RUGBY FOOTBALL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 244, 12 September 1935, Page 12

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SEVEN-A-SIDE TOURNEY. „• UNITED THE WINNERS. To mark the conclusion of a most successful season, the mid-week Rugby clubs engaged in a seven-a-side tournament at the Showgrounds yesterday, when six teams competed, Ihe Pirates Club fielding two so as to avoid a bye. The series were played on the basis of each team meeting the other, but it early became apparent that the United seven, who had been built up by the inclusion of the two High School players, Miller and Fletcher, would be the probable winners when they defeated Pirates A, the runners-up to Kowhai in the inter-club championship. United improved as they advanced, running up big totals against Kia Toa and St. Patrick’s, and the whites then cleared the path to victory by defeating Kowhai by the substantial margin of 24 points to nil. Pirates B defaulted to the whites in the final game and United thus emerged with an unbeaten record. However, the other games were proceeded with to determine the run-ners-up and Pirates A, by defeating Kia Toa bv 15—0, took second place with but the one defeat registered against them. Results: First round. —Kowhai beat Kia ton, 8 —0; United beat Pirates A, B— d; St. Patrick’s beat Pirates B, B—o. Second round.—Pirates A beat bt. Patrick’s, 11—0; United beat Kia Toa, 27_0; Kowhai beat Pirates B, x/ Third round—Pirates A beat Kowhai 3—o; Kia Toa beat Pirates B, B—3; United beat St. Patrick s. 31—0Fourth round.—United beat Kowhai, 94 0- Pirates A beat Pirates Ji, 1(5 3 ; Kia Toa beat St. Patrick s, 2i 3 * Fifth round.—United won by default from Pirates B; Pirates A beat Kia Toa 15—0; Kowhai beat St. Patricks, 24—0.

COMMENTS ON THE PLAY. In their game with Kowhai, the speedy rearguard of United proved to be too penetrating for the amber and blacks. Scorers for the winners were C Canton, 2 tries; Miller, 2 tries and a goal from a try; H. Shearman, 1 try and a goal from a try; Sinclair, 1 try; and B. Canton, 1 goal from a try. ilie other two members completing the winning side were Fletcher and W. Shearman. In their final game with Kia loa, Pirates opened their account with a penalty .goal by Berkahn, which was followed by a field goal and a try by McNeile. In the second spell Quigg contributed a try, to which Missen added the extra points. The referee lost count of the score in the Kowliai-St. Patrick’s game, but the amber and blacks ran up at least 2-4 points. Brewer registered 2 tries and a goal from a try; Dunn, a try and two goals from tries; and Grindrod, Peters, and Trass registered a try each,

The referees who rendered assistance ill the controlling of the games were Messrs B. Holdsworth, A. 'Weston, J. Neville. C. Eglinton, and C. Woodham ; Mr A. F. Helleur carried out the duties of director of games efficiently. The points gained by the respective teams were as under:—United, 5 wins, no losses, 10 points; Pirates, 4 wins, one loss, 8 points; Kowhai, 3 wins, 2 losses, 6 points; Kia Toa, 2 wins, 3 losses, 4 points; St. Patrick’s, one win, 4 losses, 2 points; Pirates B, no wins, 5 losses, no points.

ANNUAL DINNER. GATHERING OF PLAYERS. In the evening, the players who had participated in the afternoon’s tourney assembled at Messrs Collinson and Cuniiingliame’s rooms to join with the United (Saturday) Rugby Club for the annual dinner, the whole company being tho guests of the club and the Wednesday management committee. It proved to be a very happy gathering, numbering some 130 players, Union and club officials, and supporters of the code. Mr A. M. Ongley, president of the Manawatu Rugby Union, presided, and after an excellent dinner had been partaken of a toast list was honoured to fittingly mark the conclusion of a most successful season. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs A. Ward (one of the promoters of the mid-week competition), L. G. Cope (representative of the United Club on the management committee of the Manawatu Rugby Union) and H. 11. Crawford (Kia Toa Club).

After the loyal toast had been honoured, that of the Manawatu Rugby Union was proposed by Mr F. Donnelly, who remarked that the governing authorities had treated the Wednesday players very well this season, and the members had been grateful for the fulfilling of Mr Skoglund’s suggestion that the mid-week section have its own management committee. The union was favoured by having Mr Ongley at its head, while thanks were due to the officers who had devoted so much of their time to the game and its control. Associated with the toast was Mr F. Clevely, who conveyed the union’s f,tanks for the expressions of goodwill. The members of the management committee were delighted that their efforts to foster mid-week Rugby had not been in vain. However, he felt that the day was coming when all the players would bo merged into one big competition by the observance of a national half-holiday each Saturday. In Mr Helleur the mid-week representatives had a very “live wire” to represent them on the management committee of the union, and he had faithfully safeguarded their interests. THE IMPORTANT TOAST.

