GOLDEN JUBILEE

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21244, 16 August 1934, Page 16

GOLDEN JUBILEE

CELEBRATIONS AT RAKAIA EARLY FOOTBALL IN MID- | CANTERBURY j The Rakaia Football Club will celebrate its golden jubilee on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Three football matches will be played on the Domain . on Saturday:—Senior v. Ashburton Old ! Boys; junior v. Mount Somers, and . third grade v. High School. In the evening a smoke concert will be held. ! On Sunday a church parade will be . held, and in the afternoon visitors will be taken for a motor drive. A sports gathering will be held at the Domain, and a banquet, followed by a ball, will be held on Monday. The first organised football team from Rakaia to play a match was formed in 1883, and played at Ashburton against an Ashburton team on August 26, 1883. being beaten by 30 points to 0. The following were the members of this first team:—Bailey, Baldwin, Coward, Irvine. Jackson. Rollitt, Reid, Roberts, TrafTord, Tickell, Lampard, Wilson; emergencies, Dixon and Story. In the follgwing year the Rakaia Football Club was formed, the prime mover in the foundation of the club being Mr W. Dixon, then headmaster of the Rakaia School. Mr Dixon took a keen interest in coaching the schoolboys at football, and it was from this source that the players of the Rakaia Club were drawn. Associated with Mr Dixon were Mr Robert Hugonin 'dead) and his brother, Mr Charles Hugonin, who now lives at Auckland, and who, before coming to New Zealand, played for the Northern Counties of Scotland, at Inverness. With the support of these enthusiastic men football was soon on a sound footing, but as there was then no Rugby Union controlling football in the countv friendly matches were played with it-runs from Ashburton and the surrounding districts. Teams prominent in the mind.-; of old players are the Flororata team, known as the "Hoary Mailers." and a team made up of men I from the threshing mills who chal- | longed the local club team. ] Formation of Ashburton Union About the year 18!)2 the Ashburton" :Rugby Union was formed and a eom- • pel i 1 in)i arranged. The Rakaia Ica?:i was by this lime playing ;i good stand--1 ard of football, and evenly contested' suncs were played with the old Southern Cross, Hakatere, and Ashburton , clubs, now extinct. The first senior trophy plaved for was a flag given by Mr David Thomas, and won for the first time bv the Springburn team which beat Rakaia m the final match of the competition. Another trophy played for was the HuMock banner, which was won for the first time by Rakaia in 1904. It was played for until 1927 when it had become very dilapidated, and Mr Wat-

