FOOTBALL

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20038, 23 March 1914, Page 3

FOOTBALL

WANGANUI RUGBY UNION. ANNUAL REPORT SEASON 1913-14. Following is the annual report, to be >resented at the Annual General Meetng of delegates of the W.R.F.U., to be leld on Monday. March 30th, at 7.30 >.iii. at the rooms of Messrs Dusthi's, Ad. Your Committee has pleasure in heing tblo t9 report that the past season showsd -a decided improvement on the previous so far as results are concerned. The Cup Matches were well contested md the Representative Team was more uccessful than for several seasons past, n tho early matches the team did not how to great advantage, being defeat■d by Rangitikei, but it improved great" yas the season advanced. The defeat if the touring Australian team by 11 to I. on September 3rd, was a. performance if sterling worth, and one that we all elt justly proud of. On this occasion or the first time- in years the team as iriginally chose?! took the field. Hard raining and good coaching by Mr Petsits, were resnonsibile for the excellent ■esult. At the end of the season the earn went on toxir, defeating Wellingnn and Manawatu and losing to Wai■arapa. During the season we lost to faranaki twice, also to Rangitikei and Wairarapa, while our wins included Australia, M>anawatu (twice). Awarua, md Wairoa. A match between our " h .earn and Taranaki "B" resulted in ;. ' v\u for our representatives after a good ;auit:. 'Wairoa Sub-Union. —The formation oF ihJs Union became an established fact, md a most successful season resulted i.. that district. Cup Matches. —The re-entry of the School team into senior football was a pleasing feature. The Senior Cup was won by Pirates. Kaierau winning the Junior, Pirates the Third Class, and Wanganui the Fourth Class. All teams are to be congratulated on their well-deserved successes. The Cups and Shields were presented to the various captains at the Garrison Band Bazaar. Champion Team of the Union.—Mr McKee presented a Cup for this contest, which was to have embraced any of the Club teams in the Union and its subOnions which cared to enter. Unfortunately none of the country teams could compete as their cup contests were not finished and the result was a local competition which the Kaierau Club won. School Football.—The thanks of the Union are due to the members of the Schools Union who devoted much valuable time to the furtherance of Rugby in the schools. The N.Z. Union also helped the cause along with a valuable donation. The hand of death has fallen heavily since the conclusion of the playing season. The loss of Reginald Faber is so fresh in our memories that it still seems impossible to realise that his well-known figure will never again appear on our playing fields. As captain of his Club team his influence was all for good, and his cheerful optimism both on and off the field will be sorely missed by all. Mr. Selby Morton, one of our early Treasurers. passed away after a short illness during the summer. The good work ilqno-by him during his tenure of office - will be well remembered by those wTio worked "with him. The death of Mrs W. S. Dustin, wife *of one of our-Vice-Pre-sidents, and .mother, ■pf .several of bur leading players', removed from our midst one who was a true friend ,to-many of us, and one whose goocl influence amongst many footballers will long, be felt: We also have to sympathise with Dur President in the loss of his grandchild, whose life was cut off almost on the threshold. Finance.—This is the most unsatisfactory part of our work. The upkeep of bho grounds, repairs to buildings, country players' expenses and representative travelling combine to keep us in a continual state of financial strain. The Committee hopes that some scheme for raising money will be carried out in the near TufEure and trusts that players win do all in their power to further this object as soon as a suitable plan is settled on * Looking to the future, we confidently hope that the game will go ahead in our district. Now that Rugby has revived in Rangitikei that part of our domain should soon again be able to furnish us with fts quota of good players. The good showing of our team towards the end of last season causes us to cast covetous eyes in T;Tie direction of the Ranfurly Shield, which now reposes in the possession of our old friends and neighbours, Taranaki, to whom we extend our congratulations on its capture-. In conclusion;, the Committee wishes to thank all those who gave their services forhe good of Rugby. The Referees and the Press in particular must be mentioned in this connection. For the Committee, Q. H. POWNALL, Hon. Sec. W.F.R.U. APPOINTMENT OF REFEREES. At the Annual Meeting of the Wanganui Rugby Union the following Notice-of-Motion will be moved by the Rev. W. B. Scott:— 1. In view at the dissatisfaction at tho- present method of appointing referees for Club Matches, it is resolved that an Appointment Board be set up to consist of the following membeis: (a) Each Senior Club shall have the right to appoint one member to the Board. £b). The Rugby Union shall appoint one member to the Board to represent the interests of the Union. ' (c). The Referees' Association shall appoint two members, of which one shall be the President of the Referees' Assn. ex-officio and tho other shall be appointed by the Assn. 2. The President of the Referees' Association shall be Chairman of the Appointment Board. (b) The Board will elect its own Secretary^ (c) The Board will elect an Executive Committee to deal with emergencies that may arise in connection with appointments and other urgent matters. 3. The Appointment Board shall meet at least once a month to make appointments for all matches during the succeeding month. 4. The decision of the Appointment Board Avith regard to appointments shall be final. 5. All applications, etc., with regard to referees shall be put in writing and handed to the Secretary of the Board, so that they may be dealb with at the ordinary meeting of the Board. 6. Three shall form a quorum for the transaction of business. (The above, if carried, will cancel the rule now in force, which is generally known as " the mutual agreement " rule.}