RUGBY CLUB SOCIAL

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 29 September 1933, Page 2

RUGBY CLUB SOCIAL

ANNUAL HAWERA GATHERING

The annual social of the Hawera Rugby Football Club was held last night in the Scout Hall and there were about fifty present, Mr Alex Hunter presiding. Amongst those present were Mr J. B. Rowe of the Taranaki Rugby Union, Mr. L. M. Carmine, ex All Black selector, Sergeant J. Henry and Mr. J. J. Goodwin The chairman welcomed all members and expressed pleasure to see so many present He referred briefly to the play of the past season and urged all players to see to it that they trained regu larly and were perfectly fit for their matches. . . , The loyal toast having been honoured, “The Hawera Teams” was given by Sergeant Henry who said that all the teams had playe-d the game well for the club. The juniors, however, had been robbed of good players to fill vacancies in the seniors and similarly the thirds had been affected 1 , hutj the fourths had done best and had shown excellent form. He congratulated the lower teams especially for tbe way they had trained. The toast was honoured enthusiastically and responses' were made by Messrs. C. Hammond, McDonald, McCallum and Worley. ‘ ‘The Referees’ Association” was given by Mir. D l . Raterson who com plimented the members' of the association on their good and unselfish work. He said that the position of a referee was not an enviable one and all who undertook tlie work had given unraninglv good service. In responding, Mi Goodwin said the multiplicity of rales made the work of the referees very difficult. They were giving excellent service and all were out to do their best for the game. H© referred brierly to the appointment board ana asked for the hearty co-operation of the Ruo-by Union. Mr J. Rowe added' that the Referees’ Association was not too strong and it b-ehoved all who could to help. The referees were out for the sport of the game and all the work of the association was in then own hand®. __ . ~ The toast of “The Rugby Union was proposed by Mr. L. V. Carmine, who .said that Taranaki was fortunate in the men who had served on the union. The interests of the province were well looked after. He added that Mr. Rowe, as a southern member, had a hard task to live up to the standard set liv Mr. (Goodwin. He stressed the difficulties facing a province where the players were so separated and added that, if they were able to have there or four matches before setting out on a tour, they would he equal to any in the Dominion. Mr. Rowe, in his reply, said that the union meetings were always very long and dealt with a great number of important matches'. . He referred to the amount paid out in hospital fees last year, £l3O, which came out of the insurance money paid by members, and said that few unions treated their players as well as did Taranaki. The cost of a turn* such as they had just made would be about £4OO and union would therefore be up against it this year. Referring to the playoff and" representative matches, Mr. Riowe said that the south members had tried hard to get the last play-off at Hawera, where the gates were better than in any part of the province. He paid a tribute to the good work of the selectors and said that the teams sent abroad by Taranaki always . attracted record gates. In conclusion, he cordially thanked players for their appreciation of the work of the union.

MEDAL PRESENTED. The chairman said that Sergeant Henry had donated a gold medal for the most improved player in the foiirtli team and li© considered that -such a generous action stimulated players to do their best and he would congratulate the winner very heartily. The medal was awarded to A. Heise, one of the forwards, and he had very great pleasure in presenting the trophy to him with best wishes for his future success in the game. The chairman added that another medal was donated to the second fifteen and the winner would ho announced later. Among other toasts honoured were “The Press” (Mr J. Goodwin—Mr Page), “The Chairman” (Sergeant Henry—Mr Hunter) and “The Artists”' (Messrs. Guy Hardenberg and F. Restieaux).