tei>. president of flic Ashburton Rugby - Union, presented the cup which is still " the trophy for senior teams. ; lii 11104 R.-ikaia entered two team* 1 m the competition, the senior team ' being E. I.araman, P. Miller, J. Harvey, R. Withell, D. McLaren, W. Shannon, J. O'Reilly, J. Bruce, C. Blaclc- ' bum, M. O'Reilly, J. McNair, A. Street K. Santy, E. Street, and A. Santy. Among numv seven-a-sidc tournaments won by Rakaia in various grades ' is that which was won in 1909 in an • open tournament, Raknia beating ' Methven, Christchurch, Old Boys, and Albion. On the occasion of the Prince of Wales' visit to Ashburton in 1920 the . si ven-a-side tournament held in hishonour was won by the Rakain third grade team. In the years 1924 and 1*125 the third grade team won the competition, having the distinction of being unbeaten throughout the two consecutive seasons although a draw was registered four times. After a lapse of 18 years, the senior team won the competition in 1931 narrowly beating Mayfleld in the final game at Ashburton. Some Notable Players Among players who received their early tuition in football at Rakaia and later rose to eminence is Mr Peter Ilarvey, now of fi Windsor terrace, Christchurch, who represented Canter- | bury on several occasions, played well ! for New Zealand as half-back, and way last year selector for the South Island. W. Shannon, C. May, and J Cromio represented Canterbury and on several occasions players from Rakaia have played in trial games. The club s first colours were red and black hoops, but this was changed about 1905 to navy jerseys with a yellow band over the left shoulder, and changed again in 1924 to the club's present colour, plain royal blue. During the last three years a local Town v. Country game has been played for the Fox Memorial Cup given "by Mrs M. A. Fox, in memory of her husbnnd, Mr E. Fox, who was an ardent supporter of the club. Friendlv games arc still played with teams from Hororata, Christchurch. and within the Ashburton County. | The club has this year three teams, | senior, junior, and third grade, the ! first two being in good positions in j their competitions. The club is in a very sound position financially, runs its own insurance scheme for "injured players, and is, in fact, one of the st longest clubs in the Ashburton C ounty. Social events held during the year are the opening and closing ball and, in order to raise funds, a tug-of-war contest is held each season. The present officers of the club are:— Patron, Mr J. Connolly, M.P.; president Mr A. Doig; secretary, Mr L. L. 3trf-cl : treasurer, Mr R. Breach. MACKENZIE SUB-UNION •V special nii!«tins of tlio iiackfrr/K; .Sub- ' "'lis h' l'l "I. Kairlir. Mr J. S. Hubert.;, I'li'i'ci- in thi> »;mi« Fa i rite v. \nrangi. played .'ii la ti~l it\ reported (hat In; had occasion to older of) J. l.dge, n»i Aorangi player, and E. Black, a Fairlin player. Mr liobcrt., was present, mid stated that. tho players had off as. they v. ,to havtnjr a Inss-le anil ii, looked lining!] I'.omcthin 1 ,' inure ! serious might have lal.cn place. Kdge ami Mack urn- caHcd into (Ik,- meet. nr.', and M'i'l Ihnt llicy had no intention of playing rou;:lily. Mr ticaney :ai 'I thai 1,.. tliought llio rf.|oi-(jn had done the riyht thing in ordering Hie niwi off, as pUv must be kept clean. Mr Roberts said ho did not. regard the incident as serious, and th<ju"lit that ft warning would meet the case On the motion of Mr H. Wall, seconded by i ' *' '• I,aK unanimously decided to wani tlm two pla; err. to l.o'mmo c:i V' 1 fij 1 in i )ii» f u fp_ r n Mio last Huh t-nmo of tho season Fairlic, v. iuuer< of tho Mackenzie, .Sub-Union';, competitiou, beat Aorangi, runners-up, in tho annual niat eh for the fVott Cup. The game fast and open, l,„t tho Fairlic forward; were superior and this was a big factor in Fnirlio s u-in by 'JO points to (i. For Fnirlie Giddinsß, Creighton, O. O'lleillv, E. Ul.- tc V t A. Crampton, and Woods scored tries. A. i ampton convrrtod ono. Fo}" 1 Aornngi Ed i *c an.l Jacobs scored tries. Air J. 8. Roberts mms referop. In a ctjrtai/i~rai*er, I'Viirlm juniors b(\it •Sherwood by 12 ponts to 8 after a very evenly-contested game. For Fairlie, G. iToi-an (2) and B. O'Xeill scored tries and Mackintosh kicked a goal from a mark. For Sherwood, Lynch and W. Bray scored trina and Burbery converted- one. Mr AV. J. Burgees was referee. Tho followinr team wilt represent Ma.;l;?n. r"':. ;' I?ni,lst ' Animate, at Walmate, to'morA. Fleming: ,1. Jac.oba, B. Trotter, J..lm Keenau; [■'. Hlack. K. Black; N" (;>-,••• I") n'lteilly, |{. O'K-i11..-. W. [v r ,-y, (;/ V.id'lmgc, \V. Robertson, L. .Stevenson,'.). Kowau A. ( Tampton. reserves: Racks, D. Hurst! v\. ( ordes, Joe Kennan; forwards, K. (look. N. MacdonaUi. ?

ELLESMERE SUB-ASSOCIA-TION MONTHLY MEETING Mr M. I). li> ;* n < president) v.-as in lie «• hni r nr. th« monthly meeting of the Hlkf m»*ro Ktjtfhy Stib-Lfiinn. Thr North Canterbury Sub Union ;id\iflC(l that if would not hj« po-siMr to nrrnn-y .i rrj)r( r rnfntivo fixture with i 1 IN*v this * -Mr 11. S;iun'l»T'-o'-k CU'nikuri) wroto th.it ;i mutiny of Mib union d.;k>i:at«»s should b«> held on tho morning of thu miit< h Country v Canterbury 15, on ,\u;'uit 'J"> jioHKibly, lo frame a j»nlirv u>r tho i:uhtrt»l of country football.

