RANGITAIKI RUGBY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 100, 13 December 1939, Page 8

RANGITAIKI RUGBY

REPRESENTATIVES ENTERTAINED

PRESENTATION TO MR F. J. BURT

At the Matata Hotel the Rangitaiki Rugby Union recently entertained the Rangitaiki Rugby representatives. This Avas in the form of a dinner capably administered by mine host and hostess Mr and Mrs H. L. Anderson who again earned fully all the eulogies bestowed on them. During the function and on behalf of both players and officials of the union Mr Robbins presented the president, Mr F. J. Burt, grand old man of sport generally with a very valuable and suitably inscribed gold fountain pen. This was a fitting tribute to one whose name will be forever linked with Rugby football in the Plains and to whom the game is greatly indebted. Associated in making the presentation was Mr Jack Pattie an old rep. and the Union Patron,. Mr Pattie also congratulated the team on their marvellous playing performances which must be without parallel in Ncmv Zealand Forty-three Shield games for 42 wins and added to that the fact of having passed the shield in and won it again Avas a point doubly stressed by Mr Pattie. Players and officials also took the opportunity of bidding Au Revoir to Mr Eddie Hoavcll Avho has since joined the N.C.O. school of the Maori contingent. Eddie as skipper since 1934 of the rep. team, captain of the Maori All Black Rugby and Bay of Plenty teams, and for three years Maori tennis singles and Avith brother Phil doubles champion of NeAV Zealand while Avitli the late Rosie Karapa he also held the combined title, has gone to camp Avith all the singular and team work .necessities that go hand in hand with success in the military sphere. A cheque accompanying all good Avishes Avas suitably acknowledged by Mr Hoavcll.

One of the gems of the evening was an excellent oration covering the game in Rangitaiki by Mr W. Syme Avho by this address proved himself a capable and fluent speaker. Others proposing the usual toasty and responders AA r ere Messrs R. R. Lees, B. McGee, E. Noluman, V. C. Moore, Cummings, H. L. Anderson R. Housliam and Tat Anderson.

Reference Avas also made in regard to tAvo absentees Messrs F. A. Burt and Rob Thompson Avho Avent aAvay to camp. Mr Burt congratulated Hori Carter who has joined the Air Force and other members of the team Toss Lees, M. HoAvell V. Moore and L. Gardner Avho are awaiting instructions Avhich means that half of the team ha\ r e entered, or are about to enter a much more serious game. Prior to Auld Lang Syne players Avere presented Avith a group photo of the team and officials, and Avhile this Avas not a very exalted symbol of photographic art the photo Avill no doubt ahvays recall the numerous happy occasions associated A\'ith it.