PAPAKURA RUGBY LEAGUE

Franklin Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 117, 20 October 1937, Page 8 (Supplement)

PAPAKURA RUGBY LEAGUE

SENIOR B TEAM ENTERTAINED.

COMPLIMENTARY DINNER AT MANUREWA.

Tixe Papakura Rugby League Football 'Club gave a complimentary dinner last Friday to the members of the senior B team in honour of recent achievements. The dinner was held in Pegler’s building and a good number, of members made the journey to Manurewa, where they were joined by Manurewa supporters. Mr Les McVeigh, president of the club, gave a very hearty welcome to the 'chairman of the Auckland junior control board, Mr D. Wilkie, the secretary, Mr M. W. Clarke, Mr I. Stonex, assistant secretary, and ground allocator and also to Mr J. Edwards, who represented the Manurewa Town Board.

The evening was , notable for the welcome appearance of that wellknown entertainer, Mr A. Qenker,: leader; of the S.S. Remuera’s band, and accompanying him was Mr E. Hackshaw, pianist, who became so enthusiastic that he expressed a wish to become an honorary member. His request was acceded to. After the toast of the King, Mr Norman Widdowson proposed the. toast of the Auckland Rugby League. He said he. thought such occasions as these were opportune to express thanks to the officials of the League for the way they had helped the members of the club “You could not improve on them; they have rendered good service to Papakura,” he said.

Mr D. Wilkie in replying for the senior body said the A.R.L. Association officials always looked forward to a visit to the Papakura club functions and expressed the view that the P'apaknra senior B team had mainly been the cause of a senior B competition. There was just a possibility of the team going higher up. The club should strive to get into the senior competition. Papakura, he said, ranked among the first three clubs in Auckland today. (Loud applause). Mr W. Clarke, the secretary, spoke of the possibility of Papakura going up to a better position. He was of the opinion that Papakura was the next club to get among the senior clubs. What he considered the club to do was not to supply players to city cluos but to keep them in its own club and territory. “You do produce the class of football that is v.anted today,” said the speaker. (Applause). Mr I. Stonex expressed thanks on behalf of his colleagues for the very hearty welcome given, and he added he was in agreement with his colleagues when they prophesised a step up for the club in the* near future. He was pleased to see Papakura win the Tracy Inglis trophy for the club scoring the most championship points, and heartily congratulated it on its magnificent achievements during the season just closed. The president, Mr McVeigh, congratulated the senior B team on putting up such a wonderful record by winning the Walmsley shield, the Foster shield and the Tracy Inglis cup. He expressed the club’s thanks for the congratulatory remarks of the various speakers from the Auckland League and stated that a number of now players were coming forward which augured well for the club s future. (Applause). Mr Ivan Wilson, on behalf of the sfidor B team thanked the club for putting on the dinner in its honour. The senior B had done its best, in fact the team had won such that it was becoming a bit monotonous.

In proposing the toast of kindred sports Mr Wilkie said, “Although Rugby is Hie nak'mal game, and we ns League sunno”^-• appreciate and we iconic *bo' opnosli m ~r,d e as after all was said and done it provided gonrt, lr Uhy rivalry."

Mr J. Ed>vards on behalf of the Manurewa Town Board gave a hearty welcome to the Papakura club members. He said he had always looked on .Papakura as Manurewa boys and vice versa. He said the sport of football, fostered a good spirit in the younger generation who were the rulers of tomorrow. He had always impressed on Mr H. E. McEntee the Chairman of the Papakura To\yn Board that. Papakura and Manurewa should be the twin cities of a. south suburban circuit for sport and they must look ; for bhighter prospects in this south suburban circuit. Mr Edwards .then entered the realms of history and said be remembered talking to the late Mr D. Stewart of Papakura 25 years ago and urged Manurewa and Papakura to go 50-50 in a water supply scheme and now it took a quarter of a century for him to see his ambitions realised. “Now, boys," said Mr Edwards, “I hope it will not take you 25 years to see your dreams come true of getting into a senior position in the Auckland Rugby League. (Applause). A vote of thanks was accorded the artists, and the function concluded with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne" and the National Anthem.