WANGANUI RUGBY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 83, 8 April 1933, Page 5

WANGANUI RUGBY

SEASON TO OPEN SIX SENIOR TEAMS READY GOOD PLAY ANTICIPATED (By 4 ‘Cross-Bar. ”) I The 1933 Rugby season opens in Wanganui this afternoon. Players and public alike, despite the early start, will look forward to the two matches on Spriggens Park with pleasant anticipation. Three clubs are reported to have stronger teams than they fielded last year—Kaierau, Old Boys and Pirates. It remains to be seen whether reports in this connection prove correct. As stated on Wednesday the best course for a critic to follow at the opening of any season is to discount, by at least half, the reputations of new and wait to sco how they shape in the melting pot —the first round of the Cup, perhaps the first match. Some cuine through very well; others—well they melt. That is what a melting pot is for. isn’t it? This afternoon Pirates and Technical Old Boys are to play in the first match on Spriggens Park. Pirates have high hopes. They claim to have strengthened their lines back and forward and will endeavour to stage a revival of the form that clung to them at- the end of last season. Technical Old Boys, despite many defections from the team of last year, will put a pack in the field that will have to be reckoned with. Apart from that, this team has drawn upon the college to some extent and these boys will be fitter than anybody on the field. This should be an interesting match. But there is no prediction. Marist had a run of lean times last year, but the team is coming into the field again buoyed up with plenty of enthusiasm, particularly because the Spillane Cup tournament is to be played on Easter Saturday and Easter Monday. A good pack of forwards are certain ot be fielded by the greens but the quality of the backs is unknown. As usual, the public will look to Old Boys to produce a good back team. That sems to be a duty that falls on this Club automatically. It has alwaya put a good rearguard out and has high hopes of having one of the best in the field this year. But backs must have a pack, and if Old Boys have had a high reputation as a back team, they have not always had it as regards forwards. In fact, the sides of recent years have been very milk and watery in the van at times. This year, efforts have been made to remedy this defection and everybody is waiting to see how successful they will be. There is no prediction. The melting pot must work first. Out at Katana Kaierau, just the same as they did last year, are to play the natives. Last year’s champions certainly have a strong side. I don’t think anybody doubts that. What Ratana will field nobody knows yet, but if enthusiasm counts for anything the team will be one of the best the Maoris have turned out for some years. The players will make their appearance in royal blue in future. There is no prediction.

WANGANUI UNION’S FINANCE HON. TREASURER’S REPORT ‘ ‘ The 1932 season was a particularly strenuous one from a finance point of view ami the task of steering the Rugby ship through troubled waters has been no light one, but thanks to the cheerful assistance in the way of transport given to our touring teams by a band of enthusiasts, expenditure was kept to a minimum,” stated the annual report of tho honorary treasurer to the Wanganui Rugby Union (Mr. G. H. Pownall), presented to yesterday’s annual meeting. “Our thanks in this respect are due to Messrs. T. Hurley, 11. Harman. H. Hurley, and J. Crowley, who placed the cars at our disposal. “You will note that the income and expenditure account shows a loss of £175 5s 9d for the year. Under the agreement with the Metropolitan Union we paid the rates, £76 Ils 3d, and rent, £7O, on Spriggens Park and the Metropolitan body, in return, received no percentage of the representative match gates. This year it is proposed to pay only half the rates and rent on bpriggens Park and the Metropolitan Union the other half; and this, with rent and rates reduced, should ease the burden very considerably. It is also to be taken into consideration that interest will automa tivally reduce each year as repayments of principal are made. A sum of £I4OO, being the baalnce of the loan of £2500 from the New Zealand Union, was received during the year and £IOSO of this was applied in reducing the mortgages on Atkinson Park. “Our account against the Metropolitan Union at the beginning of the period under review amounted to £1854 l£s lOd. This is made up as follows: —

(i Against this we owe the New Zealand. Union £2500, less £125 repaid last year, leaving the balance to date of £2375, the interest on which is borne by the Metropolitan Union/*

Original loan from this body before 1928 .. .. N.Z. loan to old Wang. R.U. taken over by Met. Union when it was formed, now taken over 400 0 U by this Union Sundry creditors paid on 600 0 0 behalf of Met. Union Met. Union’s excess of expenditure over in863 7 come, 1931 .. .. e e .. 1 7 8 During 1932 this figure has been increased by the payment of mort£1854 14 10 gage reductions .. .. And Met. Union excess of expenditure over in1050 0 0 come, 1932 And the total now stands 76 - 8 at £2980 17 6