CREDIT BALANCE OF £500

Southland Times, Issue 24376, 5 March 1941, Page 5

CREDIT BALANCE OF £500

FINANCES OF RUGBY UNION LAST YEAR’S ACTIVITIES REVIEWED “The finances of the union have been considerably strained by the year’s working and the expenditure was £290 4/7 in excess of receipts,’’ states the annual report of the Southland Rugby Football Union. “Only the keen public interest in the Otago match enabled the union to finish the season with a credit balance, but whether this source of revenue will be available this incoming season will depend upon world conditions. Interest displayed in the club matches was very disappointing, particularly considering the fine quality of the play, and the gate takings show a falling off of £370 compared with the previous year. While the union begins the 1941 season with a credit of approximately £5OO, a further £lOOO will have to be obtained to meet ordinary expenditure, so the greatest of care will have to be taken in the conserving of the funds during the incoming season.” MANY PLAYERS WITH COLOURS

In reviewing the activities of the past season, the committee reports that in support of the views expressed by the Government and New Zealand Rugby Football Union concerning the conduct of sport during the war, decided ■ to carry on the club competitions, and in doing so it gave a useful service to the country generally. To the many players from the various clubs in the province who joined the colours for military service overseas and to those in military camps in New Zealand, the union extends its best wishes for an early victory and a safe return home. The standard of first grade Rugby, as expected, was not as high as normal times, but many of the younger players were given the opportunity for playing in a higher grade and that should prove beneficial to them. COMPETITIONS All grades opened in competition matches on April 27. Forty teams were entered and interesting competitions with close finishes resulted in the various grades. Following were the results:— Senior Grade (Galbraith Shield). — Seven teams competed. The Winton team was admitted to this competition. Marist with seven wins and two draws out of 11 games played was winner of the shield with 16 points. Invercargill was runner-up with 14 points. Second Grade (Banner). —Seven teams entered and the Pirates team, with a meritorious performance in i winning all 11 games played, was the winner with 22 points. Invercargill was runner-up with 18 points. Third Grade (A. J. Geddes Cup).— Eight teams competed and Kennington was declared the winner with 24 points. Old Boys was runner-up with 22 points. Fourth Grade (Dr Ritchie Crawford Cup).—Eleven teams entered and Pirates ran out the winner with 23 points. The Makarewa team was runner-up with 20 points. Fifth Grade (S.R.F.U. Cup).—Six teams entered and a close finish was the result, Pirates being the winner with 22 points, and Collegiate runnerup with 20 points. Sixth Grade (A. H. Stott Cup).—A secondary school competition. There were four teams and Technical A won the cup with 16 points; High A was runner-up with 14 points. Aggregate Cup (R. M. Isaacs trophy).—This trophy was won by the Pirates Club whose teams are to be congratulated on their splendid performances in each grade. Invercargill was runner-up. SCHOOL FOOTBALL The fostering of Rugby in the primary and secondary schools is receiving the enthusiastic attention of the teachers in charge and the time devoted in

! coaching and supervising games is much appreciated. The Southland Boys’ High School senior fifteen played four matches with northern High School teams during the season. Results were as follows: — Southland 6, King’s College, Dunedin, 23; Southland 6, Waitaki 19; Southland 3, Otago 8; Southland 17, Timaru 27. The Southland Technical College teams played in the local competitions, but there were no inter-college matches held durins the season. SUB-UNION FOOTBALL Because of the war the work of fostering the game in the various subunions is proving difficult for the management committees of the subunions and in some cases some of the grade competitions were dropped and friendly games substituted. The Sports Trust Cup matches again proved popular and in the first match at Balfour the holder (Northern) was defeated by Eastern by eight to five. Eastern successfully defended the challenge from Western for the Cup, the game resulting 17 points to three in its favour. There were no further games played and Eastern is the present holder of the cult. REPRESENTATIVE FOOTBALL Last season only two representative matches were played between interprovincial sides, these being home and home matches with Otago. It was decided by the New Zealand Rugby Football Union that no Ranfurly Shield matches were to be played during the war. The first game with Otago for the season was played at Dunedin and resulted in a drawn game, 10 points each. In the return game at Invercargill, Southland defeated Otago by 17 points to 13. Donald Stuart Memorial Shield.— Otago, the holder of this shield for competition between Otago and Southland representative teams, was successful in defending the shield in the challenge match at Dunedin. The score was 10 points each. Patriotic Benefit Matches.—During the season two matches were played for the benefit of patriotic funds. An invitation was extended to the Burnham Army team to visit Invercargill and play a match with Southland. The | Army team included several well known Southland representative players —Lieutenant A. W. Wesney (captain), Lieutenant C. L. Stubbs, Lance-Cor-poral F. H. McEwan, Privates C. K. Saxton, T. C. Metcalfe and C. F. McKenzie and W. J. Richardson as reserves. The match created considerable interest and the Patriotic Fund benefited by £270/18/8. The result of the game was: Southland 13, Army 8. A Town v. Country game was played at Rugby Park for the benefit of the Southland Fighter Aeroplane Fund and resulted in a win for the Country team by 21 points to 14. A sum of £62/2/9 was handed over to the Southland Fighter Aeroplane Fund. RUGBY PARK The committee is pleased to report that Rugby Park and the buildings are in excellent condition. A national fitness rally was held on the park on Saturday, September 28, in aid of the London Air Raid Distress Fund. The union gave the use of the park, and the ground staff gave their services free for the benefit of patriotic funds.