ROUND BALL GAME

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 257, 27 September 1933, Page 9

ROUND BALL GAME

THE CURTAIN RUNG DOWN. (By “Centre-Half”.) Another season ends. The curtain has been rung down on a period of a great deal of labour, of anxiety, of planning and of unexpected success and achievements. The 1933 term must go down in the annals of the Manawatu Football Association as one in which difficulties were transformed into opportunities. The outlook, with the defection of two of the more successful clubs, did not augur well for tho future and it was thus that indirectly Manawatu secured such •'a fine run of outside engagements. The fact that St. Andrew’s and Athletic drew for the league championship was a fair indication of thb merits of the teams, although it would have been a very fitting reward for Athletic to have secured the honour in this straight-out contest, for the blacks presented a very fine side on most occasions, despite the difficulties of assembling a team. There are in this club many who should be firstrankers in the district for many seasons yet, and it devolves upon all concerned to preserve as much as possible the composition of the side. There has been achieved a splendid balance which is capable of much development. St. Andrew’s have experienced as much difficulty as has probably been their lot since the club’s inception. With tho common difficulty of maintaining a regular team and tire work of keeping the players in trim, the club have put up an enviable record of service. The help of a number of the more prominent members was lost during the season, and but for careful pilotage the course covered might have not been so smooth. Old-timers (comparatively speaking) and the more recent members have combined well throughout, and while the only opportunity to get the majority of the team together was at the gymnasium classes, which have been of untold value, a commendable record was put up. The administration side of the code has not been without its heart-burn-ings, and the management committee, under the chairmanship of Mr J. C. Young, have transacted an immense amount of business and laid many plans, the majority of which have reached fruition. To conserve finance and yet not be niggardly, and to arrange contests to provide as much play as possible for tlie majority of those available was a hard task and the successful conduct of tho WanganuiManawatu League competition was a constant source of satisfaction to the players and the public alike. Next year, with Wairarapa so well forward, and with the prospects of an even smoother arrangement for tlie triangular contest with Wanganui and Taranaki, upon the foundations thus laid a strong position should be reached. For the Manawatu to be pre-emi-nently successful in the future, every endeavour must be made to resuscitate the City Club and create others if possible. If, however, finance is again to be the bugbear it appears likely to be ail uphill battle. The state of the playing area is a perennial question—not because of any tardiness on the part of the committee, for a great deal of consideration has been accorded the matter — and if plans go well an improvement in this direction is quite conceivable. Refereeing activities have again displayed a marked liveliness and general satisfaction must have been obtained by the clubs. The administrative side of the referees’ activities has been greatly lestricted through the need of a suitable meeting room where they could assemble to thrash out theproblems that arise. The prospects for additions to the list of badgisholders are hopeful and next season should see much accomplished. AVith the end of the season there are regrets and hopes—hopes that the 1934 season will be more kindly, but nevertheless fruitful in rewards. “CentreHalf” takes this opportunity of expressing appreciation to all officials and players who have been so willing sources of information and help. A successful season amongst the juniors was brought to a close on Saturday when the “knock-out” finals were concluded. The postponed sixth grade semi-final was played in the morning, when College Street surprised by winning against the Convent School A team. Tlie Convent boys were a little bit unlucky, because, although they had most of the play, they had to admit defeat by the odd goal in three. College Street then played again in the afternoon to gain a good win against Terrace End —a very good performance. Convent School A are to be congratulated on winning the league. Terrace End also came along well towards the end of the season and, ■together with College Street, fought their way into the final for the “Knock-Out” Shield. In the fifth grade, Te Awe Awe Scouts have had a very successful season, winning both the league and the “knock-out” competitions, thus equalling the record of Te Awe Awe 0.8., who won both trophies two years ago whilst playing as a scout team. Recliabites, the other team to be in the “knock-out” final, have played very pluckily throughout the season, but were no match agaii'st tlie Scouts, who played good combined football to gain a big victory. The season has undoubtedly been the most successful ever experienced amongst tlie juniors in tlie Manawatu, no less than 18 teams being engaged every Saturday afternoon. This lias given tlie Junior Committee much work, but under the chairmanship of Mr R. E. Kemp soil everything lias gone with a swing, and, together with other keen members of the committee, he lias just cause to be proud of tlie results attained.