THE SOCCER CODE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18974, 26 March 1936, Page 7

THE SOCCER CODE

P.B. ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT The annual report of the chairman id the I'overiA i,ay roothnU Association, Mr. .1. .J. ' Ala.-uoiiald. Which was suhmitled io the meeting oi the association on I lies.lay. was as lollows : "l ne season opeueu very quietly and not until tile Saturday haJl-uoliday did our actually commence, no dilliciilty iieing experienced in heeling lour g...hi teams, and very line games were witnessed Iroiu ihuii .in. Ihe games beiny played in a Iriendh and sportsmanlike manner, whilst I lie keenest rivalry existed throughout. The schools' ioothah was also a great success, but, a.- in othei sports. Ihe oileresi waned towards lilt finish ; this in some measure was accounted lor by ol' I lie schools heme, a little superior in the others. "During the season a challenge was received from Hawke's Bay lor thfc Last Coast Challenge Bow), and a representative Hawke's Bay team, together with a ilawke s Bay school representative team, travelled here and played on September 14, the school game being played as a curtain-raiser. 'The game was a, great success, the local hoys giving a good account of themselves against a more experienced side, particularly as soccer is being played in all Hawke's Bay schools and is fostered as well as other sports and taught by the teachers. "The senior representative game resulted in a win lor Poverty Bay by five to two and was in our favour lor the greatest part of Ihe game. Not withstanding this, a very fine game was witnessed and highly 'spoken' of by many who bad never seen soccer previously played. Again we had a visit from a Wellington representative team and another splendid exhibition was witnessed, both teams playing! themselves to a standstill, resulting ill a win for Wellington by si\ to five. "Social* evenings were held throughout the season, particularly during the visits of tin; Wellington and Hawke's Bay teams, and picture evenings were provided for (he Hawke's Bay schoolboys, all of which were enjoyed and appreciated by our visitors. SMALL FINANCIAL LOSS "The financial side of tin; year's working shows a small loss, winch can i,e accounted lor by the expenses incurred m bringing three representative teams to Uisboriic in oiu year and also through the social functions extended lo them; another reason could be given on account of the season not .starting until after the. Saturday half-holiday was proclaimed. "As a result of an unfortunate accident to one of our players during the progress of a game whereby ho sustained a broken leg, the association's share of the charity day takings, along with the entire gate front the Scotland v. England match, was donated to him. During the season a League competition was conducted, four senior teams competing. The winners of the different competitions were: League.—Celtic, with Thistle runners-tip; J. R. Kirk (.'up, United, with Celtic ruuuers-up; school competition league, Mangapapa A, with T>. llapara runners-up. King's Birthday tournament, five-a-side.—-Schools': Mangapapa B, winners; representative senior matches, Poverty Bay 5 v. Hawke's Bay 2, Fast Coast Challenge Bowl; Wellington 6 v. Poverty Bay 5; annual international, England 3 v. Scotland 3; boys' representative game, Hawke's Bay 2 v. Poverty Bay 1. "As chairman, 1 desire to extend my sincere thanks to the executive, which has given ungrudgingly of its time; to those gentlemen who officiated : >s referees, to the St. .John Ambulance Association for its assistance, lo the press for able reports of our meetings and matches, to all who assisted during the season, keeping the grounds in order, cutting and marking, to our president, Mr. P. Bailey, for bis assistance at. all times, and to'Mr. P. Qninn, who so ably filled the office of hon. secretary. "The prospects for the coining season appear bright, as. in addition lo our local fixtures, we have the assurance of Air. .1. .1. Keane. of the Wellington Association, that a representative game will he played in Wellington on the King's birthday and that he has already got the names of the players desirous of fulfilling their visit lo (lisborne at the end of our 1936 season. 1 trust (he good feeling at present existing among] the players will be continued and that our code will prosper during the coming season."