RUGBY UNION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14578, 8 April 1918, Page 6

RUGBY UNION.

The annual report of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union to be tabled at the meeting to-night includes the following : The weather throughout 1917 season was excellent, only one wet Saturday being experienced. The exhibitions by the forwards were very good, but the backs only showed mediocre form. The effect of this disastrous war is being felt m this branch of athletics. We must continue to look to the younger generations to_ carry on the game. Few cases of misconduct on the part of players were brought before the Committee. There were two representative fixtures, when the Gisborne team defeated the Hawke's Bay team by 9 to 8, and drew m the game against Hastings sub-union. The Boys' High School team defeated the Napier team by 21 to 6, but were defeated by Palmerston North by 7 to 5. Later m the aeason the Kaiti City juniors paid a visit to Napier to play the -Pirates Club, but the home team proved too strong for them. A seven-a-side tournament was held on June 3rd, an was won by the Kaiti-City Club, also the Sherratt Cup Competition. The junior competition was won by the Kaiti-City Club. Increased interest was taken m the primary school football matches, and the Gisborne team proved the winners. The lease of the Victoria Domain expires on January 1, 1919, and it will be necessary for the incoming committee to consider projects m connection with playing areas m. the future. The season commenced with a balance of 438 15s lid, and at present we show a balance of £7 Os sd. As the Cricket Association was unable to hold a competition during the summer months, __ the revenue usually accruing! from this source was lost to the union. The training shed was 1 only occasionally [used during the season, clubs failing to make use of it to the extent expected by the union. An effort was made to let the building as a . wool store, but so far without success. The Management Committee, m retiring from offioe, trusts that its successors will receive the same support from players as was given last season, and that all conmeoted with the game will strive, to maintain the honor of Rugby, and strongly resist the introduction of elements • foreign to true sport.