Soldier Rugby Men Remembered

Northern Advocate, 28 May 1940, Page 6

Soldier Rugby Men Remembered

“The Boys at the Front” were remembered in the toast list at the Rugby dinner, following the representative match at Dargaville on Saturday. A recent arrival from Timaru, Mr. Cutler, proposing the toast, referred with pride to the fact that 13 South Canterbury representatives were already in khaki. He suggested that on the national day of prayer all footballers should remember those brave Rugby comrades who were defending New Zealand and the Motherland. Earlier, Mr. S. J. Snow, manager of the Whangarei team, had spoken of the good service Rugby could perform by providing keen, healthy sport, thus taking the minds of the people off the war, if only for a short time, and helping maintain the general morale. War Effects Apparent. Effects of the war were already apparent in Northland Rugby, said Mr. Allan Mac Kay. Many juniors had been brought up to fill the ranks in the Whangarei and Northern Wairoa teams, but the standard of play was as high as he had ever seen in such a fixture. “Rugby assists in keeping us fit so that when our turn comes, we will be ready,” said Mr. Mac Kay. Responding to the toast of the “Host and Hostess,” Mr. A. Glass intimated that the donation of fifteen guineas, which he usually gave to the Northern Wairoa Union, would this year be handed to the Red Cross.