RUGBY FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 21652, 14 March 1932, Page 9

RUGBY FOOTBALL

EASTERN SOUTHLAND SUB-UNION. ANNUAL REPORT. The following is the report to be submitted to the annual meeting of the Eastern Southland Rugby Sub-Union:— “Your committee has pleasure in record ing that tho Sub-Union experienced a successful season in 1931. While exceptionally bad weather interfered with the fixtures and played havoc with the grounds, a good standard of football was maintained, and keen interest was aroused by both club and representative games. A feature of the season was the presence in the district of an unusual number of playera of outstanding ability. Eastern Southland had six representatives in the provincial team and they acquitted themselves with credit at homo and on tour. The congratulations of the Sub-Union are extended to the players concerned —namely, Messrs F. Townsend, M. Ussher, R. W. Pickering, M. O'Shea, D. G. Grant and D. Agnew. In inter-district matches the Eastern Southland representatives? distinguished themselves by winning all their games and annexing the Sports Trust Cup and the Grant. Cup. Invercargill was defeated at Invercargill by 18—8, and at Cjore by 16 —12. Northern District was beaten at Balfour 9—6 and at Lumsden 8— 6. A second grade representative team defeated the Northern juniors at Gore by 12—5, and at Invercargill was beaten by a city combination by s—o. “Club competitions were conducted in four grades, a total of nineteen teams participating. “The Mataura Club is to be congratulated on its fine record in being either winner or runner-up in each grade contested. Apart from this, the honours of the season were well divided amongst the various clubs. Appreciation must be expressed of the sporting action of the Edendale and Wyndham Clubs in combining to enter a first grade team. “The game continues in favour in the primary schools, two competitions being held. The Roche Shield (Bst 71b class) was won by the Gore School, which defeated Wyndham in the final. The. Junior Banner (sst 71b class) was also won by Gore. The annual seven-a-side tournament was a very successful fixture, a number of visiting teams taking part in it. Gore won the senior and bantam grades, and Mataura took the honours in the junior division. Two boys from the Mataura School and three from Gore secured their provincial caps. “Considering the unpleasant weather Which seemed to be reserved for Wednesdays, the attendance of the public throughout the season was good, gate takings amounting to £236 19/11, as compared with £220 4/- in 1930. The season was commenced with a credit balance of £382 12/4, and ended with £4OO 10/3 in hand, a profit of £l7 17/11. “Your committee met on twenty occasions during the year, the attendance record being as follows: J. W. Aitken (Mataura) 19, G. W. Whittingham 17, I. W. Martin 19, F. M. Murray 19, C. D. McConnell (Mataura) 16, F. Wallis, senr., 19, C. M. Wilson 20, J. McK. Miller 13, D. Little 14, W. Leitch (Mataura) 18, J. M. Boyne 15, Father Graham (Wyndham) 5, H. G. Wallis 19, R. S. Green 19. “Appreciation of the work of the referees took a concrete form early in the season, when the rules were altered to give a nominee of their association a seat on the executive, Mr D. Little being appointed to the position. “Thanks are due tw the Press for its attention to the game, and to the medical men who have given their services in tending injured players. The Referees’ Association has again carried out its arduous duties with credit to its members.”