Rugby Football in South Auckland.

Franklin Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 42, 8 April 1938, Page 5

Rugby Football in South Auckland.

THE BOMBAY CLUB. 49th ANNUAL MEETING. MIS-ELECTION OF PRESIDENT. The VOMi annual meeting of the Bombay Rugby Football. Club was held on Monday evening, the president. Mr W. A. Peterson presiding over .70 players and supporters. Tire president, jn a. review of past year's activities, stated that 4 ’ tiie past season had been momentous in the history of football in New Zealand. The erstwhile invincible All Blacks were beaten in two tests by an invading team from South Africa. Pessimists say New Zealand football has deteriorated and that players are not what they used lo be Optimists say we have learned a good lesson and laking the defeats as a tonic are setting about to regain our supremacy. To me it seems the superiority of the South Africans play lay in the fact they played as a. two-unit team. The forwards played as forwards, got possession of the ball, swung their backs in I o action, while the All Blacks played as individuals and bad to chase them. No learn, unless it lias forwards playing as forwards, and backs playing as backs, the whole combining as a learn, can ever hope lo win big matches. This fact is seen toda.y in the League games where forwards and backs are individualists in my opinion lowering I lie standard of good football.” The Game in Franklni.

In regard to football in Franklin, Mr Peterson thought, the districts ought to be arranged so that seven or eight good teams would compete against each, other. Re said that last season with four teams in the competition, if one team lost two games it could not hope to win the championship, whereas if seven or eight teams were competing, a team losing in the first round could pick up points in the second. The speaker thought more competitive teams in the union would hold more attraction for the public. lie said he viewed with apprehension the fact that robust young men were following less strenuous games such as golf, tennis and howls and with improved travel facilities they were going to watch the game instead of participating. He congratulated Lhe senior and junior teams on their meritorious wins. On congratulating the leader of the seniors, Mr R. Skelton, he said this man’s general handling of the team had done much to help ii win so many matches and the retaining of the Imperial shield against all challengers. Jack Harvey, leader of the juniors, was also congratulated on his efficiency. The third grade team also met with very favourable comment, the president making special reference to the fact that the club would never be short of good junior and senior players when the thirds were being selected by Mr A. Lowrie. The president also thanked the senior and junior selectors, Messrs B. Anderson and C. .1. Whitmore. When commenting on the Thames tour he remarked that the Thames people had done everything in their power to make the lour enjoyable. The following names of players who gained representative honours was read: South Auckland, R. Skilton, G. Hewitt and P. Garter, and Auckland provincial honours, G. Hewitt.

Mr B. Donovan was elected a life member in recognition of the help be bad given the club during his many years of association with it. The financial statement showed a credit balance of £lO 12s 5d and was considered satisfactory. The accident fund was found to he on a very sound footing, being in credit £3l I 0s 9d.

The President’s Donation. The president thanked the ladies' committee for helping to make the social functions so successful. As an incentive to players to give their best during the coming season which marks the jubilee year of the club, the president stated that he was givir g two small cups, one for the most consistent senior nad the other for the most improved junior during the season.

It was decided to hold a gala day on April 30, and also to commemorate the commencement of the 50th season in the history of the club. The secretary was asked to convene a meetina of clubs in the district with the object, of them combining to make one worth-while competition instead of uninteresting local competitions as was the case last season. Messrs A. Best. .1. Mill and C. -T. Whitmore were asked |.o represent, Hie dim a. Hus conference. . dtps donated by the president were invented with thanks and Mr G. Carter and Mr A. P. Dorrian were asked to act ns judges of the players who were to receive them. Officers ejected were: Patron, Mr Geo. Carter: president. Mr W. A. Peterson: vice-presidents, same as last war with the addition of Messrs Moonie. P'eglcr and R Sjnton; secretary. Mr R. Evans: auditor Mr A. Best:' delegates to union, Messrs J. Mill and R. Evans; senior selector, AH R. Ski Hon; junior selector, Mr G. JWhitmore; third grade selector Mr A. Cowrie.

PUKEKOHE UNION. The annual meeting of the Pukekohn Rugby Football Union will be hold in the Masonic hall supper room on Tuesday next at B p.m.