed well against the bigger schools and beaten cross-town rival St Kevin’s College in both the Blood Match and the middle four final.
‘‘We’re really proud of our boys and we know they won’t be leaving anything on the park when they play Timaru Boys’,’’ van Booma said.
Waitaki Boys’ is coached by Mark Wilson, who played in the Timaru Boys’ interschool three times (1989-91) and whose son, halfback Alex, is in the current squad.
- Hayden Meikle
