PRESIDENTS REPORT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 142, 3 April 1940, Page 5

PRESIDENTS REPORT

| WHAKATANE RUGBY UNION SEASON REVIEWED Following is the report of the President of the Whakatane Rugby Sub-union, Mr W. S. Henderson: —• I feel that I with my committee can look back on the past season with a good deal of satisfaction. The rep. team (senior) plaj 7 ed some Pine matches and were considered decidedly unlucky in not winning the Hurunui Shield from Tauranga. AfUer having the run of play for, the greater part of the game, leading 8 to nil with seven minutes to> play, and by 8 to I) with two mi flutes to play, a last minute effort enabled Tauranga to draw and re-' ■ tain the Shield. Two rep. matches were played with Rangitaiki, Whakatane being successful by a narrow margin in the Parata Cup in a game which thrilled a large crowd. For the "Tom Dunderdale Memorial Cup," a handsome trophy graciously donated by Mrs Dunderdale of Te Teko, Rangitaiki turned the tables on our team also by a narrow margin. Big crowds attended these games and our Union's finances were greatly improved as a result. Our reps, also played Rotorua and Opotiki away from home, being closely defeated on both occasions.. The Junior reps, played several fine games, the Shalfoon Shield game,, played as a curtain raiser to Fijian footballers at Rotorua, being a particularly good performance. Again a drawn game enabled, the holders to retain the Shield. Senior championship and knockout ©u£ wwe both won by Paroa. The dual winners are to »be congratulated on. their successes. The Junior championship was won by 1 Taneatua. Kuatoki, after an absence of two years, again fielded a team. The committee of delegates have, by invitation, paid two visits to Ruatoki to confer with the elders and players and we are hopeful that all will be playing the one code this season.

Finances. Owing to a heavy drain on the players insurance fund, it was necessary to transfer £10 from the general fund to balance this account, but despite this, thanks to an excellent season, our finances are very good. The cash credit balance of over £100 is a record for this sub-union. The season's workings showing a profit of over Generous donations from followers Df the game amount to £14 16s and aur thanks are due to them, with, special reference to Messrs H. Tit* Cucksey, J. Rivett, W. Alexander. Supporter Leaving District. We regret that one of our, vicepresidents, Mr H. E. Cucksey, who has been a free and generous supporter of the game during his residence in Whakatane, is shortly to leave the district. To mark our appreciation, the delegates on a recent evening, met and entertained Mr Cucksey, a presentation being made to him of a suitably inscribed gold miniature football. Our ranks have been and are being considerably depleted by enlistments of our players, Maori and Pakeha, in the overseas fighting, forces. Figures show that 91 per cent of the enlistments in this ctis~ trict have been footballers. We are particularly proud of our footballer soldiers and extend our congratulations and best wishes to each andall of them. With the thinning of our playing ranks and war repercussions generally, the forthcoming season will probably be a difficult one. From the virile Rugby game have gone and /will go many more soldiers, and when peace is restored and they return to again invade our playing fields the game and its facilities must be there to provide the recreation and relaxation which. Avill be so strongly needed and, if only for that reason, I take this opportunity of appealing to all clubs* their members, players and supporters to assist to keep the game going. Thanks- are due to St. John Ambulance, Referees' Association, Domain Board.