“TRYING SEASON”

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1935, Page 15 (Supplement)

“TRYING SEASON”

URENUI FOOTBALL CLUB. TWO TEAMS TOOK FIELD. The annual meeting of the Urenui Rugby Football Club was held on Thursday night. Mr. W. Scott presided over an attendance of about 30. The club had had a trying year, stated the report, but two fifteens had been fielded. The first junior team at one stage appeared likely to win the northern division competition, but at the end of the season, owing to injuries to players, lost ground. The third grade team was disappointing. Notwithstanding that 75 per cent, cr the travelling expenses were paid there were only four financial members, and there was often a difficulty in fielding a full team. J. Rattenbury deserved the club’s congratulations for his efforts as captain to keep the third grade team together. Drawing on players by the Clifton Club again caused a good deal of trouble, but a satisfactory understanding was arrived at when the matter was brought up at a Taranaki Rugby Union meeting. The balance-sheet showed that the club’s finances were maintained during the year, the credit being much the same. Receipts were £l7 6s 8d and expenditure included travelling expenses £4 2s and oranges £2 ss. The chairman, commenting on the report, uie club on the manner in which it played the game during the season. The third grade players were to be particularly congratulated on their continued interest, despite the fact that they had not won a match. Only on one occasion had they failed to field a full team. The travelling subsidy to the team might seem heavy, but none of the boys received high wages. The secretary,, Mr. N. R. Simmonsen, stated that the only way in which the third grade had not been satisfactory was in subscriptions. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr. P. S. Elliott; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. T. Wright, W. Fuller, L. Rattenbury; secretary, Mr. E. Elliott; committee, Messrs. A. Chard, N. Dempster, V. Tippett, R. Wiley and G. Smith; 'club captain, Mr. F. Wallace; selectors and coaches, Messrs. N. Dempster (junr.) and W. Scott and L. Rattenbury (third) and the team captains; delegate to Taranaki Rugby Union, Mr. G. Smith; social committee, Messrs. A. Chard, N. (Dempster, Mclntyre, G. Fuller, N. Mabee, C. Henwood, F. Wallace, P. Page, R. Fraser, J. Rattenbury, G. Smith, M. Rogers. New members elected were: I. Quinn, G. Franklin, W. Woolier, W. Thompson, D. Tamaki, S. Raumati, J. Baker, R. Northcott, H. Marsh, D. and R. Mona, J. Donald, D. Dunlop, G. Shing, M. Bramald, R. Rattenbury, S. Lawrence, L. Jones. Subscriptions were fixed at 2s 6d for playing members and 5s for honorary members. The secretary was instructed to apply to the Domain Board for the use of the grounds at Urenui on Saturdays. It was decided that passes for matches should be issued to not more than 18 players and the manager in each team! MessrsH. Willison and R. Gillespie were appointed gatekeepers The club’s opening day will be held on March 31. The social committee was recommended to hold fortnightly card evenings and a dance early in the season. Messrs. G. Fuller and E. Elliott were appointed trustees. The retiring secretary, Mr. N. R. Simmonsen, was thanked for his services to the club.