LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 75, 29 March 1944, Page 7

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

SUCCESSFUL YEAR

WIDE-FLUNG ACTIVITIES

"We are providing football for 1300 players every Saturday," said Mr. J. W: Watson, when moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet at the annual meeting of the Auckland Rugby League last evening. Mr. J. F. W. Dickson presided. Mr. Watson said the schoolboys' organisation had a very successful seastfn with 30 teams in the competition. The organisation had done splendid work for the boys - . They had decided to set up a board of control to govern schoolboy football, which would be similar to the junior board of control. . The speaker added there were 40 junior teams, with about 000 players. He urged the senior clubs to take a greater interest in the juniors. In the senior grade they had nine teams, with about 150 players. The large number of players in the game showed, he said, how wide-flung the activities of the Rugby League were. Mr. Watson said it was a matter of regret that many young men aid not take an active interest in sport. They visited places of amusement instead of being engaged in active sport. Standard of Play After stating that the standard of play of the seniors was very good under warconditions, Mr. Watson paid a triDute to the work of the Referees' Association. One of the secrets of the success of the code was that they put back into the game what they got from it. From all points of view the past season had " ee " entirely satisfactory, and the League held a premier place in the sporting life oi the Auckland community. After the war itecre would be a great swing to sport of all kinds. At present there were just enough playing grounds, and he considered the local bodies shouHl pro\ ide more grounds for the future. Mr. Watson referred to the formation of the Council of Sport and said it was hoped it would do a lot for sport in New Zealand. , . ... Mr. F. T. McAneny, chairman of the senior clubs' association, said the building up of the injured players' fund was a great incentive. . Mr. J. A. Redwood, president of the New Zealand Rugby League Council, congratulated the Auckland League on a successful season. Olliccrs Elected The following ofllcers were elected:—Patron, Mr. J. B. Donald; vice-patron. Mr. J. P. W. Dicjtson, president, Mr. G. Grey Campbell: vice-presidents, Sir Ernest Davis, Messrs. J. Donald. C. Drysdale, H. Grange, R. J. Laird. W. J. Lovett. P. W. Schramm, M.P.. W. Wallace, J. L. c . oal sl ey ;.,~," Symonds, G. T. Wright, R. H. Wood, H. Walmsley, J. Sayegh. R. H. Benson, Allan J. Moody, H. W. Gray, B. Brigham, N. Kyle, L. H. Heard, E. J. Osborne. J.' R. Simpson, R. Newport, J. r, Moodabe; trustees, Messrs. J. w Watson, E. J. Plielan, A. Stormont; chairman, Mr. J. W. Wat-son, deputy-chairman, Mr. E. J. Plielan; auditors, Messrs. Garrard and Bennett; honorary solicitor, Mr. H. M. Rogerson; delegate to New Zealand Rugby League. Mr. R. Doble; cub debates to board o£ control. Messrs. J. Claik, T. Davis, w. J. Probert. and □. Wilkie; honorary secietary, Mr. I. Culpan; honorary treasurer. Mr. R. Doble. Mutcli at Otaliuhu At a meeting of the board of control, which followed, approval was given tor a match at Sturges Park, Otaliuhu, on April 22, between the Otaliuhu team, and the team drawn to meet Otaliuhu in the second series of preliminary matches. It was stated that the match would be for patriotic purposes. . In connection with the nomination of the Point Chevalier team for the senior competition, it was decided to ask tne club to send two officials to the next board meeting to give information as to the playing strength of the team. . Ten senior teams have been nominated for the Auckland Rugby Le X' eS tnnmt championship competition, ine teams are: — Manukau, Richmond, Ponsonby, Newton, Marist, City, North Shore. Otahuhu, Mt. Albert and Point Chevalier. With the exception of Point Chevaliei, all took part in the League senior club championship last season.