FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 146, 14 March 1908, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY UNION REPORT. Tho report, to bo presented. at the annual mooting of tho Wellington. Rugby Union on Wednesday next remarks on ' tho continued prosperity of tho Union. Tho Accident Insurance Fund shows a. loss of over £48 on the years' working. The balance standing to tho credit of the fund is now £28 Os. 3d;, and tho Committeo "consider that if accidents arc m tho same proportion this year ns last tho account will bV in debit heforo tho ond of tho year is reached. Roferring to grounds, xlio report states that early in 1907 a schoino was placed before tho City Council for acquiring a, ground oh the town. belt,N. close to Kilbirnic,' where senior and representative matches could be played. Although up to the present tho- Council lias, not seen "fit io go any further.in this matter, tho Committeo still "have reason to hope that something mar yet be ; carried out in the direction indicated. Considerable attention,has been directcd.to tho question of grounds for tho current year, and the Committee is pleased' to be able to report that provision has been made - 'for a sufficient number of grounds to meet the season's requirements. , It- is confidently expected that players will, have littlo or no causo to complain of tho state of the grounds on which they aro asked to play/ Ever.since coming into office the Committeo, has 1 given' serious attention to/ the acquiring of \ the Athlotic Park by the Union. ' Numerous, efforts have been made to come' to some arrangement with the Company, but . up to the present these negotiations have not been successful. It is hoped, in a few days,-to be in a position to announce that a satis; factory agreement with the Park "Company has boon arrived at. Tho Petono Club i won tho champiori'sliip in all five grades. This, together with the Public Schools and High. Schools Championships, also won..by Petono, establishes a unique record, which will : undoubtedly stand for somo timo as an inceritivo to other clubs' in tho Union and thronghout New Zealand. Congratulations are Extended to the Petono players for their excellent performance. .'■■■■' ; : Representative matches wore played,: as iollofv: — : : . .- . • Wgtn.- Oppts. | •SENIOR-., ' / . ' ,| - r; Wairqrapa ... . ;... 3 3 j : v. iWairarapa. ... ... 13 3 i v. Auckland .... ... 11 ■ 3' ■' ; .v. Taranaki (abandoned) - . j v. Canterbury ... ... G 9 v. Southland ... ...16 3 v. Otago , ... 3 3 v. Horowhenua (B Team) ... 3 1 0 v. New Zealand (Province) 6 19 ; JUNIOR- ; ' v. Horoivheriua ... ... 28 0 v. Wairarapa ... . ... 3 21 WEDNESDAY— , . v. Wairarapa /" ... 6 3. v. Wairarapa. • ... .i. 6 0 v. Horowhenua . ... ... , ...■ .8. . 0 :. The Committeo places on record .tho excellent conduot arid bearing of all playters.-while on tour; tho unanimous expressions,, from the Press ?.s to their conduct on the field, the excellent football played, and, the 'total absence of anything approaching roughness or rowdyism; the predominant .note m all the _ managers' reports _ of tho splendid haviour,'without preoption, of all 'the players; circumstance' of having to abandon tho Taranaki match at half-time, through bad weather, is to be regretted, inorq especially* as, a good number'of. spectators paid lo' seo tlie match. 1 At a special meeting' held that , same evening- the Coriimitteo decided that, they would forego any profit that.,the. match, might show by handing any balancd over, to tho hospital. ,■ Nothing,. 