RUGBY FOOTBALL

Franklin Times, Volume XXX, Issue 123, 3 November 1941, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MOTION CUP PRESENTED TO WESLEY COLLEGE JUNIOR CHAMPIONS On Thursday evening last, members of the Pukekohe Rugby Sub-Union visited Wesley College, Paerata, when -the Motion cup, the junior championship trophy, was presented to A. Rodgers, captain of the 1941 champion -team. , The principal, Mr R. C. Clark, welcomed the visitors. Team Congratulated.

Addressing the boys of the college who were assembled in a class room, "the president of the South Auckland Union, Mr C. H. Jemison, congratulated Wesley on its success in the championship and also on the fact that three members of the successful team —A. Rodgers, D. Koni and M. Hiliera —had not only gained places but fully merited selection, in the Pukekohe and South Auckland Rugby representative teams in a season when "the standard of Rugby was fairly high. He said it should be regarded as a compliment by the boys to be included in a team which met the best Auckland could field on the day and to have given the Auckland team and public a good game. t ~ . Mr W. G. Patterson, past president of the Pukekohe Union, acting for the president, Mr J. Mill, congratulated the College team on winning the championship and complimented it, on the splendid Rugby it had played. It was ,a delight, he said, to see the team in action. He referred also to the fact that the three College players who gained places in the South Auckland and Pukekohe teams had justified their inclusion, and had assisted materially in Pukekohe winning the Peace cup. He expressed the hope that next season Wesley would field a team in the competitions and that it would play the same high standard of Rugby and that it would retain the cup. He then handed the trophy-to the team captain, A. Rodgers, amid applause

The Captain Replies

The captain, in reply, said lie regarded it as an honour to accept the trophy on behalf of the champion team/ While probably lie would not be a .member of the team next season, he hoped the College would retain the cup. He added that the three members of the team who gained representative honours had enjoyed a good season’s football. He wished the Pukekohfe and South Auckland Unions every success in the future. Mr Clark also returned thanks and said the idea of entering a team in the'■Pukekohe competitions had proved successful from every point of view. Apart from the winning of a trophv which was a very minor consideration, the team had enjoyed the season and was looking forward to taking part again next season. In view of the success of this season’s venture Mr Clark indicated that the team would again take part in next season’s competitions. The College boys gave three hearty cheers for the Pukekohe Rugby Union.

Wesley College won the cup previously in 1930 and 1932.