It was ( 1.-.i,|,,i i f , r ,.p]v th.it An.TUfl 2b would ~„t be n tollable fJut■ . Correspondent was read from the Klb.v inerti Schools' ,Ip*irts Association and from thu northern district, school sports ;is B<>riiiii..ii regarding lh<- conditions tinder which tho tin.-il game for the McMillan .Shield should he ployed. The northern as- : ooiatjon intimated lh.lt it was impossible for tli.) winning team in its section ( „ li.-ld 1.-. players even |. y drawing upon (lie nearest school for four players, and Fii(jire,-lrd •hat representative games should !>•■ played hot h-pen tho lun sections. This was agreeable, to tlio Kllesmero Association Mr IJ. T. McMillan, donor of tho shield, who v»* present, left it to the sub -11111011 to decide if the -shield were to bo played lor in (he representative frame. It was agreed that the shield should l.e awarded to the team winning tho representative match. Mr Q. A. Wright ifiij selected us tho r'v feroe for tho Kouthbridge fdiield match to be played nt Hurornln next .Saturday between Malvern and Ellesmere. Mr .T. "»' Calder was appointed manager of the Kllosm«ro team. Mr 11. I). Jones v.'js appointed manaj-er for the first grade team, and Mr AY. McLachlau for the po< d grade team to play Ashburlnn on A.i K -,.st 25 Consideration '/na given lo the selection of a ground for the play-off between Lincoln and \Vaihora, leaders in the eub-iinion'n first grade competition. It was decided that the- match should be played nt Rhodes Part, Tai Tapii, on September 1. The McClolland Cup match between the winning team and runncrs-up in the f,r>t grade competition, is to bo played nt 'li.i Tapu on September S, the nrningcriii f . being left, in the hand.-, of Mr V. .1. Miliv s'ome di.scun.iiou took place übout teams defaulting, and it lms decided that chbs should be informed by loiter than defaults must be made not later than the evening before the match. Lincoln and Waihora Clubs were granted permission to play friendly matches on Saturday. The secretary was instructed to get into touch with the Canterbury Itugby Union \ about a representative match with an under 17 years of age team. Ho was also asked to endeavour to arrange a second grade representative match with North Canterbury on a ground selected by tho latter. Mr L. Ebert was appointed to manage the Ellesmore side iu the event of a match being arranged. RUGBY LEAGUE WAIMAIRI CLUB Soniorg r. Rttru, at, Linwood Park at U.li p.m.—A. Pahi, E. Spencer, .T. Lynskev, h. Karrell, L. Sneddon, L. Harttev, If. siiirlev, W. Meadows, I). Merrin, E. " Shirlc;', C. Honwood, h. Clark, A. Shirley, J. Clark, J. Harris, R. Sneddon, K. Merrin, P. Smith, V. Lynskev, G. Smith, D. Broad. Third Grade v. Linwood, at Papanui Domain at 2.45 p.m.—E. Townley, E. Langdon, W. Bigwood, F. Sissori, J. Woodham, K. Moffatt ( ,P. Percaslcy, P. Maguire, G. Kirk, G. Bailey, G. Collison, W. Sills, C. Penny, E. Ockle'shaw, N. Smith, E. Bigwood, E. Lament, J. Johnston, G. Ashby. Fourth Grade v, Woolßton, Woolston Park, at 2.43 p.m.~M. Gee, T. Broad, S. Hopewell, L. Blake, M. Harris, K. Byrne. 1,. Do Roo, T. nosgiter, A. Percasky, W. King, M. Broadhurst, T, Burke, J. Colgan, W. Cheeseraan, H. Gregoning, J. Kibblewhite, T. Out, J. Doling, E. Stetr, », Dniry.