TE KUITI FOOTBALL CLUB

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 4458, 17 October 1933, Page 5

TE KUITI FOOTBALL CLUB

ANNUAL "SMOKO." The annual "smoko" of the Te Kuiti Football Club was held in B. and A.'s Hall on Saturday evening, when there was a good number present. Mr. J. C. Mullins, president of the Club, was in the chair. The toast of the parent body, the Maniapoto Rugby Sub-Union, was proposed by Mr. T. M. O'Connell, who referred to the large part the administrative side had for the good of the game. The breaking away from Otorohanga had dealt a severe blow, but now it could be said that the players in this district had a very good Union. This was indeed a very good thing, for if the standard of the Sub-Union deteriorated, so would the quality of the play. Mr. O'Connell went on to state that he had been very much impressed by the thrust of the Te Kuiti backs during the past season. Mr. H. P. Taituha responded. In the course of his remarks he pointed out that though there were seven Sub-Unions in the King Country, Maniapoto had suppled no less than 50 per cent, of the King Country players. The King Country Union. Mr. J. B. McLeod proposed the toast of the King Country Union, with which was coupled the name of Mr. Copsey. The King Country Union extended from Kawhia to Ruapehu, about 150 miles, and it was a stiff proposition to handle a district of this size. Last season had proved conclusively that the Unioii was of great benefit to football. With the newly formed Kaitieke organisation it had seven Sub-Unions under its control, and there were possibilities of Taupo and Te Kano coming in. In reply, Mr. Copsey pointed out that the King Country was one of the biggest Unions as regards territory and the smallest as regards population in New Zealand. This naturally made it difficult both from the administrative side, and for coaching and getting teams together. However, last season King Country had been very much on the map. During the season they had played eight representative fixtures—before this season they had hardly played eight such matches at all! He mentioned the position of the Te Kano Sub-Union. From a union point of view, to have this area included would be of no benefit, as the area was too extensive as it was, but the project had to be considered from a football point of view, and in the interests of football someone would have to take them. If they came in it would probably be necessary to run King Country football in two sections, for the places were so far apart. More Referees Wanted. Mr. Farrow proposed the toast of the Referees' Association, and said that the "ref." had the most thankless task in the Union. Despite this, he appealed to all those players who had played their best games in the past season to help football on by becoming referees, for the supply of these important officials was becoming short in this Sub-Union. In replying, Mr. Ingpen enlarged pn the necessity for old players taking this course. The toast of Sister Clubs was proposed by Mr. Gresham, and responded to by Messrs. Elliott (Nehenehe), Farrow (Mangapehi), and B. Cotter (Waitete). All three congratulated the Te Kuiti Club on their successes during the past season, and the lastnamed urged more encouragement of the third grade division during the coming season. The singular fact that two teams, Pio Pio and Te Te Kuiti, had not been beaten in the Championship round was referred to by Mr. Elliott in the toast to the hosts of the evening. Toasts .were also drunk to the present Te Kuiti Club president, Mr. Mullins, and past president and life member, Mr. E. Tapp. Football Improving. For the toast of the Te Kuiti team, Mr. Copsey referred to the Hetet Shield, the rules for which were perhaps going to be revised so as to allow each champion team of the seven Sub-Unions to challenge for the Shield. For all that, with four challenges last year and three this year, it could be said that this "new Ranfurly" was really the champion of champions of the King Country. For this record he had been asked to convey the congratulations of the King Country Rugby Union to the club. Football, he believed, was improving in the King Country —this was evidenced by the unbeaten records of both Pio Pio and Te Kuiti in this Sub-Union competition, while the championships of two other SubUnions had been undecided until the very last match. Te Kuiti had four men in the King Country Reps, and Pio Pio three. Mr. Copsey then handed over the Championship banner for both junior and senior championships, the Pukeweka and the Hetet Shield to the Te Kuiti Club for the ensuing season. The chairman presented the medal donated by himself for the goalkicking competition among Te Kuiti Club members, to Mr. H. McLeod, who had tied with Mr. "Boss" Andrews. Musical and other items were given during the evening by the following: Messrs. B. Cotter, T. M. O'Connell, King Country Male Voice Choir—Barlow, McLeod, Reid and Copsey (what was sung going to Canterbury, and what was sung on the return trip), McLoughle'n, J. B. McLeod, C. McCormick (violin), Hanna, and Whitton (accompanying, mouth organ items, and songs). ' "" '^sm