1 however, was' available under this, heading, as when -a •statement it ' was found -thatj -$fter, deducting expenses : tho balance Was .Jon. tho wrong side. Tho. usual .match!.against 'Mahaw-atu had to bo aban-. doned."' At 'tlio"last r moment that Union, wired that:thoy'were unable- to get'a : toam' away.: - Efforts.,were\made-during- the. season to instil- more life into the' Wednesday Scorns petition, .with .a ( .fair*,amount.'of ; -. encouragement."; v Already ; this, year, .some tqn, .teams liavo signified their intention of competing (which will allow of a second or junior grade); and thero',:s a" prospect,of; two or three new clubs being formed. • There is a proposal that the. Wednesday; players appoint a sub': committeo,' working- .under control , of," tho General Committee, to look after and control the Wednesday competition,, The. Committeoi'S.oe .no objection to .srich ! a ..bourse.being adopted; ' The balftneo-shopt shows a balance of assets, over! liabilities of ■'£1160 15s;'10d.>. po.x'eke' club. : . • / •• • "Tho annual meeting of 1 tho Ponoko Club was lleld. last ■; night..'VThere was a large l attendance. of members,'and the president (Dr.. A. K. Newman) occupied the chair.. The roport (which. haj already.'basn published) was unanimously adopted. ; , ThirtyVnew 'members—which"constitutes; a '.record —were elected, • , • .. „ .. . , 1 Tho election, of . oifice-bearors resulted as follows; , — President, Dr. (reelected)'; Dr. Janies, and' Messrs. .' A. I l '. Wiren; . W. ' White,: iA; : H. : Turnbull, W. Coffey, W. Brown, G. Des-landc-s (all re-elected), and T. Burgess, J. Dawson, and T. Smith ; • auditors;. Messrs. Wiren and lleid, (re-elected); club captain, ; 'Mr." W. Wallace- (re-elected); vice-captain, Mr. F. 'Mitchinson; ' boil, treasurer;. Mr.' C: Mitchell, (re-elected).;, hon. secretary, Mr. D. Twohill (re-olected); dekgates to W.R.F.U.,. Messrs. W. Coffey (re-elcctod), J; Dawson, and J. Sweeney"; selection committee,' Messrs; W. Wallace ■• (re-elected),. W. ;'Sponoer (reelected),.; arid > j.>Sweeney;-.' gymnasium committeo, Messrs. 1 Wiren,' Wilkinson; and Mitchell' (re-elected); . management 'committeo, Messrs. ~N. Wilkinson, S. Ment-iplay, ..A; Griffiths, J. 'Sweeney (allire-elected), and' F. iMitchinson arid D. O'Brien, j :., .. ; ' Promises of trophies were received from Dr. Newman (president), Messrs/J; Dawson and W. Coffey (vice-presidents), and Messrs. Ryan Bros. " . A trophy, given by' Mr.' Coffey was presented to J. Tilyard for excellent form last season, and the,matter of the selection of, tho player who is-most; wortbv of Mr; Deslaiides!' 'trophy, was left -in the liands. of .thoj Management. Committee. .' , . . i Mr. Wiren,. on behalf of tlio Gymnasium Committee, stated that for 'many' years ;the question of purchasing a picco'of 'land and' building .upon.. it. an up-to-date gymnasium' had been under consideration.- He .might mention that the Poneko Club was : "th'o first in tho Dominion'_ to' have a : gymnasium'. It had been found 'impossiblo to secure a« suitable sito in the pity at anything-like a low figure, but a. convenient seet-jon;. fronting a 'street iii. Hataitai, at the second stopping place through tho tunnel, had been offered to tho Club at £5 per foot.; Tlio proposal 'was to issuo £1 debentures, 'repayable so many every .year. , ■ The president, vice-presidents; and others interested had promised to take up a'Substailtial number of tlies'o debentures.'