FOOTBALL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 11250, 15 April 1908, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

POVERTY BAY RUGBY UNION

17th ANNUAL REPORT.

_ At the annual meting of -the above Union this evening the following report^ will be presented :— Your committee again have much pleasure in i presenting to you the 17th annual report and ' balance sheet. In doing so they .desire to take the opportunity of placing on record the pleasing fact that the past season has been a most' successful one. Again the public manifested their keen interest in the popular sport, the attendances at the different matches excelling easily any previous year. Senior 'cup : This contest proved a most interesting one, although at ; ; the ";' -beginning- it appeared that the. West End team would carry all before them. But it was not to be. Both Kaiti-City and Takitimu rallied splendidly, and towards the finish of the season some really excellent games were, witnessed.. Steadily both teams overhauled the points scured by West End, and upon concluding the final round the three teams occupied the unique position of being level with 12 points each, and your Union decided to bracket . them. ' ....

Junior Cup: In this also good games were . { .witnessed throughout. Among this section of our players there is .always, plenty of enthusiasm over the Cup fixtures, and the contest was keenly fought to the finish, Kaiti-City proving themselves the victors.

Third Cup: This branch of our players has had to put up with a great deal in inconvenience in the nast consequent upon the small number of playing fields, but the keen interest and excellent displays afforded by the young players entitled them to every commendation. In this contest Kaiti-City proved the winners

Representative matches : During the season : our Waiapu sub-Union paid us a visit, and an excellent game ended in a draw, both teams scoring 9 points. The sub-Union ' players are ; to ; be - congratulated upon the display they afforded.

Auckland representatives on tour were induced to land and play a match during the- morning as they were returning to Auckland. Before oiie of the largest assemblies of. spectators that have ever been upon the Domain an excellent game resulted. Though beaten our representatives were by no means disgraced, the result showing Auckland 14 points to Poverty Bay's 8. Representative tour: In this connection wa.s experienced the one disappointment of the year. Your Union felt that tho jtime; had come when it would be politic and beneficial to send a representative team en an extended tour, playing most of the Unions iii the North island, and thus make itself known beyond the narrow confines of its own dis. trict. To this end such a four was arranged in every detail,: but had to be cancelled, at the last moment through the inability of the groat majority of those selected to make the trip. It is your committee's hope that better results may obtain from, any similar tour arranged in the future. Our fixtures with Hawke's Bay and Hastings were kept, but the team dispatched was by no means our strongest, and though very plucky fights were put up in both matches, severe defeats were experienced.

Your committee desires to place on record their keen appreciation of the interest taken and the good work done by all those players who represented us in our representative fixtures, namely : Fullback, W. Sharp; three-quarters, C. Rylands, G. Rowe (capt.), Te ■ Reinga ; five-eighths, H. Kelly, Kaipara; half, Wi Friday; wing, J. Somervell; forwards, J. Nicolas, H. E. Bright, Mutu Ka'pa, Parker Turei, Lyons, Pine, and Lowe.

Finance : The figures to be placed before you to : iiight will ' show the Union to 'be in a strong financial condition. ■'Accident. Insurance; -Fund:" .This, fund was inaugurated early in the season and proved a great successful players showing their approval ; by becoming members. Injured footballers were aided to the extent Of over £12 during the season, from this tund.

Club Finance: This matter was taken in, hand during the seas-on, and^ at a special general meeting new bye-laws were made whereby no member was allowed to play for his •club after a certain date unless he were financial, nor could he participate in accident benefits. The result of this proved successful bevond all hope and consequently -all Clubs have been placed on aii excellent financial basis. Great assistance was rendered throughout the year by the local branch oi the Referees' Association in controlling the play, upon the field, and the thanks of both players and Union are due thorn.

It is with deepest regret; that we refer to the demise of one of our ground committeemen, the late Mr C. Nield. Our Union had no .more.., willing and cheerful worker than he, and his loss will be greatly felt. We extent to Mrs Nield Our sincerest sympathy in her sad bereavement. During the" season, also. Mr . J. aSigley, the popular secretary of our sub-Union, passed away. Always an enthusiast where Rugby was concerned, his loss will be a great one, to the Waiapu- players. • „ To all who undor took the duties of referees and umpires, to the press and to players : and public,., who so loyally supported us during the past "season, we tender our. heartiest thanks.