The Story of Leamington Rugby

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 6074, 9 July 1947, Page 4

The Story of Leamington Rugby

SUCCESS IN FIRST COMPETITION OF UNION OLD PLAYERS RECALLED In tracing the history of the Leamington Football Club from the time of its formation in 1897 up to the present jubilee year, many names are recalled of men, who as well as being prominent in sport, also played their part in the development of the district. Many of these citizens are active in the community today. Last week the formation of the Cambridge West Football Club (as Leamington was then known) was recorded, together with some of the events up to the year 1903, when the Cambridge Rugby Sub-Union came into being, and an inter-club competition was commenced. The early days of the -sub-union were not without difficulties, according to the old minute books, but it continued its good work in the interests of Rugby, and today has many hundreds of players in all grades under its wise control. Club Teams Formed. With the formation of the subunion, many players who had been members of the Cambridge West Club automatically left to join up with the clubs started in their own districts. In the first senior competition, the teams entered were City, Cambridge West, Maungatautari and Hautapu. Experience stood to Cambridge West and the caps . presented annually for competition were won by this team in the first three successive years. The first two years of the subunion's functioning are not on record, but when the Waikato Independent commenced publication in November 1904 full publicity was.given to Rugby activities. In March, 1905 it was reported that Mr Mervyn Wells presided at the first meeting of-the season, when Hautapu and Maungatautari delegates indicated , that they would not be able to field teams, and as a result, the Suburbs team was formed. Actualy it was as a result of the efforts of several Maungatautari enthusiasts, headed by Mr H. Atkins, that the sub-union came into being. In succeeding years Maungatautari entered its own teams in the competitions again, but there was always some difficulty in securing sufficient players. A Strong Fifteen. In 1905, Cambridge West fielded one of its strongest club fifteens and in the first match of the season beat City by 14 points to 9, after the halftime score had been 3-all. Mr W. R. McVeagh, who was one of the keenest Rugby enthusiasts, and over the years occupied almost every position in the sub-union from secretary to chairman, refereed the match. The Cambridge West team in that game was: — ,

J. Tucker, H. Stichbury, R. Crickett, A. Bell, R. Garland (captain), L. Garland, B. Denton, D. Hickey, E. Bailey, H. Tucker, H. Newcombe, H. Driver, J. Montgomery, B. Veale,. F. Stichbury. Emergencies: J. Bernhardt, B. Stichbury, C. Shaw. The Cambridge West junior team that season was: A. Crickett, G. Simpson, B, Stichbury, A. Cameron, E. Evans, S. King, J. Keeley, D. Cubis, G. Vickers, J. Willoughby, T. Stichbury, J. Chambers, G. Denton, N. Garland and C. Shaw. Emergencies: A. Hill, C. Hill, Crickett and J. Hicks.

At the annual meeting of the Cambridge West Club in 1905, officers were elected as follows: President, Mr Robert Fisher: vice-presidents, Mesrs R. Reynolds, W. Tucker, G. W. Park, H. W. Mackereth, H. J. Green : slade, J. Blackwood, F. W. Thomas, H. Hughes, C. Lockitt, H. Gibbs, E. Veale, F. Higgins, A. Hill, D. Kingdon, J. Collis, D. Stichbury; secretary and treasurer, Mr R. K. Garland; general and selection committee, Messrs H. Newcombe, E. Bailey, J. Montgomery, A. Hill, D. Hickey, B. Denton and R. K. Garland; captain (senior), Mr R. K. Garland; vicecaptain (senior), Mr J. Montgomery, captain (juniors), Mr Bert Stitchbury; vice-captain (juniors), Mr J. Bernhardt.

In 1906, City won the championship, defeating Cambridge West in the final. Two cups were awarded to the successful team, one presented by the president, Mr J. Sinclair, who was licensee of the Masonic Hotel and the other by Messrs Grey and Menzies. City won again in 1907. Players in 190&

In 1908, the senior competition was contested by City, Cambridge West and Ohaupo, the colours registered being: City, amber and black; Cambridge West, blue and white; Ohaupo, black. The competition was won by Ohaupo. For this season, boundaries were fixed, Cambridge West being "bounded on the north by the Waikato River, the Maungatautari Range from Horahora bridge to Mangapiko Trig Station, then on to Mangapiko Bridge, then a straight line to Pukerimu School, then to the Waikato River."

The players registered for Cam-

bridge West in 1908 were: C. Hicks, E. Nickle, B. Allen, W. Allen, H. Atkins, J. Cox, D. Bain, L. Magill, L. Hay, B. Hay, W. Watkins, A. Bell, F. Strawbridge, J. Montgomery, B. Anderson, K. Anderson, J. McPherson, H. Tucker, D. Hickey, J. Keeley, J. Denton, J. Ambury, N. Peake, G. Strawbridge, F. Vosper, F. Hooker, R. Cox, R. Bertelsen, L. Crickett, C. Allen, D. Hicks, J. Tucker, W. Tucker, Joe Keeley, B. Denton, W. Spiers, E. Bailey, P. Ranapia, O. Strawbridge, G. Vosper, A. Bertelsen, C. Bowler, B. Cooper,- O. Hughes, A. Dumper, W. Palmer, C. ffik Cooper, J. Boylen, C. Allen, J. Holbeck, R. Huishi, J. Sullivan, W. Boyland, Mana Ranapia, W. Middleton, J. Boyle, A. Cameron, J. Blunt, J. Paira, Tauwhakaea, P. Charlie, Dick, J. Tupu, W. Reuben, J. Matakohe, P. Tukawaru, J. Motu, H. 'Whauwhau, N. Hyde, H. Gibbs, N, Hyde, H. W. Gibbs, R. Crickett. The year 1909 was a bad one for Cambridge West because at the second meeting of the sub-union management committee, Mr J. Montgomery, the delegate intimated that the blue and whites could not form a club. A Maori team having been formed at Matangi, it was resolved to give them permission to join the Cambridge Sub-Union and the competition was between City, Ohaupo and Matangi, with Ohaupo again successful. Mr H. H. -Speight was chairman of the union's management committee in that year.

Plans for Leamington's 'Jubilee week-end from July 18-20 are welLadvanced. The Auckland Grammar Old Boys' junior fifteen will visit Cambridge. This team leads for the Auckland junior championship, having., been unbeaten to date this season.

All old Leamington players and supporters who hold old trophies, bannei's or souvenirs of significance, are asked to hand these in to Vaile's Shoe Store. They will be on display during the jubilee season and.returned promptly thereafter to respective owners.