RUGBY TROPHY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 August 1928, Page 6

RUGBY TROPHY.

PRESENTATION TO OKAIAWA • CLUB. LAST NIGHT’S FUNCTION. Last night witnessed an auspicious event in the history o'f the Okaiawa Rugby Football Club for then, at the •hall, ‘the Stevens’ Memorial Shield, which goes annually to the winning senior team in the southern division, was presented to the skipper of the team by Mr R. Mortlock on behalf 'of Mrs (Steven's. The cup is a trophy given in memory of the late Fred Stevens, a great Rugby enthusiast. There was a large gathering of la'cal people and visitors from Mana'ia, Haweta, Kaponga, Riverlda, Kaupokonui and Opunakc, and the whole evening went with a fine swing, thanks to the excellent work of the M’s.O, Messrs O. Crawford, D. Jlohnston and €.- Martin; the gener'al committee consisting of Messrs G. Hurley, A. Birchall, J. Oran, W. Johnston, P. Toro, C. Martin and the energetic honorary secretary, Mr A. G. Robertson. ' PRESENTATIONS. During the evening the presentations were made. Mr A, Lees explained the object of the function and remarked inter alia that the club now gave two socials annually, at the beginning and the end of the season, and he bad to thank the public for generous support. He recalled that Okaiarwa bad Won the southern premiership three times consecutively and, although, they did not win the provincial championisbip, they gave the winners a good run. It bad to be remembered that Okaiawa bad the smallest district in the union, while the winners had probably the largest, with six junior teams from which to recruit. The three successes in the south were distinctly creditable to the Okaiawa team. He did not, however, wish to detract from the merit of the success of Stratford, and OkaiaWa hiul. been the first to congratulate the winners. He had pleasure in welcoming Mr R. Mortlock, president of the Hlawra Football Club, who had come to make the presentation. Mr Mortlock apologised for the unavoidable absence of the donor, Mrs Stevens. He 'congratulated Okaiawa on their splendid performance, for they were a team who always gave 'opponents a good struggle and iplayed hard clean football. He was sorry, he added, he bad not to congratulate them on winning the Taranaki championship also. He thanked them for the special match played with Hawera for the injured, player's’ fund. On behalf of Mrs Stevens he had grebt pleasure in presenting the cup to Mr M. Lynskey, captain of the team, .saying they were so used to receiving it they would almost consider it the’ir own property. Mr Lynskey thanked Mr Mortlock and the donor and said the team would: put their best foot foremost in the endeavour to win the bigger trophy next year. Mr Lees said there 'were two medals donated by enthusiasts, one by JMr HKendall, of Hawera, which was to ibe decided later and the other, a gold medal, given by the’ir patron, Mr ,W. A. Guy for the most improved junior forward and won by Ron. Greenough. whom he congratulated on bis splendid consistent form. Mr A. F. Neils'on, in a few congratulatory remarks, said that he was specially interested' in the gathering, because he bad been an active supporter of the clnb until 1311, the year in which Okaiawh. did win the championship. He. urged the team to train hard and to persevere in their efforts towards the highest Rugby position in Taranaki. Okaiawh, he said, was to be congratulated on the hearty support of the people and especially of the ladies, who followed the team’s work very closely and their sporting spirit was worthy» of special mention. 'Some people said, lie added, that clubs carried sport too far. 'So long, however, as they did not over indulge in sport j it was a gdand thing for young men, but it must be played in the right spirit. While they carried on in this way they need not worry about the critics. He wished the cluib every success in the 'future.

Mr Lees apologised for the absence of three leading members, I>. Crawford, Ike and Boy Giuv, who wore nWny with the touring team, and he noticed that five, first of the three had the honour of scoring against- Manawhenua. He thanked all supporters and on his motion a cordial vote of thanks Was carried by aleclaniation to the ladies. Other trophies held by the Okaiawa Club include the Dunn seven-a-fsidc shield (Eltham), and the Mills Cup, while its representatives also Won the seven-a-sidc tourney at 'Stratford (jubilee week). THE BADE.

Elaborate preparations had been made for the annual ball, which proved to be very successful. 'The decorations were an outstanding feature, both in the hall and in the supper room. The schemes were very similar in general outline—streamers of maroon and navy blue (the club’s colours) st re telling- from the wall to a central hoop and prettily draped with pie'asing effect, bound the. walls were artistic settings of greenery, picked out with red flowers, ensconced in the leaves. In the supper room there was a beautiful pendant of lycopodium and coloured blooms and below the masses of greenery at intervals round the walls were largo butterflies in varied colours, miado iby the deft hands of the ladies. On the supper tables was an artav of vases of mingled autumn and spring flowers. The whole scheme was artis'tic'ally blended. The ladies responsible were Mrs O. Cflawford, assisted by Mrs Johnston and nfany willing Helpers. The music was in the hands of Coburn’s star orchestra, while extras were •played by Mrs C. Martin, Mi's-ses Guy, Neilson and Vine.

The ladies’ committee for the supper arrangements were Mcsdamcs W. Johnston, Hollis, Baker, Honlahan, .Guy, Eobertson, Williams and Good. They did their part well.