LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 50, 1 March 1939, Page 15

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

CLUB ENTHUSIASM. ANNUAL MEETINGS HELD. EXGLISH TOUR CRITICISM. Several annual meetings of Auckland Rugby League clubs were held this week. All were largely attended, thus indicating lively interest in a season, which will include the selection of a Xew Zealand team to tour England and France.

The chairman of the Auckland Rugby Leatfue Board of Control. Air. G. Grey Campbell, with other officials, attended the meetings and emphasised the importance of the approaching season, which is to open on April 1. He drew attention to misleading comment from England with regard to the prosj ects of the Xew Zealaiul tour. The attempts to .belittle the venture, said Mr. Campbell, were talse and based on wrong assumptions by commentators who were decidedy ignorant of the progress and statue of the game in the ]>ominion. "It is up to our players and officials to see that these false reports from England are answered on English soil," added Mr. Campbell. "With the co-operation of all. we will, I am sure, very worthily succeed." He felt certain that the Xew Zealand team of this season would more than surprise and probably shock some of bhe ■wouldbe critics of England who wrote without first-hand knowledge of the position in the Dominion.

RICHMOND ROVERS. The Richmond pavilion, at fJr«y Lynn Park was .-rowileil for the annual meeting. Mr. Ken W. I (avis presided. riinmpioimhip wins in Hie senior reserve 11' ml anil seventh grades and the senior and inter.nediale school grniles, with knockout successes liy the seniors senior reserves, third, sixth and seventh grades and the senior and intermuliate school teams were recorded in the annual report. It added that liy winning the ltoope Rooster, the champion of champions shield and l.y defcntinir Kastern Suburbs of Sydney, the dul) hail lived up to its hich reputation. W. Tittleton. .1. Satherlov H letley and ,1 : Mcl.eod fonred Australia: The dull had a first-class team readv for the oining season. The play of the. various grade teams was commented upon at length.

Officers were elected as follows :—Patron. ». • V Koilwooil. , sen.: president, Mr. K. Vt. Davis: vice-presidents, gnine as last • v, '" r : «' ruTttee chairman. Mr. W. A Swift: seeretary and treasurer, Mr. \V K Di'k: dul) cnptaiii. Mr. K. .Tenkinson : schoo! delegate. .Mr. k. J. McCarthy; auditor. Mr. .1. A. Kedwood. A number of new players were accorded a welcome.

NEWTON RANGERS. Opening the 2!) th niinu-.il meeting of the .Newton Rangers Club before a large at tendance at the A.R.I, boardroom, on • M 'ay. till- patron. Mr. M. J. Hoom-r expressed his pleasure, at the |>rufnww of the game and or thu club, which he founded just 80 years ago. He congratulaiid the othciDls. players I-nd supporters <.f t<»-di.v and wished the dub continuml succr.ss. I he report, staling that the seniors were '!'."■''.'" ~ ,H' thami.ionshi].. con<,'nUul..t.il M. McNeight and Wilfred Briiuble upon hcing selected to tour Australia, and the** players, together with H. Kcmlalt. A Duncan. J. Proctor, A. Nathan an.l S. Watene upon gaining representative honours.

Officers were elected ns follows :—P-jtr.i'i Mr. M J. Hooper: vice patron, Mr. \\\ Moiiteitii: president, Hon. W. K. Parry: vice-presidents. Funic as last year/ with power to.add: trustees. Mesrr'* .1 Rutledge and (i. Steven: eoiiiiiiiltee,'Mnssrs .1. A. Veitch, C. Preston, W. l»yor, D MeKenzio, .1. A. Mason and v'. Tunnycliffe: secrotary-troasuror, Mr. J. liibso:i ; auditor Mr. C. Claudett.

PONSONBY OPTIMISM. There was a large attendance at the meeting of the Ponsonby Club held ait the Ciirraii Street hall. Mr. J. Arneil i-residinc. Much optimism prevailed. The annual report e\presscj satisfaitioii at the 'yivi'r's workius. A plcaslhfeature. - was the incr'ase iu, iklaver and gcnoral.incmbersbii). The scoUir teain l:«d proilucpd a high standard of play in Miile of several instances vt injury io icaling

Sir. L. Mortejigen, who has been officiallv connected with the club since lijlU was made a life member.

Officers were cle.ied as f-,!lows :-Patron. Mr. W.. (.rant; president, Mr. .1. Arniil: vice-presidehts. same as last year with power to add: cuiiiiiiitlets .Mec*rn. K. tram-Is (chairman I. I). Malavev K C-ir-law.' l>. Campbell, anil K. Brown ■ vee'retarv. Mr. \V. Orieve: trp.isurer. Mr T McKwan; Hub raptain. Mr. I'. Hush: s.-nior Un 1 . ""' '°' ° , " , I ,oell i auditor, Mr. CITY'S THIRTIETH YEAR. ' The annual n tin..' ~f the Citv Hovers < lub. Jield nt I'rtrlaw I'ark. wa« 'the ~,,,.r successtiil 1:1 the history of the dub. Mr U. Hunt presid*'d.

Tin- repurt emphasised the fine plnv of Ihe «enlor team which contested the 'final nl tin- H0,,],,. KOHSL-γ compel it Reference was also made to the other grade players.

Mr. V. n.iynos was made a life member and opportunity was taken to cungratulate Mr. K. K. Asher on reacliini Ills 30th year with the club and 3L'nd vear in the

Officers were elected an follows- Patr..n. Mr. C. Knvnes: prisident. Mr. 1;. Hjiilt: rlif-ptvitldfiitH. same jis last v..;ir with power t" add: secretary. Mr. K K Asher: treasurer. Mr. S. ISelshaw : auditor. Mr. L.. J. riiclau: club captain, J. Ragg. MANUKAU AFFAIRS. There was 11 very large attendance nt the K.S..X. llall. Oueliunga. for the niei tIng or the Mnnukau Club. Mr S W House presided.

Til* iinrtunl report stated that particularly i-reditab!i' was the rlMi*n ciuitribiitiiill of live player* to tho Sew Zealand team that was sent to Australia. There were Indications of a great extension of the club in the season ahead.

(IfHcers wer<> eleotod as follows:—President. Mr. S. W. House : Mr L <i. Henley (vice Mr. Allen Porter) : treasurer). Mr. A. Walton : committee. Messrs C. KaiMlrup. H. de Wolfe, J. Brown and ex-oflirio member*.

It was decided to place on record appreciation of tho services of Mr. Allen Porter as secretary tlnrinjr the past three years The urvent need of adequate headquarters and training grounds was stressed and the committee was authorised to take steps to obtain them.