RUGBY FOOTBALL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 73, 13 March 1930, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

HAWKE’S BAY UNION

ANNUAL REPORT AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS.

REVIEW OF THE PAST YEAR.

The fifty-third annual report and .statement of accounts of the Hawke’s Bay Union for presentation to the forthcoming annual meeting of the union, reads as follows :—

In presenting the fifty-third annual report and accounts for the 1929 season, your committe is pleased to report a successful season from every point of view. The club fixtures Sustained interest throughout the season and drew each week a fair attendance. The representative fixtures, as far as home matches were concerned, were very successful. The travelling team, due to many defections through inability to obtain leave, was not really representative of the province, but gave a good exhibition of the game. There was an exceptionally heavy programme of home representative fixtures, which will adversely affect the ensuing season. Every effort was made at the annual meting; of the New Zealand Rugby Union to put, this matter on a better basis, so that the home representative fixtures each year would be more equitably distributed, but owing to the attitude of one particular union no satisfactory result was arrived at. The committee of delegates appointed to go into this matter had spent much time and thought in devising a suitable scheme, and it was unfortunate, to say the least, that the attiude of some unions prevented their recommendations being brought into effect. The standard of play during the past season was well worthy of the province, and in view of the retirement of so many of the old players the selector is to be congratulated on fielding a successful side. There is every prospect that the ensuing season will see this union field a young and successful team. The attendance at club games was very satisfactory, but owing to the multiplicity of re- 1 presentative fixtures, as far us these games were concerned, there was a distinct falling off towards the end of the season. FINANCIAL POSITION. Accounts, after allowing for depreciation, show a profit on the year’s working of £542 -Is, and. in addition, the sum of £ll5 was distributed amongst the various subunions in accordance with the agremeat arrived at during the season. This is every satisfactory, but it must bo reoognised that the southern tour in 1930 will be a heavy drain. The accumulated funds of the union now stand at £4143 16s Id, a good portion of which is liquid assets. The amount of £1661 is on loan to the Central H.B. Union for grounds and stand at Waipukurau, and your committee consider this is a good investment.

Although claims against the insurance fund are still heavy, there is a considerable improvement shown on the previous year. The actual premiums received amounted to £137 5s and the amount disbursed was £l9B. Claims were much more strictly dealt with during the past season, and our thanks are due to the sub-unions for the attention they have given to this matter. At the same time there is still a certain amount of laxity as regards this matter, the details furnished often being very meagre. In addition to the above amount, special grants were allowed totalling £3l Bs. R. Steere and B. A. Grenside were the only Hawke’s Bay players to represent New Zealand during the season, and in addition, C. Campbell and R. Steere were selected for the North Island team. R. Steere also played for the New Zealand pakeha team against the Maoris, and to these players v.'e offer our hearty congratulations. CLUB COMPETITIONS. During the past year club competitions were very keen and interesting, but the withdrawal of one senior team upset the fixtures to some extent. The actual takings for the games amounted to £379 18s 6d, against £5Ol in the previous year, and, in addition to this, Lane Cup fixtures yielded £lOO 2s 6d, which was donated to the insurance fund. A special charity match on behalf of the Napier Hospital and Union's insurance fund yielded a gate of £64 19s.

The experiment of an intermediate grade was not a success, partly due to opposition from some clubs who considered it was adversely affecting their membership to the benefit of other clubs. The question of the continuance of this competition will

be a matter for discussion at the. .annual meeting. As usual, competitions were attended to by the) Primary Schools' Association, and on this occasion Napier team won the Ross Shield. in this connection a word of thanks is due to Mr Bissell for coaching and training the team. The sum of £l2B 17s lOd was spent in enconraguig football in the province. (Jur thanks are again due to the two junior selectors, R. M. Hewitt and F. I)yne. A home-and-home game was played aga.inst Wairarapa during the year, each side securing one win. A home representative fixture was also, arranged with Poverty Bay, resulting in a win for the visitors by 16 points to six. SENIOR REPRESENTATIVES. The past season consisted mostly of home matches, no fewer than nine matches being played in Hawke's Bay. In the ordinary course of events this is far too many for one season and seriously interferes with club football. The travelling team visited Wairarapa, Waikato, Auckland, and North Auckland. During the incoming season our represent® tives are due to travel to the South Island, and the eommitte trust that they will be able to get away on tour a fully representative team. Matches with this union are keenly looked forward to in the South Island, and it is due to those interested there to send on tour as fully representative team as possible. An experiment was tried by allotting a representative fixture to Wairoa, and also one to Dannevirke, and in neither case did the attendance warrant the experiment. MISCELLANEOUS. We have to thank the Referees’ Association tor providing referees for all matches and the keen interest they have taken in the game. Obituary.—We regret to record the decease of one of our life members, Mr F. C. 'Williams, who was over a long period a keen supporter, and was always out to help the game in every way. Thanks—The eommitte wish to extend their thanks to the Press foi the very full and impartial reports of football matters; to Mr Corner and his staff for the splendid grounds prepared during the season; to our honorary surgeons and St. John’s Ambulance Brigade for gratuitous services, to J. R. Ross and Co. and L. Fail for gratuitous booking services ; and to the various donors of trophies and those who contributed donations. We have to also thank the Napier Borough Council for the spirit in which they have met our requests in connection with grounds. Maddison Trophy.—The trophy was competed for in Napier on June 1 and was won by H. 5.0.8.

Horne Cup.—This was competed for on the same day and was won 'by N.T.C.0.8. In conclusion, the retiring committee wish to thank tho players, the various clubs and sub-unions i tho loyal way they have supported the committee.