FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16526, 30 April 1917, Page 8

FOOTBALL

V |.?MC SEASON} 'EEVffiWEDi' : ' The report of the ejcecutivo of tho Auckland Rugby Loofiuo to bo presented at tlio seventh annual mooting on Wednesday evening next stales that during tlio past season the ranks of libo players wcro seriously depleted by - enlistments, it being estimated that over COO members had joined tho colours. At the cominoaccmcnt of tbo season 42 .teams wore entered in the six grades as follows:— Senior grade, 7; second grade, 6; third grade, •J; fourth. graJAo, 7j fifth grade, 6; -sixth gra/io, 6. Tiie loaauo, in accordance with the vtilos, could only accept six nominations in senior grado. Tho seventh, that of the Garrison Artillery football team, was declined, and the various monibcrs wero drafted into'other clubs. Tho sporting publio fully patronised tho matches in all grades. Victoria Park was largely attended every Satur- . day,.-tho weekly average at this ground being over 4000. At the suburban grounds tho matches wero well attended, more especially et -JDevonport and at Otahuhii. Tho six senior teams played right through championBlii]) '.competitions without default, and. confjdering tho times and tho players available, tho. standard of play was of high merit. Affiliated clubs playing under the jurisdiction of tho league numbered 14, entering 42 teams in tho six competitive grades, and mglstcriug over 800 players. Owing to call of -lno Empire, Maugere, Itcmuera, and Morthoote Clubs withdrew from the competitions and the remaining players were'trans'Tf?. , <O , other clubs - Tll ° City Club established a record for Auckland, if not JWOW Zealand, in grade competitions, winJims four grades out of six, besides tlio Jtoopo Rooster. The executive decided to suspend championship honours attached to each grade, becauso of tho war, and out of rospect to tho many players ■ who bad fallen in'battle. During the year the executive definitely scoured the Option of tho Chinamen's gardens in Stanley Street, and tho attention of tho league is at present centred in'tho improvement of the property. Already tho co-operation of the owners end City Council has been secured with the object of suitably laying out the grounds. The report states that tho finances of tbo leagUe are. considered satisfactory. There wsja a falling off of the receipts as compared with the previous year. • This is largely attributed to # the action of tho City Council in ; removing tho fences from Victoria Park, thereby depriving tbo loaguo of tho right to charge on the usual-, days.' Tho policy of the league in tho helping of charit..ablo institutions is mentioned, and in this connccton £212 5s lid was subscribed to deserving objects, bringing the total up to date £579 19s: within the two years. Referring to the achievements of league members at the front, the report says that military crosses havo been won by N. Bright, City, and Alf.,Powley. North Shore, whilst the Servian gold medal was won by AH."! (Jault. Ponsonby. Tho Junior Advisory Board's report states that good work has been done in tho junior grades, the standard of play improving, and the'.conduct of tho players being very creditable. The weights for the lower grades havo Defta altered, and new conditions framed. In, future all fourth, fifth, and sixth, grade players must register their weights before . plajing. In'conclusion, the executive states that ' it'intends to. hold open competitions again I this year as in previous seasons.