FOOTBALL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18831, 20 March 1931, Page 6

FOOTBALL

SOUTH CANTERBURY RUGBY UNION. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report of the South Canterbury Rugby Union for the 1930 season states that the season was opened on April '27th. Contrary to expectations, many of the games in the senior grade lacked “sparkle,” and in consequence the gates suffered. The same spirited competition as in the past obtained in the lower grades, where some really good games eventuated. The number of teams in all grades was 41, as compared with 42 for the previous year. Winners of the various grades were:—Senior, Old Boys; junior, Old Boys; third, Pareora; fourth. Zingari; fifth, Star. The Union desired to place on record its congratulations to the winners of the various grades. During the season visits were received from North Otago, Wanganui, Otago and Canterbury Unions, each being successful in defeating South Canterbury, with the exception of North Otago. Visits were paid to North Otago and Ashburton, as well as to Waimate and Fairlie. A match between a combined Mackenzie and Waimate Team and a Town team was played in Timaru, and was won by the town team after an excellent game. Following is the list of matches played during the season:—v. Wanganui, at Timaru, lost, 8-13; v. North Otago, at Oamaru, drawn, 6-6; v. Ashburton, at Ashburton, lost, 6-11; v. Otago, at Timaru, lost, 16-37; v. North Otago, at Timaru, won, 17-8; v. Canterbury, at Timaru, lost, 8-11; v. Waimate, at Waimate, drawn, 17-17; v. Mackenzie, at Fairlie, won, 32-9; v. Combined Sub-Union, won 17-11.

Three junior representative games were played and resulted as under:—• v. North" Otago, at Oamaru, lost, 6-9; v. Ashburton, at (fimai-u, won, 19-9; v. North Otago, at Timaru, won 3-0. The form shown by the juniors was very pleasing, and many of the players should be heard of in the senior ranks ere long. These games are having a good effect* in fostering the game and are eagerly looked forward to by players and public alike.

The visit of the British Team to New Zealand, which had been looked forward to with so much interest, provided some interesting games throughout the Dominion. A match was played in Timaru on June 28th at the Caledonian Grounds against a combined South Canterbury-North OtagoAshburton Team and resulted in a win for the British team by 16 points to 9, after one of the most exciting games of the tour. Mr. E. Budd, Invercargill, was referee. The visitors were hospitably entertained during their stay in Timaru, and the Union's thanks are recorded to all who in any way assisted. Especial mention must be made of the manner in which the visitors were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. J. F. K. Jamieson, at their homestead at Tycho. The manner in which the crowd and the traffic was handled, both by the police and the traffic officials reflected greatly to their credit, and it was desired to place on record the Union’s thanks for the help so readily given. The attendance was 11.000, and the nett return to the Union was £l4O 6s. 6d.

The Beri Cup was played between teams representing the Temuka and Old Boys Clubs, and resulted in a win for Old Boys by 8 points to 6. At the conclusion of the game the Cup was presented to the winners by Mrs. Beri, after some appropriate remarks had been addressed to the teams by the President of the Union. The Annual Seven-a-side Tournament was held on June 3rd and was again an unqualified success, both from a playing and financial point of view, although the nett profit did not reach last year’s figure. Many splendid games were witnessed in all grades, results:—Senior —Temuka; JuniorOld Boys; Third—Old Boys; Fourth— Temuka; Fifth—Star "A.” In addition to the above a Seven-a-side Tournament for Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade teams was held on August 30th, and although the attendance was small, competition was very keen and well worth the small loss sustained. Following are the results of the games;—Third—Star; Fourth—Temuka; Fifth—Star “A." The game was again well to the fore as the chief winter pastime at the Boys' High School. The Union’s competitions were well supported and the teams in the various grades were well up to the school standard. The annual fixtures were played against the Waitaki High School at Oamaru, the games resulting in a win for the seniors by 13 points to 11; and the junior by 26 points to nil. The senior team also travelled to Christchurch to play its annual game against St. Andrews’ College, the result being a win for Timaru by 19 points to 14 after a splendid game. The School was represented at the annual Secondary Schools’ tournament at Invercargill, and although unsuccessful, nevertheless played splendid football in both games. This year the tournament is to be held in Timaru, and it may confidently be predicted that it will be one of the outstanding features of the coming season. Primary School Football (supplied by the S.C. Schools Sports Association). — Representative games—The usual representative programme was played. Following are results:— v. Ashburton at Timaru, senior won, junior lost; v. Canterbury at Christchurch, won. British match —At the suggestion of the Rugby Union, the Executive undertook the marshalling of school children at the match. Seventeen hundred children who took advantage of the concession offered, viewed the match from excellent positions on the sloping cycling track at the Caledonian Grounds. Country competition—A very successful series of weekly seven-a-side matches was conducted by eight schools of the district from Fairview to Otaio. Although transport proved a stiff obstacle at times, very few matches were missed. Thanks were due for the use of grounds, and for financial aid in fulfilling our representative engagements. Without the substantial assistance so freely and generously given it would be almost impossible for the Association to carry out its winter sports programme. To meet the changing conditions in the schools a fourth grade competition was opened, with a weight limit of 6st., and the senior grade was reduced to 7st 71b During the year Temuka took part in the full series of the senior matches. The competitions resulted Senior grade South Canterbury championship banner —Temuka; Home Cup (leading town team) —West; junior cup—West; third grade—Marist Brothers; fourth grade—South. The annual seven-a-side tournament was held on 26th July, . being the most successful yet conducted by the Association, a total of 67 entries being received, an increase of 8 over the previous beet year, 1924. ' The final winners were;—Senior—Wai- ! mataitai; junior—Pleasant Point; ' third grade —High School; fourth grade —Marist; bantam—Marist; country ‘ section —Orari, The Association was 1 represented on the Management Committee by Mr A. B. Rowlands. : One of the contributing causes in > the diminution of attendances was undeniably due to the broadcasting of

