FOOTBALLERS ENTERTAINED

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1933, Page 8

FOOTBALLERS ENTERTAINED

SELECTOR GIVES DINNER. Members of the Stratford senior Rugby Union team and the officials of the club were entertained at- dinner at the Stratford Hotel last night by Mr. R. Wood, one of the selectors, in recognition of the success of the team in winning the northern division in the club competitions. The chairman of the club management committee, Mr. C. Massey, presided.

In proposing the toast to the Taranaki Rugby Union, the chairman said: “The union has a heavy job to discharge and while I do not agree with all it does I cannot but admire the members for the way they do their best for the game in the province.” ' The reply was made by Mr. L. J. Furrie, who congratulated the club on its performance during the year. Stratford seniors did not gain the Taranaki championship but he knew that Stratford would not begrudge Waimate its win for it was 19 years since Waimate held the shield. The union did not mind criticism as long as it was not personal but based on motives aiming at improvements of any nature. The union had a great deal of trust in the work of the Stratford club, which had always been ably managed, as was indicated by the way in which the overdraft on the gymnasium was reduced. The gross gate receipts of the club for the season were £1214, as against £1372 last year, but in 1932 there was an extra game, a 'final with Star, which produced £95 and that amount just about accounted for the difference in the totals. Naturally, the way for a club to increase its gates was to play bright and attractive football. Mr. E. Kelly toasted the senior selectors for having fielded a team that played good football and maintained the prestige of the club. Had it not been for a little hard luck the fifteen would have emerged at the top of the provincial tree. Both the selectors, Messrs. Wood and J. D. A. McKay, were to be congratulated on the great deal they had done to further the interests of the club and the team. In the absence of Mr. J. Young, captain of the team, Mr. R. Young remarked that it was two years since the seniors won the championship and there were only six of the members of that team in the present fifteen, which showed the selectors were giving younger players opportunity and doing their share towards maintaining a virile team. In his response Mr. McKay said that any interest he displayed in the game was a pleasure. It had been pleasing to have had the hearty co-operation of players in training activities. He remarked that the championship winners had paid special attention to training; training was by far the most important part of football. To play the game men had to be fit—it made men. Mr. McKay expressed regret that Mr. J. Young, the team’s captain, was unable to be present owing to an illness following an injury in the championship game. Mr. McKay congratulated the club’s members who had attained representative honours.

Mr. Wood paid a tribute to his coselector and congratulated the team on its performance. The players, he said, had trained assiduously. It was only a matter of the luck of the game that they had not won the championship. Mr. Wood paid a tribute to the enthusiasm, imbued in the team by the captain. The team’s performance had been remarkable after losing the services of such veterans as Bob Fry day and Jack Walter. Despite the fact that the gaps were filled by juniors the team won its way to the championship final and played a splendid game. Both on and off the field the players had acted as sportsmen, much of the credit for which was due to the club coach, Mr. W. J. Aitken. Mr. Wood congratulated the club members who had attained representative honours and Mr. J. Walter on being chosen as a Taranaki selector. In conclusion Mr. Wood expressed pleasure at the number of old players present and congratulated the Waimate team on its championship win. “The Host and Hostess” was proposed, by Mr. Duncan Young, who said that the hospitality extended to the club by Mr. and Mrs. Wood was of a splendid nature. Throughout the season they had been staunch supporters of the club. He added that the team had played through to success during the season and he congratulated the players. Mr. Wood paid a warm tribute to Mrs. Wood, in response, stating that she was a keen supporter of the club and particularly the senior team, and eagerly anticipated the annual dinner. The staff, too, had co-operated in a splendid manner. . Toasting “The Old Players,” Mr. Fume said they had played an important part during the past few years in both club and representative football. He knew that in future years they would appreciate the many friendships they had made as a result. Response was made by Messrs. R. Fryday, J. Walter, L. Wynyard and G. Grace.