SMOKE CONCERT

Evening Star, Issue 12001, 25 September 1903, Page 1

SMOKE CONCERT

The Southern Rugby Football dub held, a smoke concert in the Friendly Societies’. HaU at South Dunedin last evening. There was a large attendance of members and supporters. ■ The gentlemen contributed songs Messrs Sheehan; .Smith, lie Brun,. Vivian, Clark, Warren, Thtff, and ; Mee, while Mr Vivian gave a- recitation. The following, were - tho toasts of the evening “ The* King,” “ Southern ' Football Club,” “ 0.R.F.X37,” “ Otago Referees’ Association,” “ Kindred Sports,” “ Our Representafives.” During the evening Mr Thomson, the club’s coach} was presented with a pair of bronxe ornaments. In making the presentation, Mr Cavinagh stated that during the season the Southern Club were under Mr Thomson’s tuition. The three teams bad won nineteen matches, as against six wins the previous year,* when they had not had the services of a coach.' Mr Cavanagh' also mentioned that the previous year the First Fifteen had. occupied the second last position on the list, while at the end of the present season, .with Mr Thomson as coach, they had lifted themselves out of their former position to that of runners-up for the,championship. < Mr Thomson, who was received with cheers, thanked the members for their present. , When asked if he would act as coach, he agreed to do so, but said that he would not attach himself permanently to any particular Sub. He had coached the Southern because they had been the first club to ask his services. Be thought tl&t all retired players should give the younger ones the benefit of the knowledge they had gained after years of play, and not content themselves with standing on the line and criticising. We would, see bitter football if every dab had a coach, and the players went in for a proper course of training and did not listen so much to advisers, who, perhaps, had never worn a jersey. Although the Southern had done well, he thought they could do better, and he would stay with them another season, and- do his share towards bettering the grand qjd game in their district. He also hoped to see others out next season helping clubs who are without the services of a coach. The members of the £jjecond Fifteen E resented Mr Hector Alexander with an enirged photo in recognition of his services, and another presentation, in the shape of an eight-day marble dock, was made-to Mr Smith on the occasion of his entering'the ranks of Benedicts. Altogether the smoke concert was a thorough success, and a word of praise is due the Committee tor the way in they worked.