The chairman, in proposing the toast of “Wednesday Football,” expressed his pleasure at being invited to preside over such a large gathering, and it spoke volumes for the efforts of those who had promoted mid-week football. It was not. v the first occasion on which Wednesday football had been attempted, but never had it grown with such remarkable strides as during the current season. However, he hoped that next season all w r ould be included in the one competition—a Saturday one. (Applause.). While only one representative match had been played by the Wednesday representatives this year—the neighbouring unions apparently side-stepping with the grace of a champion boxer dodging challengers —he hoped that the union would be able to more fittingly cater for them next year. That the spirit of the game had been faithfully observed by the mid-week players had been evidenced by the fact that not one case had been referred to the union. In conclusion, Mr Ongley remarked that the size of the gathering and the type of young men in attendance augured well for the future of the game, and he hoped it would continue at the same rate of progress. In replying to the toast, Mr Helleur stated that while much energy had been put into the competition, the officials had received a lot of pleasure in return. The proposer of the toast had been over-generous in his remarks, for the union perforce must have been out of pocket over the series. However, the authorities were no doubt preparing for, and developing the players of, the future. He, personally, had received considerable pleaIsurc from representing the mid-week players on the union, but one and all

of the committee had rendered wholehearted assistance. THE CHAMPIONS. In extending the union’s congratulations to the Kowhai Club, on winning tho Offer Cup, the chairman mentioned that the team had made wonderful progress, having risen from last place in the preceding season to the position of champions. In taking delivery of tho tropliy, Mr Brewer stated that 12 of the team which had taken the field last year had again represented the club this year. AVliile they had had some good wins, losing but the one match—to United—they had experienced some close calls. However, to win the handsome cup had occasioned considerable pleasure to the club.

The toast of “The United Club” was proposed by Mr L. G. Berry, who pointed out that tho United Club was united in name and spirit. By the happy emergence from difficult times and the experience of losses on tho field was the true value of the club spirit developed, and in that respect he thought the United Club had been tried and proved. In replying to the toast, Mr AV. R. Kells, the United Chib’s president, stated that fortune . had not smiled very happily this year upon the club, but they had endeavoured to give of their best, and he was none tho less proud of liis boys. He hoped that it would be possible to show appreciation of the manner in which the loyal members had stuck to the club in its time of adversity by putting a strong senior team in the field next year. In respect to the United representatives in tho Manawatu team, the speaker said it had been, remarkable that from the time of their inclusion the local union’s record had materially improved. The speaker concluded by voicing the club’s thanks to the mid-week players for allowing them to join in their festive gatherings, both last year and again this year. Other toasts honoured were the “Kowhai Club,” the winners of the mid-week competition, proposed by Mr A. Harris and responded to by Mr Brewer; “The United Club,” winners of the seven-a-side tournament, proposed by Mr A. Harris, and responded to by Mr N. Sinclair; “Kindred Clubs,” jiroposed by Mr M. Briggs, and responded to by H. J. Hickey; “The Referees,” proposed by Mr AV. Carrutliers, and responded to by Mr AV. Carrutliers, and responded to by Mr E. AV. Low; “The Press,” proposed by Mr R. Ramsay. PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES. During the evening the opportunity was taken by the chairman to present the trophies donated by supporters of the United Club, the recipients being as under:—Mr L. G. Cope’s miniature cup for tho member with the best attendance at gymnasium practice, Mr N. Sinclair; Air AV. R. Kells’s miniature cup, tor the most improved junior player, Mr Colm Francis; Mr Kclls’s miniature cup, for the best all-roud liclub man in the third grade, Mr J. Barker. Interspersing the toasts were a number of musical items, given by Master Stan AVriglit (vocal solo) ; Mr A. Sundborn (instrumental number) and “AViniata’s Instrumental Trio.” Community singing was also joined in wholeheartedly.

REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES

OTAGO BEAT AVAIKATO. Per Press Association. HAMILTON, Sept. 11. Playing improved football AVaikato in their first and only appearance in Hamilton this season put up a fine display to hold Otago to an . eight points margin, the visitors winning by 15 to 7. AVELLINGTON COLTS BEAT AVEST COAST. Per Press Association. HOKITIKA, Sept. 11. The AA’ellington Colts decisively beat the AVest Coast representatives by 25 points (seven tries and a potted goal) to 3 (a try). INTER-ISLAND MATCH. Per Press Association. TIMARU, Sept. 11. South Canterbury players nominated for the South Island team are:—T. Morrison and E. Ryan (three-quar-ters), C. Cartwright and O. Gaffaney (five-eighths), G. King (half), G. Giddings and J. Strang (forwards). LEAGUE FOOTBALL. AUCKLAND BEAT AVEST COAST. Per Press Association. GIIEYMOUTH, Sept. 11. The Auckland League football team defeated AVest Coast by 32 points to 14 in a fast, open game. Tho AVest Coast forwards were definitely superior, hut the Auckland backs more than made this up, showing too much speed and combination for their opponents, who were left bewildered by the passing, especially of Brown, Cooke, and Riley.