matches played against the British team. Unions would require to take suitable action in this connection if the interests of the game have to be safeguarded. The game continued to be fostered in both the Waimate and Mackenzie SubUnion districts, and thanks were due to enthusiasts who devoted so much time to furthering the game in these districts. The representative team again included a number of Sub-Union players, who fully justified their inclusion. In addition to playing the usual games at Fairlie an’d Waimate, a match was played in Timaru against a combined Sub-Union team and resulted, after an excellent game, in a win for the town team by 17 points to 11. The games played against the Sub-Unions resulted: v. Waimate at Waimate, drawn 17-17; v. Mackenzie at Fairlie, won 32-9.

The Committee expressed appreciation of the splendid work of the South Canterbury Referees’ Association. Clubs were urged to prevail upon retiring players, and other enthusiasts to join the Association, where their services would be welcomed and availed of. The Association was represented on the Management Committee by Mr G. F. Doyle.

Very little additional" work was done at Fraser Park during the year. Botn playing areas were in splendid condition, and should be in good order for the opening of the season. A sum of £36 was spent in top-dressing the No. 2 ground. The Park was leased to the South Canterbury Cricket Association for the summer, no rent being charged, this being offset by the Association undertaking to keep the grounds and buildings in good order. An agreement had been entered into for the use of School Park, at a yearly rental of £SO. and this ground had provided much needed permanent relief to the Union. Being so central, it was j also greatly appreciated by the lower j grade teams;. The report goes on to state that the Union's lease of the Caledonian Ground expired on September 30th, 1930, and the Union will have to consider the question of securing the ground for future use. The members of the Permit Committee, Messrs W. A. dimming, Hugh Fraser and F. King, in addition to carrying out their usual duties were constituted a special committee to report on the advisability of reorganising the lower grade competitions. Valuable data was collected and a report submitted to the Union. A pleasing and unexpected feature of the year had been the financial result. Although receipts had decreased over £4OO in comparison with last season, the Union had come through a lean period with very small loss of £lO/7/4. No allowance had been made for depreciation on buildings, etc., as the Committee considered that improvements were at present standing at a reasonble figure. As the season was a very interrupted one this result must be deemed to be very satisfactory. With the longer incoming season it was to be expected that the position at the close of the season would show very considerable improvement, and this could be assured by a continuance of the present prudent policy, consistent with the proper fostering of the game. While the whole of the interest due, on loans had been paid, repayment of the loan to the N.Z.R.U. by yearly instalments of £l5O had not been possible so far. During the year visits were paid to Fairlie, Pleasant Point and Temuki, | and conferences held with the officials, I much good results therefrom. Thanks were due to the members of i the St. John Ambulance Brigade who, j during the season, rendered such prompt and valuable assistance to injured players; to the police for their courtesy and attention on all occasions; to the Press for their generous assistance in the interests of the game at all times; to the members of the medical profession for their ever ready assistance; to Mr D. N. Harper for his much appreciated help in connection with the use of the town’s reserves; to club secretaries, coaches and officials who again gave valuable assistance. The Committee also desired to express thanks to the selectors (Dr. W. R. Fea and Messrs J. Wilson and D. Hertnon) for the great amount of work carried ’ out by them during the season; also to the junior selectors (Messrs A. Underhill, J. Roberts and W. Wakefield) for their services, which were greatly | appreciated. Thanks were also due to the masters of the Primary and Secondary Schools for their continued interest and support and time given in coaching; to the president for the use of his office for meetings; and to the public for their support and encouragement of the game. So far as the outlook for the coming season was concerned, the Committee could see no reason why the interest in the game should not be fully maintained, and with the continued support of the public and players it was felt the incoming committee could confidently look forward to a successful season.