PONEKE'S JUBILEE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 106, 8 May 1933, Page 5

PONEKE'S JUBILEE

yffiERAW ON THE FIELD

SOLDIERS REMEMBERED

An unusual and effective display was given at Athletic Park on Saturday afternoon by the Poneke Bugby Football Club in connection with its Golden Jubilee celebrations. The club's supporters and past and- preseritj members vrere ( present in full force, aridjjaft'er two teania of veterans had-tried conclusions in-a brief match, about 150 members, divided into tho five decades from 1883 to 1933, according to when they joined th,e club, marched round tho ground. In the "old timers' " match the A team, captained by Mitchinson, defeated tho B team led by A. J. Griffiths. The match was treated with no more seriousness than usually attaches to such fixtures, and tho referee, .Mr. W. J. Wallace, caused further amusement by ordering one of tho players off the field for, "questionable conduct." The parade was led by the club captain, H. Wilson, carrying the club's banner1, and he was followed by six 1883 members, Messrs. A. F. Wiren (prosidon), W. Beck, S. Dacon, E. Bull, W. Jiandell, and C. B. Mann. The procession received an ovation on each Eide of the .ground as it marched past. In order that thero might bo a full representation fit'the Park, where, this year's senior team met Eastbourne) all the club's grade matches below senior B were either postponed or .forfeited. A function for tho lower grade members was held on ■ Saturday night, and the jubilee dinner will take place this evening. SERVICE AT THE CENOTAPH. Yesterday afternoon members of the alub met at ttia Cenotaph, where a service was conducted by the Key. C. V. Kooke, vicar of St. Thomas' Church. In the absence of tho Mayor, the ■Deputy Mayor, Councillor W. H. Bon'nett, addressed the gathering. It was fitting, he said, that during the celebration of the jubilee such a ceremony in memory of old comrades should be observed. From a civic point of view what could be said on such an occasion? ,Was is not that all clean sport should be built up, not only on the physical, but the moral and spiritual side, to make men'and women better fitted- to play the game of life, to meet reverses 'with a stiff upper lip and a determination to succeed under adverse circumstances, and never to let up, however hard the occasion might be. The lesson of service to others must' be learned, for as iin sport, so in life, one could not play a lone; hand and succeed, for air were units of the great whole. INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES. "So let us play the game that this oW world will be all the better fend cleaner for the, part, we, have and, are playing in it,''concluded Mr. Bennett. "Be sure of this: we each have our position and a part to play that no one else can fill,- and thus far our responsibilities are individual and not collective. I join with you ■on behalf .of the citizens of Wellington in doing honour to those who have gone before." The president, Mr. A. F. Wiren, said that the club felt the service should be held as a mark of respect to the members of the Poneke and other clubs who had served in the' Great War. When the call to arms was made, and the young manhood of New Zealand rallied to the Colours, footballers, by virtue of their fitness, were expected to play a prominent part and Subsequent events proved this" to be correct. The: club mourned for those who had failed to return, and at the same time admired them !fdr their v. sacrifice; and h^joism. ";' . : ' ■: ' , ;>; -•-,.'