RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 118, 20 April 1931, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

PREPARING FOR OPENING DAY. CLUBS AT PRACTICE. The weather conditions of Saturday were almost summer-like and were not altogether conducive to strenuous Rugby, but despite this the local clubs all held very satisfactory practices in preparation for the opening day on May 2. A\ hile all the senior clubs have gained some fresh players, there is nevertheless, somewhat of a dearth of new material of merit so far as rearguard members are concerned, and Manawatu appears to be faced with its old difficulty of unearthing two high class five-eighths. AT PARK ROAD. The Park Road area presented a busy spectacle on Saturday afternoon when tire Kia Toa Club held practices. There were approximately. 70 players in action, teams being selected from the senior and junior members to enable a very useful game to be indulged in, while the third and fourth grade members occupied one of the adjoining areas. The St. Patrick’s Club also had a good turn-out of playring material on the same grounds and the two clubs spent a useful and profitable afternoon determining their playing strengths. While there is a good sole of grass on the Park Road area, there is an over plentiful supply of docks which, while fast dying off, are somewhat hard to fall on and it will be necessary to grub these out prior to the season’s competitions being entered upon.

PAST AND PRESENT BOYS. The Old Boys’ Club held a practice on the High School ground, a preliminary game being played between the High School firsts and Old Boys thirds, assisted by one or two juniors. The present day boys proved the superior physically and they did the major portion of the attacking to run out good winners. At the conclusion of this game two teams drawn froyn the senior, senior B and junior fifteens took the field to indulge in some very useful practice. UNITED VISIT LEVIN. The United Club turned the Saturday to profit by journeying through to Levin and they suitably marked their first appearance for tire season by annexing a win by 11 points to eight over the Levin Club. In comparison with their opponents, United fielded the lighter pack, but as is typical of this club, what they lacked in weight they made up for in sheer pace and dash, and they saw out the full journey in promising style. The game was largely restricted to the frontal divisions, the score being a very fair guide to the merits of the opposing sides. NEW ZEALAND .UNION. PROFIT OF £22,000 FOR SEASON. AUSTRALIAN REQUEST. The tour of the British team last season has enabled the New Zealand Rugby Union to emerge from the year’s activities with a credit balance of £21,578 18s Id, which amount, however, includes £1316 10s 2d due by the New South Wales Union on a 40 per cent basis from the matches played by the British team in Australia. The governing body of the Dominion now has an excess of profits over liabilities of £40,093 13s Id, such figures being taken from the annual financial statement to be presented before delegates to the annual meeting in Wellington at the end of the month.

The report, however, mentions that, on behalf of itself and the Queensland and Victorian Unions, the New South Wales Union has requested a remission of the amcunts due to the New Zealand Union, on account, it is stated, of their difficulties, financial and otherwise, in which they are at present placed. Although expressing pleasure at the fact that Rugby was increasing in popularity in Australia, the report says it seems probable that the Australian Unions will be faced with a lean season owing to the serious financial depression in the country. In view of these circumstances it is stated that the management committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union desires to have the Australian Union’s application for a variation in the original financial terms agreed upon for the British tour discussed at the annual meeting. THE FINANCES. The financial statement of the matches played by the British team in New Zealand shows that the gross gate receipts were £55,852 16s, which after paying incidental expenses, gave a balance to the N.Z.R.U. of £32,415 2s 6d. Details of the balance received from the various matches are as follow : —Wanganui match, £607 6s 6d; Tar.anaki, £BB7 3s 4d; Manawhenua, £915 Os lOd; Wairarapa, £657 17s 2d; Wellington, £2532 11s sd; Canterbury, £2321 16s lid; West Coast and Buffer, £2Bl 9s sd; Otago, £1213 7s; First Test, Duue-

din, £2683 15s 9d; Southland, £904 13s 8d; Ashburton, North Otago and South Canterbury. £423 2s 3d; Second Test. Christchurch, £4165 17s; Maoris (Wellington), £»1981 11s sd; Hawke’s Bay, £1394 3s sd; East Coast and Poverty Bay., £538 11s 6d; Auckland match and Third Test, £5402 5s 2d; North Auckland, Whangarei, £484 19s 7d; Waikato, Thames Valley and King Country, £Bll 15s 4d; Fourth Test, Wellington, £3948 13s 7d; Maflborougli, Nelson and Golden Bay, £259 Is 3d.

Principal outgoings in the income and expenditure account are shown as:—Fares, British team, £5325 10s; incidental expenses of the team, £1920 11s Id; travelling expenses and assembly New Zealand teams, £859 7s 8d; hotel and entertainment expenses, £1576 11s 9d; selectors’ expenses, £599 14s 2d; temporary stands, £205 19s 9d; grants to unions, £550; gratuities, secretaries and treasurers, £525. In addition to the gross balance of £32,415 2s 6d received from the matches and the £1316 10s 2d due by the Australian Unions, sundry receipts amounted to £l9B 7s Id, the net profit with all deductions being £21,578 18s Id. DOMINION-WIDE EXPANSION. “The standard of play throughout the Dominion has been well maintained,” states the annual report. “Last year our Rugby was subjected to a very searching test, and it came through the ordeal well. To gain the verdict against such redoubtable opponents as our British friends was no meant feat. It was pleasing to find young players coming on, capable of winning their way into New Zealand’s best team.

“Interest in ltugby. last year was greater than ever. This w r as shown bv the huge attendances at the British matches. But unions generally record a somewhat less successful year than usual. Whilst perhaps the interest in the bigger matches may have overshadowed the interest in local matches, your committee feels th.it the broadcasting of the big games was a much more serious factor in the decline of attendances. Nearly every union records an expansion in the game itself within its district, and the problem of supplying sufficient playing grounds is an acute one. The fact that so many of New Zealand’s young manhood are participating in our national game is a matter for congratulation, for we feel sure that the lessons they learn on the Rugby field will assist them to play well the game of life.”