Forty Teams Participated in Manawatu Rugby

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 57, 9 March 1937, Page 8

Forty Teams Participated in Manawatu Rugby

ANNUAL REPORT PRESENTED BY UNION. Following is tho annual report of the Manawatu Rugby Union, presented by Mr A. M. Ongley, chairman of the Management Committee. “During the season forty teams representing thirteen affiliated clubs took part in the various competitions conducted during the season, which represented a minimum total of 600 players under your union’s control. Tho number of teams and the championship winners in each grade were as follow: - Senior, 8 teams, winners, Feiiding Old Boys; junior, 10, Palmerston''North Old Boys, thirds, 8 Feiiding; fourths, 4, Palmerston North High School; fifths, 5, Palmerston North High {School; Wednesday, 5, Kowhai, Feiiding. The standard of football was again of the highest and the competitions in all grades proved most interesting. The ciubs are asked to continue fostering the lower grades during the coming season as again last season the entries below third grade proved very disappointing. “Club championship: The Abraham Cup for the club championship was won by the Palmerston North Old Boys Club with the Feiiding Old Boys Club run-ners-up.

“Jubilee Cup: The Jubilee Cup was successfully defended by the Palmerston North Old Boys Club for the most number of matches during the season and their name therefore will be engraved on the cup. The Kia Toa Club were the holders of the cup at the end of the season.

Efficiency Cup: A cup was presented to the junior grade during the season known as the Efficiency Cup and was competed for on a points basis awarded as follows: (1) Loyalty to captain and conduct on and off field; (2) punctuality at kick-off and a half-time; (3) strict adherence to the rules and spirit of the game; (4) appearance and dress on the held. The Palmerston North Old Boys junior team proved the initial winners of this cup, the introduction of which resulted in a marked improvement in the various aforementioned departments for which the x>°mts were allotted. “Rowland Cup: The winners of the Horowhenua junior championship (Foxton) and of the Manawatu junior championship (Palmerston North Old Boys) met on tho Showgrounds for the Rowland Cup, when the former proved the winners. “Subsidiary competitions: Subsidiary competitions in the senior, junior and third grades were conducted at the conclusion of the championships, tho results being: Senior, Feiiding Old Boys; junior, Feiiding Old Boys; thirds, Kia ‘Midget competition: Again the midget competition was conducted and for tho fifth year in succession the winners proved to be Terrace End School. “Seven-a-side: On the King’s birthday, June 23, the annual seven-a-side tournament was conducted on Rugby Park. The finances this year were very poor owing to the Manawatu A. and B. Association holding a counter attraction at its Winter Show. However, some very fine football was witnessed and the winners of the various grades proved to be: Senior, Kia Toa; junior, Palmerston North Old Boys; thirds, Feiiding Old Boys; primary schools, West End. “Wednesday competition: Tho Wednesday competition was again conducted and with live teams in the field some ' r ood football was witnessed. The winners proved to bo Kowhai Club (Feiiding). Representative Fortunes. ‘ ‘During the season the senior representatives played 12 matches, four of which were at home and eight away. Their record is a very pleasing one as they won eight matches out of 12. The B representatives played three matches, away from home, and won all. The) proved successful in lifting tho Wallace Cup from Oroua. The junior representatives played three matches, winning two and drawing one, whilst the Wednesday juniors played and won two matches. Tho third grade representatives played only one match, which resulted in a draw. A tour of the {South island was undertaken and the team, under tho capable managership of Mr J. A. Colquhoun, upheld tho hign standard of Manawatu Rugby and placed Manawatu in the forefront of the Dominion's football, despite the fact that they lost three matches out of the four they played. The match with Otago at Dunediu was for the Ranfurly {Shield and proved to be the hardest and nearest to losing the shield that Otago had to play during the season. Tho tour proved a liuge success for Manawatu, both on and off the field, and to the manager and team we extend our congratulations on the excellent manner in which they carried the name of Manawatu through the South Island.

The results of the season’s representative fixtures were as follow:

{Senior A. —v. Dannevirke, won 17— 11; v. Wanganui, won 21 —19; v. Horowhenua, won 44 —nil; v. North Otago, won 17 —II; Otago shield), lost 5—11; v. Southland, lost 12 —13; v. Canterbury, lost 9—22; v. Wanganui, won 27 — 6; v. Wellington, lost 12 —13; v. Taranaki, won 25 —22; v. Hawke's Bay, won 12 —11; v. Wairarapa, won 28 —27. Senior B. —v. Te Kawau, won2 v. Horowhenua, won B—s;8 —5; v. Oroua (Wallace Cup), won 15—6. Junior.—v. Wellington, drew 16—all; v. Wanganui, won 15 —6; v. Horowhenua, won 14 —3; Wednesday, v. Dannevirke, won 37 —nil; Wednesday, v. Bush, won 6 —3. Thirds.—v. Oroua, drew G all. More Players This Season. “The coming season promises to be one of the most interesting in the history of tne union, for with an undivided half-holiday tho attendances, tho number of players, and teams should be considerably increased. Last season the standard was indeed high, but with the experience gained throughout the season, and in particular on tho southern Lour, the prospects for the coming season can be looked forward to with the utmost confidence. Everything points to making the season one of the best and brightest. Visits are due from Southland, Otago, North Otago, Canterbury, Wairarapa, Horowhenua, Wanganui, Dannevirke and Bush Unions, while

we are due to visit Taranaki, Wanganui, Hawke’s Bay and Horowhenua Unions ‘ 4 The Union had at its disposal during tho season three grounds at Feiiding, one at Bunnythorpe, one at Woodvme, three at the iSliowg rounds, and six at Rugby Bark. The grounds withstood the wear and tear very well for ab carried au excellent turf. For the coming season the same grounds will no doubt be used and from present appearances appear to be in good condition. ‘ * The work of the Referees' Association w as of a very good standard and to the members of tho association the exe-‘ cutive desires to express appreciation and trusts that the future win again see the same harmonious relations uetween the Rugby Union and the Referees’ Association. The accident insurance fund shows a credit balance of 19s 4d, this being one of tho very few'years that the fund has paid its way without drawing on the general account. The finances are in a very strong position and after allowng for the soutnern tour and depreciation on the Rugby Bark pavilion, the year’s working ended with a loss ol only £lO3 11s Id. Gates showed an increase all round of £4OO. With the balance of the loan account and the moneys from tho queen carnival a sum of £O2O is in hand ior building seating accommodation at Rugby Bark. ‘‘During the season tho union joined with the Alanawatu Hockey Association and the l'almerston North Garrison Band in conducting a queen carnival, and the executive desires to express appreciation of the valuable services rendered by the queen, Aliss Rona Boliand, and her band of energetic workers, and to Aliss Boland congratulations aro extended on her topping the poll and being crowned queen. To R. Al. McKenzie tho executive desires to extend congratulations on his selection for tho third season in succession as u representative of New Zealand, it is desired to place on record tho appreciation of the valuable services rendered by the gentlemen of the medical profession, and. the members of the JSt. John Ambulance Corps. Thanks are duo to AJessrs J. A. Colquhouu, J. W. {Smith, W. Dustin, A. M. Ongley, J. Ryan, W. Uiceson, E. Cleveiy, W. {Simmons and W. Mitchell ior the efficient services rendered by them during the season with our various representative teams. The club secretaries, captains and coaches were an important factor in the season’s success, for these members devote a vast amount of time to the good of Rugby, and to them we extend thanks and appreciation. Thanks are also due to Air A. R. Aliers, honorary auditor."