DINNER OF TUKAPA CLUB

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1934, Page 10

DINNER OF TUKAPA CLUB

MANAKAU PLAYERS GUESTS PROVINCIAL SCHEME SUPPORTED. ENCOURAGING LOWER GRADES. That the provincial scheme of play had proved a success during the ’past season and should in the interests or Rugby football be continued, next season, was the unanimous opinion of speakers at the Tukapa Football Club’s annual dinner at New Plymouth on Saturday night. Mr. A. R. Standish presided over a large attendance of players and club supporters. Mr. W. H. Moyes, on behalf of the Taranaki Rugby Union, presented the trophies won by the senior, third grade and fifth grade teams to their respective captains, Messrs H. Boswell, George- and Hannan. In proposing the toast of the Taranaki Rugby Union, Mr. W. R. Beard said the Union was a greatly criticised body, which had many divisions to cater for and control. The Union had come through a very trying season with colours flying. He hoped that the union would find itself able to give even greater attention to the junior grades. Mr. W. H. Moyes congratulated the Tukapa Club on its success. Mr. Beard had suggested that the Union might do more for the juniors. The Union was not doing all that it hoped as far as the juniors were concerned. However, the Union was doing a great deal to encourage the players. The selection of a Taranaki B team was one example of this, said Mr. Moyes. Mr. Moyes urged JVl at the club should support the provincial scheme of play. He was quite sure that the system was far superior to the old one. It had created greater interest and despite adverse weather th’ gate takings for the year were on a par with last year's. If the club supported the scheme he felt certain the union finances would be greatly improved. The toast of the Manakau Rovers Club was proposed by Mr. K. Jury. The Tukapa Club was indebted to the union for arranging the-fixture. He felt sure that the game was as good as any that had been seen at the park, and he thought the players and public had thoroughly enjoyed it. The Manakau Club was one of the strongest in Auckland and would meet Grafton in the interclub final. The club was the largest in New Zealand, and had. 10 teams representative of all grades in the field.

GREAT INTEREST IN JUNIORS. The Tukapa Club was taking great interest in its juniors, and largely as a result of its efforts the Union was taking more interest, catering splendidly for the juniors. Tukapa had played an important part in the establishment of the present system of play in the senior grade, and he appealed to the players to stand behind the union and have the scheme continued. His club was proud to have met the Manakau players, said Mr. Jury, and they wished them luck in the cup final. Mr. O. H. Harvey, Manakau team manager, congratulated Tukapa on the large number present at the club dinner. He congratulated the third grade team on winning the championship. The touring of a club team brought about a spirit of fellowship and stimulated interest. He congratulated Tukapa on its win. The Manakau team was fully representative of the club’s strength, and it had been properly beaten. The club did its best to live up to the best football traditions. It did not poach players, but catered for its juniors. The club had 11 teams and 40 honorary members and many vice-presidents, who displayed an active interest in its activities. It looked to its juniors for thh future. He congratulated the Taranaki union on its provincial scheme, and hoped it would be the forerunner of a similar scheme in- Auckland. ' Mr. S. E. Neilson proposed the toast of the Tukapa Club. Tukapa was one of the strongest, if not the strongest club in Taranaki, and fielded seven or eight teams. The old players such as Mynott brothers, Jack Stohr, “Shaver” Hardgraves and Charlie Brown had built up traditions that the club was proud of, and it was wonderfully refreshing to find the older players sacrificing time building up the junior teams. The club would always under such conditions have a strong senior team. The younger generation displayed a fine sense of loyalty and was standing behind the executive. Tire erection of the gymnasium was a fine effort. It helped to keep the club together, enabled the boys to attain the right spirit and supplied excellent facilities for getting fit. The social side of the club was good. The club had a direct representative on the Union in Mr. Jury, who was not parochial, but took a wide view of matters and worked for the general betterment of the game. He hoped the club would support the provincial scheme. Some clubs had been rather disappointed, and they would oppose the idea. However, he was of the opinion that a continuance of the scheme was in the interest of the game. The winning of the Dan O’Brien Shield , and the third grade provincial championship were not mean efforts, said Mr. Neilson. It was pleasing to see the players backing up the coaches, particularly Mr. C. Stagpoole, who was really one of the bulwarks of the club. Another fine feature of the club was the manner in which it had made provision for the fifth grade players. The Union had long realised that this was a gap that would have to be filled, and although there was no provincial championship a competition had been established in North Taranaki by enthusiasts. The fifth grade team had won the Humphries Shield against Star. He appealed to the players to retain the spirit of the Tukapa Club. The fine gathering present was true evidence of the club spirit that goes to make Rugby the finest game in New Zealand, said Mr. Neilson. TRADITIONS OF THE CLUB. Dr. E. A. Walker, club patron, said it was good to see so many young people carrying on the traditions of the club. It was 37 years since he first saw Tukapa play. In those days, the days of Hardgraves, W. Woods, Mynott brothers and Galloway, the complaint was that Tukapa had the backs but the forwards were so light that they could not stand up to the work. This year the forwards were the finest pack in the history of the club, said Dr. Walker. He hoped the club would redeem its honour by winning the championship next year. The Tukapa Club was associated with clean play, and he was of the opinion that the cleaner the game was kept the better was the standard of play. He congratulated Manakau on its sporting, clean game. He thought the provincial scheme had created a 100 per cent, more interest. The old method meant’ that teams met two or three times a season, and the play naturally degenerated with the result that the public lost interest. The provincial scheme provided a greater variety of games. Dr. Walker urged the club to continue its work with the juniors as this meant the Olub would always possess a good senior team. In proposing the toast of club coaches and old players, Mr. L. referred to the activities of old players and a woman’s committee in raising funds to help the club finances. He referred to the sacrifices made by old players in coaching junior teams. Mr. George Loveridge, in reply, said it was pleasing to see so many old faces. They were there to help and criticise

and advance the club's interests. The coaches were doing good work, and the work of Mr. C. Brown with the seniors was being reflected in all grades. Many of the older players did not realise what Mr. Brown was doing and the sacrifices he made. The juniors should make every endeavour to respond to the coaching of older players. Mr. E. Jackson proposed the toast of the Press.