. It' had' also-been-, suggested that the Cluli should, be registered, ,under, the Unclassified Societies Act., Tho Club resolved to ■ purchase tho section, and to • proceed with tho erection of a gymnasium. March 21 was fixed as the opeiidng day of tlio season. y!m.c.a. > Tho third iinnual meeting of tlio Y.M.C.A. Junior Football Club was held last evening; Tho annual' report was adopted,' tlio fiftii leaguo team having won the championship. Roforence was made to tlio' splondid services rendored to tho Club by tlio coach, Mr. Geo, Adair. Tho following officers ivero elected :— President, Mr. T, Ralph: vice-prcsidonts, Messrs. H. Johnson, T. Plant, andrJ. Ilott; secretary, Mr. A. Smith; Captain, Mr.. E. ■ Phillips; vice-captain, Jlr. Robert. Partoiv; maiiagomont committee, Messrs! 'H. Balclock, It! Coad, R. Parton, V. Ricliardsoii, and W.. orquhari. . , ■ EPUNI CLUB. • Tho animal general meofaing was hold last night, Mr. M. Welch, vice-president, in the chair. Thoro was a large attendance, of niomhors. Tho-' annual, report-^was rea<i; ; showing that although the Club is only two years old tlio present'membership stands "at | over forty. Tho balance-sheet showed a.j crodit balanoo of £9 15s. 6d. The main business of tho meeting was tho consideration

of the question as;to whether ! ths Clilb'Sliblild' continuo or- disband,. o-w-ing JJjp .Rugby Union haying, by its ofe' a? number of the members; tls. matter' of putting' teams ill t'fte' field , '''a'''3iffl6ult problom.After 'a to-'tho* desirability of .amalgamatingx'srifehy'.tho Em* ora Club, a vote .was taken. and'-resulted-jiii' amalgamation being "agreed r X)n!i.J,„' ••/•It was decided to pr,eseait,.tli-e;lsesrbt'a.rx, and coach with some memento of . their connection .'with the Club., .'Tho'-sllotiiiciit of-'ihfl?' .modals.given by TariousripUtroris.'w'asi.Jeft >in- : tJio hands : of.-.the .committee; p£, i tb&.Clnh. A: hearty vote of thanks , ; TCas , passed to thoi donors'; v v."'- 1 V':' ' ; . . • rm „i\ m* • !. WELLING TQljf thirty-eighth; annual, ■ mecting'lqf,, tii&, Wellington' Football Club was.,lielfl kmjs Roosis last 'evenriigy !, Mr; J; 'Emaii-' ■Smith presiding.*!- Therei : -large nius-: .tcr' of, members... -ThcMPrtsideiit drqw attention, to; the very satisfactory position. <jf. the clulr as .'.'.'sot annual report and ; Tlip jjjub had', not won aiiy of the championships last t season; bnt vith the. .'large •;. membership the! .largo number of.. now..-' i:tlfe >po?'^' • fpr the, .coming ;yflar(dOoked.-;!brag!itv» Ho'was pleased to. .tJifi.qViL members at. the •" meeting,, | andrtpgng^atajaie'd' the club on having 'securedl'tlie''serviccs of Mr. y.'Meredith as coaclC''' ■•'• The ~ report. ~aiM. adopted; .and some thirtyrnpy:rinetabci£ jrofcol electcd. Votes ;.of th an ks -: •were;-accord pd • Messrs. J! 'Email Smith, JFirtii.rp,, ?pwnall, • N.'. Galbrditli, Murray, •. J. • Thompson/' '\^'. < i|fiff, ?n 6r.''!tzard', r 5 Dr. M'Lean, ;and . !an'. : 'arfWtyifiJ)ifi"mSSS • IfF donations V-^TW"PoWhaliT.carp; for the. best player in' won by L. Sellar's,'and the "trophy fori'lile* best attendance at- tho-'gymnirsmm'.'.went -tb', F: Turner, It Chi-istchurch Football Glub tci' play 'ir nrateh in Wellirigtqii during, the'? l Easter ' holidays.: Practice will ho commenced.from.-March"2l.*

,'. The following office"rs were elected: — .President, Mr. J. .Emafl:c-,Sniitlv;.svice-presi-dents, Messrs. G. 0,. Fac.he, J. P. ;Eirth/.N. Galbraith,: J. Murray, -'Fl' SiRonaldson; ~P. P. Izard;, an 4/ 'Jlr;. 11 J.; Murray;; hon., !i feec.,'->Mr. crombie;ihon.' treasurer, Mr. ;J. management committee,Messr^ ; W. Hill, G., F., M'Kellar, ,ffi /J!oTr>Hil«% Z. Sollars, N. C./ Irons, ..ani-■RI- Tt- 'Everai'd-; 1 match' committee,;Messr's. - •!\Y;.. Hill, vLi--S'(!l----lars, 'and ■ ,6. F., .M'Kellar ! 'i"'delcp:ates''!(o. Ructby .Union, Messrs.'. J, Murray',\H. ! ?Ji- , l I .'' : Huino, and V.; Meredithlidn.; /nuditori'.vMi': • E. A. Liddle; hon. coachj Mr.Wi vMereditli;"