THE RUGBY GAME

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 49, 27 February 1934, Page 11

THE RUGBY GAME

WELLINGTON' DOINGS

UNION'S ANNUAL REPORT

EEVIEW Am -PROSPECT

The effect of the economic depression iff- referred to in the annual' report of the "Wellington Ktfgby'Football Union, but^ considering tho ' difficult .times through which tho country was passing, the'past Hugljy season was legarclert as & most successful one and a confident view "is taken of'the coming, season. The report, to-be presented at the annual meeting next month, states that the results of last season's representative :matches show that tho union has among the younger players many capable'of worthily upholding the prestige of- the union. Competition in grade championships seems likely to bo just as'Tceon" as was ,the case last season and the'prospects appear brighter than at^any period*'since 1030. -'The representatives of the union will in the normal course of events undeitakea'tour'of the South Island, and visits ar,e also due to Wairaiapa, Taranaki, and Manawatu Unions. Hatches at-home will bo fewoi in^vmub/iry visits to Wellington being due'by'Auckland, Hawke's Bay, and'Taranaki. It is possible, also,.,,that, tho union may, again be''calle'd"up6nf>to 'send'<a team to visit some of the minor.unions; and should this eventuate it will serve as a valuable traiarng/giound foi futuio senior A representatives It has boon decided that a New Zealand team will visit Australia during the coming season1, and 'in view of the position occupied by our lepresentatives last year, this union mai secure fair ropiesentation. It is to be hoped, tho report states, that the dates suggested by the New Zealand Union will be adhered to, as the withdiawal of prominent players fiom club and lopresentahve sides detracts fiom the interest m matches. - GOOD STANDARD. Beviewing the'past season's acidities, the committee states —The standard of play was good, and tho attendances at matches showed an incieasing tendency. The division of tho senior giade piovided more evenlybalaneed competitions, and held public interest throughout the season. Taking jnjo consideration the a eduction in admission charges, the gate receipts fiom Athletic Pajk weie satisfactoiv, being only £449 less than in 1932, with tlueo matches less. The committee is convinced that with an impiovement in tho general economic situation, the attendances wijl furthei inciease, and gate leceipts1 willi come' back again tb"'tho level attained prior to 4110 slump. No new clubs sought affiliation, but the Teachers' Tiainmg College Glub went out of existence consequent upon tho closing of that institution. " After pointing out that tho classification of clubs seeking soiuoi A status called for serious consideiatiou, the committee gives details of tho scheme which was ■employed, 'and adds — "In future years it is jnoposed that the teams to be classified at the beginning of each >ear m y the, second division and senior B 'rVspectiv fly <sH&irb<i the two teams with the iejrcifc points in tho second lound of the fust division, and tho four teams" with,the,fewest points in the second round of the second division." The division of tho sonioi A grade, j&js stated, makes it-possible to pTaj* two-complete nrouWs' rii' each ilivision, and last season gave use to keen competition. It is a matter for Ihe. consideration 6f delegates as to whether'the scheme should continue or )>e amended. TJIO committee feels that it is on right lines, and uiges that the system be continued. ■"The numbei of teams'taking pan in the various giade competitions was 14*> a "ecreaso of tno, as compaied with the, pievious soason, this no doubt being due .to the prevailing conditions, a ? well,as to the withdiawal of the Teachers* Training College Club. The teams 111 the Secondary schools competition increased from 70 to 76, and the total numbei of teams in all competitionsincreased fiom 216 to 220. -'".' ' A FINE RECORD. -The union's senior A representatives Jiad. one of the best seasons on record, Ruining soven.ot the eight games played, and losing to Hike's Bay, at papier, in the last match of the reason. Iwenty three players were called upon for tho «eason, and sin: of these plaYed i£ less than half of tho games, and three played in the last game only, tak mg the places of playeis who ±01 one lesson or another weie not available. The-team developed into a sound combination, a fcatuic of their play boing the'splendid team work, and the value Of Keeping a team intact as far as pos flibte1 is emphasised by then fine record. In the Auckland match, in. particular, the- team gave a sparkling exhibition and northern critic's acclaimed the display as one of the best seen iv that city for many yeais. Tho side was not jute at Ml strength against Hawke's Jiav, out this in no wny detracts from the merit of the Hawke's Bay performance, then representatives putting up a performance reminiscent of those given by their famous sides fiom 1922 to 1927. On the day Hawke's Bay were unX » ™Peri°r' their success was thoroughly deserved. Taking the soason as a whole, however, Wcllincton have good reason to feel pioud oe their representatives, and could pstly claim Jo be regaidcd as one of the finest provincial combinations in the Dominion At the request of the New Zealand Bugby Football Union a "colts" iep le . JBKntahve team was sent on tour of the .bast Coast districts, in an endeavour to assist the'game there1 Matches wcie played against Cential Hawke's Bay Poverty Bay, Wairoa Sub union, and Bush Districts. The tcdm gave a splendid"1 account of itself, and its play won high praise from critics from each of the- districts visited. Tho unions against whom matches were played wrote ctprossing high appreciation of tHe^aisplavs given by our players, and stated that the vi3it would be of great benefit to the ganio m their districts. The conduct of the team was exem plary,sand in this connection letters of Appreciation were lereived from hotel keepers land union officials. SELECTOR'S WORK. Appreciation of the service given by Mr. J,. N, Millard as splpctor is ex piessed m the lepoft as follows "Mr. J. N. Millard again filled the position of sole selector, and tho re ■cord of our representatives is sufficient proof ■of .his ■■qualifications for the office. Mr.-Millard brought to his task an intense enthusiasm,: which-induced players to-put forth-their best efforts • and ■to develop, true team spirit. The union has;-.been .fortunate in\having one of Mr.-Millard.'s .calibre to'i undertake the onerous-duties of sole'selector.. Wo feel sure that-every player and supporter of Rugby was pleased with his .appointment .as ,•headmaster of- the Hutt Valley .High. SchooL -Mr. -Millard, howeyer, jfinds.that his new duties will not permit of- his .continuing as selector, and .has notified the committee that he will .not be available-for the- forthcoming season/. The -committee wishes to record its appreciation of the 3ervices' Tendered by Mr. Millard in the past/seven years:" ■'. '-. ' .is also made "in the report that the attendancel at training- prac- • ticee-jvas'splendid, and in' this connection .special mention is:-made of the players chosen as emergencies. These

players were just as .keen in their training gs the regular members of the teams, and tho union recoiMs its appreciation of their sportsmanship. Special mention is made also,of the spirit in which the playeis accepted the decisions of the solo selector as to tho personnel of the teams. It must, frcquontly, have been rather a difficult matter to decide ur/on the" placings of tho team, but whatever decision tho sole selector made was accepted without demur by each and every one of the twenty-three players chosen during tho season, and all were actuated by a keen desire to give of their best to uphold the honour of'the-union.

The selectors of the representative teams from all other grades also did good work, and chceifully devoted their Saturday afternoons to watching tho teams an their respective grades in search of the'best players; On bchnlf of tho players the committee thanks them for the assistance rendered.