RUGBY FOOTBALL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10704, 30 March 1926, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

ASHBURTON SUB-UNION.

bright prospects for season. After a successful year the Ashburton County Rugby Sub-Union, met last evening, when Mr W. F. Watters was in the chair. The following delegates were present:—Rakaia, Mr M. Timings: Hinds, Mr J. C. C. McLaehlan; Meth veil, Mr R. Loy; Ashburton, Mr A. Thomson; Old Boys, Mr J. ISicoll; Allenton, Mr S. H. Sullivan; High School, Mr R, H. Biggar. Vice-presi-dents attending were: Messrs A. Bane, F. Pritchard, J. Smith, H. Sarney, and M. C. Segers. The executive; in. its annual report stated that the year under review' had

been the most successful yet experienced great interest having been displayed’ by both players and supporters, bix senior, 8 junior, 6 third-grade, and fc> fourth-grade teams ha/1 competed, the Belargoy Shield matches had resulted in the Ellesmere Sub-Union being the winners for the season. Representative matches played had resulted as follow:—Ashburton 15, v. Malvern 6, Ashburton 14, v. Mackenzie County 6; South Canterbury 47, y. Ashburton 10; Ashburton 13, y. Ellesmere 8. A seven-a-sido tournament staged at the end of the season had brought forth excellent entries. The Union had every reason! to. con- ) gratulato itself on its financial position. After paying all expenses, including a heavy outlay in ground improvements, £125 had been placed on fixed deposit, and the new season was starting with a credit balance of £42 11s 9(1. 1 ixed deposits now totalled £225. The matter of the affiliation of the Sub-Union with the N.Z. Rugby Union as a Major Union was being pushed forward with a view to early settlement. , , The following representative players had been picked from the Union’s playI ers during the past season: —Canterbury: D. Dennehy, A. McCormick, J. McCormick, J. Robilliard. Southern Sub-Union: F. Kennedy, J. McCormick, H. Scott, L. Chisnail, R. ■Tatteison, C. E. Piekrang, G. Bay, D. Den-

1 nehy. Town v. Country: D. Dennehy, I J. McCormick, J. Robilliard, F. Kennedy. 1925 All Black Tour: A. Mcj Cormick. _ . , I The thanks of the Union were due | to the Referees’ Association, St. John I Ambulance Brigade, all supporters who I I had assisted by the use of their cars, 1 | and the Press. I Regret was felt at the departure from I the district of Messrs Partridge and I Grieve. Deep sorrow was also felt at I the loss sustained by the death of Mr 1 W. Page. 1 The balance-sheet showed that the | year had commenced with a credit of 1 £36 19s lid. Receipts during the season 1 had, totalled £593 17s Bd, the major parS tion Being made up of admission fees a totalling £505 16s. Expenditure on the ” grounds had amounted to £ll3 6s 4d, excluding ground rent totalling £36 4s. A sum of £125 had been put on fixed deposit, and the new season was starts' ing with a credit balance of £42 11s 9j 9d? Liabilities were nil, and assets H totalled £'2BB Is 9d. The accident insurM ance fund showed a credit of £26 I 10s.

The Chairman’s Comment, The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said that as far as. the representative team was concerned they had met with the usual amount of success, with the usual disappointment at the end of the season, in losing the Delargey Shield. He was pleased that a country team, Hinds, had won the senior competition. The demeanour of, the players during the season had been good. Gate receipts showed that the Union had enjoyed the support of the public. He made special mention of the distinction won bv A. McCormick, who was a member of the All Blacks’ team that toured Australia. The Union’s policy should be to conserve finances as much as possible so that in the event of anything untoward happening in connection with the grounds, they would be in a position of being able to meet the expense necessary in moving elsewhere. Mr R. H. Biggar seconded the motion, and drew attention to the economy practised in travelling expenses and entertainments.

The report and balance-sheet were then adopted.

Election of Officers.

Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: —Patron., Hon. W. Nosworthy, M.P.; president, Mr W. F. Watters; vice-presidents, Messrs F. Pritchard, J. Smith, H. Sarney, M. C. Sogers and A. Lane; lion, treasurer, Mr F. Pritchard; delegate to Canterbury Union, left in hands of president. The chairman expressed satisfaction at the good work done by the retiring officers, Messrs A. A. Fooks and H. J. Chapman. The affiliation of the Hampstead Club was agreed to. Permission was granted the Ashburton Club to play Temuka on Saturday next on the Tinwald ground. Mr F. Pritchard suggested that a two-round competition lie played this year, with a knock-out competition to follow.

Messrs McLachlah and Timmings supported the suggestion, which, after discussion, was put a.s a motion, with the proviso that entry in the knockout competition would he optional and would not count in the points for the Banner. The motion was carried. It was decided that the senior competition commence on April 17. g Mr R. H. Loy said that the Metliyen Club was strongly in favour of representative players being awarded caps. The club also felt that some provision should be made for Union members visiting injured players in hospital.— The chairman said that these matters would bo attended to.

- It was decided to have a: challenge for the Delargey Shield in the hands of the Canterbury Union by April 1.

The Rakaia Club’s Attitude, The chairman mentioned that a. deputation from the Rakaia Club was present, and he hoped that their mission was one of peace. Mr C. C. Evison, for the deputation, said that they had merely come along to see how the meetings were run, and they wore there in. the interests . of peace. They had no complaint to bring before the Union. He said that at the meeting at Rakaia when it had been decided to secede from the Union, there had not been a large attendance of leading members of the club pre-

sent, and the decision could not be taken as the considered opinion of ail the members. This year the Rakaia Club wms going to support the Union right royally in every way they could. Another member of the deputation, Mr R. Breach, said the Club pa«i oin a considerable amount in travelling expenses, and he deprecated the action of town teams in defaulting to country teams when it was their turn to travel to country centres.. It so happened that country teams often travelled to towns first, and at the end of the season town teams defaulted. Some monetary penalty should lie imposed. The chairman said he was m sympathy with the Rakaia delegates but thomdit it would be difficult to enforce the penalty. Ho was glad.the air had been cleared and that a friendly spirit t now prevailed. . . ~ The price of season tickets was fixed at 10s. for gentlemen and ss. for ladies.

MAYFIELD CLUB. The annual meeting of the Mayfield Football Club was held in the Band Hall on Saturday evening. Mr E. Burgess presided over an attendance oi about twenty. . , The balance-sheet showed a credit oi lls 7cl. , ±1 . The Chairman referred to the past successful season, the club being run-ners-up ini the junior competition. Mr H. Beaumont referred to the good work of the coach (Mr A. H. Gurney), who had improved the play of the team considerably by his efforts. Reference was also made to the good work done by the secretary. A hearty vote of thanks to the club s delegate (Mr H. Beaumont) for the good work done hv him on the club s behalf was carried unanimously. It was decided that Thursday he training night. . Officers for the ensuing year w ere elected as follows Patron, the Hon. W. Nosworthy; president, Mr J- u - Murdoch; chairman, Mr E. Burgess, secretary, Mr A. Boyd; committee, Messrs L. Reveller, J. McLauchlan, T. Whiting, W. Whiting, chairman,, and secretary; coach, Mr A. H. Gumey, delegate, Mr D. Heenan; auditors, Messrs W. Edis and D. Sewell; ground collectors, A. Whiting and D Sewell. It was decided to open the season with a practice match on April 16.