RUGBY YEAR

Wairarapa Age, 7 March 1935, Page 3

RUGBY YEAR

•' (Continued from page 5.)i “To endeavour to create interest in the senior competition your Committeo instituted A and B sections after the completion of the first round, but the desired effect did not materialise. It was then decided to conclude the championship and play a series of Redmond Cup fixtures. The committee has given its earnest consideration to the question of improvement of the standard of football in the district, and for the coming season delegates will have an opportunity at the annual meeting of discusring this matter, and also the advisability or otherwise of having only two senior teams in Masterton. May we suggest to affiliated clubs to give this matter their utmost consideration, and that an advancement will be made in the 1935 season. Finance. “No improvement in the finances of £he Union was made during last year, the result on the year’s working being a loss of £94 5» lid. To enable the Union to meet its obligations, it was Miecessary to obtain a temporary loan of £2OO from the New Zealand Rugby Union. The result of the year’s operations should be considered satisfactory. Economies have been effected wherever possible, and it will be necessary for the incoming committee to keep expenses down to the lowest possible amount. Accident Insurance. “Members’ premiums and receipts from matches show an increase over last year. Claims paid are approximately the same as those paid last season. The accounts show a credit balance of £4O Ils 2d, which your Committee recommends to be carried for ward as an offset for future losses. Storm Damage. ‘ ‘ The repairing of the damage to the grandstand at Memorial Park by the storm on 'October 1 last is under consideration by your committee. The New Zealand Rugby Union has agreed to

grant a loan up to £5OO (subject to certain conditions) for this work, and our thanks are accorded the New Zealand &ugby Union for their generous assistance. Our thanks are also due to the Masterton Trust Lands Trust for their grant of £3O towards the salvage of the damaged grandstand. Club Saturday. - “Your committee regrets that the finance of the Union would not allow an allocation for Club Saturday for the past year, and we trust that clubs will appreciate the position. Championship Games. “The following is the list of Championships for the 1934 season, viz:— Senior: Ryan Cup, Carterton. Junior: Balfour Cup, Carterton. Third: Cooper {Shield, Wairarapa High School. I Fourth: Darvill Cup, Wairarapa High School. Senior 7-aside: Carterton. Junior 7-aside: Wairarapa High School. Redmond Cup: Carterton. Pearson Cup: Masterton. Dewar Shield: Carterton. The Fifth and Sixth Grade competitions were not held owing to insufficient nominations. Representative Games. “The representative programme arranged for the senior representatives to travel had to be abandoned owing to lack of funds, but two special matches

were played with Auckland and Canterbury. These were made possible by the Auckland Rugby Union advancing £lOO Ito be repaid when the visit is returned) and the Canterbury Rugby Union making a grant of £9O for a special match. Our thanks to the Auckland

and Canterbury Rugby Unions have been recorded. The performances of our representative teams were very creditable. Senior: v. Hawke’s Bay, at Napier, lost; v. Hawke’s Bay, at Carterton, lost; v. Bush, at Carterton, lost; v. Bush, at Eketahuna, lost; v. Wellington, at Masterton, won; v. Manawatu, at Feilding, lost; v. Manawatu, at Masterton, won; v. Auckland, at Auckland, draw; v. Canterbury, at Christchurch, lost. Junior: v. Hawke’s Bay, at Masterton, lost; v. Hawke’s Bay, at Napier, lost; v. Bush, at Eketahuna, lost; v. Wellington, at Wellington, lost. Points: Senior, 114 for; 159 against. Junior, 22 for; 66 against. . . . “Our thanks are due to the supporters of the game who assisted with the matches with Bush at Eketahuna and Wellington at Wellington. Congratulations are extended to the following players on their selection as under, viz:—Fraser Smith and K. Reid, trial game, Wanganui (owing to injury Reid did not make the trip). Fraser Smith and C. Stringfellow, the rest of New Zealand versus New Zealand at Wellington. Fraser Smith, C. Stringfellow and R. Nunn, North Island team (owing to injury Smith could not play). Stringfellow had the honour of captaining the team.’’ After detailing the attendances at committee meetings the report states: —The illness of Mr. McKenzie necessitated his being absent from committee meetings, and we are pleased to see him now in the best of health. Mr. Thorpe, for business and private reasons, resigned his seat on the committee. The vacancy was not filled. Our thanks have been recorded for' the services rendered to the Union by Mr. Thorpe. Referees’ Association. “We are greatly indebted to the referees for their services every Saturday. The Referees’ Appointment Board functioned quite satisfactorily for its first year, and the coming year will no doubt see an improvement. junior Advisory Board. “The services of the members of the board in supervising the lower grade football is greatly appreciated. During the year a special meeting of delegates was held to consider matters affecting the board, but no finality was reached, it being left to a conference between the board and the Management Committee. Obituary. “It is with deep regret we have to record the death of Mr. F. E. Tyler and Mr. Whaana Himona, supporters of the

game; Mr. H. R. Stunell, a past member of the Management Committee; and Mr. R. J. Southgate, a life member. and a past member and Chairman of the Management Committee. The Union’s sympathy has been extended to the bereaved families. Jubilee. “Our congratulations are extended to the Red Star Football Club on attaining it? Jubilee in 1935. It should also be noted that the Jubilee of the Wairarapa Rugby Union will take place in 1936. Thanks. “Our thanks are due to the St. John Ambulance Association and the gentlemen in the Lower Valley for first aid services rendered on the various grounds; to our honourary solicitor, Mr. G. Wilson; to those who assisted the Union with, donations; to the honorary gate-keepers at the Gladstone ground; to club secretaries and coaches; and to the Press for publicity given to the Rugby game. For the Committee, (Sgnd.) W. G. Lamb, Chairman.”