RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22659, 14 March 1939, Page 13

RUGBY FOOTBALL

UNION’S ANNUAL REPORT REVIEW OF LAST SEASON LOSS OP £438 REPORTED i In a season which “may be regarded as a very satisfactory one so far as the game is concerned," the Canterbury Rugby Union’s activities in 1938 resulted in a loss of £438. The profit in 1937, when a percentage was drawn from the matches played by the South African team in Christchurch, was £1358. Reviewing the last season, the union, in its anritial report to be presented on March 22, comments; —“Although at times it seemed that the public interest and enthusiasm had not reached the standard of the previous year or two, it must be that this condition of affairs was no doubt due to the reaction from 1937, when the visit of the South African team aroused the public interest in Rugby to record heights. In this respect such a year almost invariably reflects disadvanlageously on a nprmal year following and for this reason we are at times inclined to the view that the usual interest has been lagging. The coming season should prove to a very interesting one because the New Zealand team to visit JSouth Africa in 1940 will be selected at the end of the 1939 season. The selection of a team for overseas always creates considerable interest, both with players and the public, and the effect of this is reflected in our local Rugby competitions.

■‘The union’s competitions were again well contested, as evidenced by the fact that in all grades except three, teams finishing in third place were separatee from the winners by only two points. During the season a good deal of travelling was done by the representative learn. Teams were sent to every union in the South Island except Motueka, Nelson, and Blenheim, and in additioq to this a Canterbury B team visited Reefton to play Inangahua Sub-Union. No representative team visited Ashburton, but several of the senior teams travelled to that district and played local teams. Of the 12 interprovincial matches played, Canterbury won four and lost five, the remaining three being drawn," Revenue From Matches

Returns from club matches were less by £607 14s 4d than the previous year, but comparing them with 1936—which may be regarded as a normal year—were less by only £lO5. As against 1937, season ticket returns dropped by £l3O, although showing an increase of £8 over the 1936 season. The net return from interprovincial matches shows an increase of approximately £l7O, compared with the previous year.

The final payment of £ 100 was made to the New Zealand Rugby Union on account of the amount borrowed in 1926 to complete the building of the new stan at Lancaster Park. The union had also made capital payments amounting to £207 7s 4d. in connexion with the erection of a new stand at Rugby Park. Because the union had entered into a contract for the erection of a new stand a,t Rugby Park, it would be necessary for the incoming committee to conserve the finances as much as possible in order to meet the increased obligations. The committee was pleased to report that the contract for the erection of the new stand at Rugby Park had been let, and it was hoped that the work would be completed bdfore the commencement of the coming season. The construction of a plunge bath* for players was provided for, in addition to the usual dressing rooms, and hot and cold showers. During the year, the union entered into an agreement with the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Association for a lease to the association of Rugby Park for the summer months for a period of two seasons, with right” of renewal. It was the intention of the Athletic Association to make the park its home ground, which would be admirably suited for this purpose when the new stand was built. Thanks are expressed by the union to the Cricket Association for relinquishing its lease to enable the Athletic Association to be accommodated. Competing Teams'

The number of teams competing in the various competitions was 232, made up as follows:—Club competitions, 108; secondary school competitions, 70; primary school competitions, 54. The Linwood Club put up the wonderful performance of winning six of the grad? competitions. The coaching committee had again been very active during the season and gave many lectures on coaching, combined with the display of the various films. Additional .films, depicting play in some of the matches against the South African team in 1937, had now been secured, and these would undoubtedly be of great value during the coming season. Thanks are again due to Messrs J. T. Burrows and A. I. Cottrell for the time and energy which they had devoted to this work, and also to Messrs S. Henry and C. H. livid 3 hia.il fox* ■their co-operation with and assistance to the coaching committee during the season. There was an increase of seven teams in the entry received for the Christchurch Secondary Schools’ Rugby Football Competition, the total being 70, which eaualled the record entry of 1935. Of the teams entered, 33 were in the light-weight (under 7st 71b) division, ajjd 37 in the unrestricted section of the competition. As in the past, a number of secondary school teams played in regular Canterbury Rugby Union matches, and these had not been included in the total mentioned, this comprising only those fifteens which played under the direct control of the Sportsmasters’ Committee. A total of 54 teams entered f<pr the competitions under the jurisdiction of the Primary Schools’ Association, a slightly smaller entry than for the previous year. Unfortunately the competitions had to be abandoned after only three rounds had been played. This course became necessary because of the very wet winter and the prevalence of measles towards the end of the season.

The union’s usual effort on behalf of charity during the season resulted in the raising of the net sum of £BS 19s 2d. This brings the union’s total contributions to charity to date to £5597 3s lOd.