VISITING FOOTBALLERS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 100, 6 September 1929, Page 5

VISITING FOOTBALLERS

official welcome.

AT LAST NIGHT’S DANCE.

Before supper at last night’s dance

at the Town Hall, Mr R. Masters, president of the Taranaki Rugby Union, extended) a welcome to the visiting lOau ter bury footballers, explaining that an occasion for such a, welcome had not previously occurred* Ho desired to express appreciation, on behalf of the Union, of the team’s visit and ho voiced the hope that they would come often to Taranaki. He had to congratulate the team on that day’s win—a win which was thoroughly deserved. The team had ; not had many wins during the tour, hut Mr Dunn, the manager, had told him that they did not expect many wins in the North Island. Mr Dunn spoke of the casualties from which the team had suffered, and it maoe one wonder how ihany casualties the Taranaki team would have had if the Canterbury team had not so suffered. Mr Dunn was to be congratulated on the fine class of men in. his team. The speaker had! been in charge of many football teams, and he could truthfully say that he had never seen a finer set of men than the Canterbury team, A s «■ matter of fact, it was the usual for a team to have two managers—one to look;

after social and financial matters and the other to look after the men. The Canterbury Union had such confidence in its nien that it had sent only one manager, who was attending to social and financial matters—the men looked after themselves. Stratford was only a small town, arm residents' regretted that they could not extend more hospitality, but they hoped the team had enjoyed their stay and would coino back soon. STAY VERY HAPPY. In acknowledging the welcome, AD Dunn, manager of the Canterbury team, said the hoys must haver had former experience of Stratford. On the way up he asked them if they would like to stay at Wanganui, hut they said they would not—they wanted to go on to Stratford. (Stratford people had made the team s stay very happy a mil they would be sorry to leave the town. Such football visits promoted friendship and a friendly rivalry between the teams which made for goodl..spnrtsmanship. The team would he glad to visit the province again. In the past the Taranaki team was regarded as one to he reckoned with, and that day’s game showed that this vim still the case. Rugby was flourishing in Taranaki at present, and while there were such good men in charge of it there need b e no fear for the game. When he loft they told! Mm to be suTe to bring back the pjanfui ly Shielcf, Kit [iTo could satf he had done the next best thing—beaten Taranaki. J were (closed with £H haka by the visiting team, followed by the exchange of cheers _ for Jaianaki avid Canteibmj.