RUGBY FOOTBALL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 61, 13 March 1942, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WANGANUI UNION’S ANNUAL REPORT REVIEW OF PAST SEASON “In spite of the many calls by the military services the city clubs managed to stand the heavy strain imposed on the personnel of teams, and the senior championship was contested by six teams.” states the fiftyfourth report of the Wanganui Rugby Union to be presented at the annual meeting to be held on April 9. “A decided acquisition to the competition ” continues the report, “was the entry of an Army team from tne Racecourse Camp. Although this team won only two games it played consistently good football and many another team was lucky to escape a defeat at its hands. The Senior Championship was won by Technical Old Bovs for the first time since 1931. This championship was in doubt until the final game. Kaierau being runners-up. Pirates won the Senior B (Junior) Championship. Collegiate School “A” the Third grade. Pirates the Fourth grade. Collegiate School “A” the Fifth grade and Collegiate School “A” the Sixth grade Wanganui East School had the honour of winning the Midget. Competition. The Challenge trophies were won as follows: Senior: Charity Cup. Technical Old Boys. Bijou Seven-a-side. -Pirates. Licensed Victuallers’ Cup. Technical Old Boys. Junior:— Wilson Cup. Pirates. Thirds.— Maori land Cup.—Kaierau. Fifths.— Woolworth’s Challenge Cup. Technical College “A” and Collegiate School “A.” Best All-round Club.—Weekes Cup, Technical College. Gordon Thompson Memorial Cup.— Army Team. The winners of the R,angitikei Union’s Club competitions were as follows: - Senior Championship. -Hunterville. Raymond Cup.—Hunterville. Junior Championship. -Bulls and Marton Old Boys. Bengali Cup. -Marton Old Boys. Represen tati ve Fi xhi res. Last season was a lean one in respect to representative fixtures and many difficulties had to be overcome. The annual home-and-home matches with Taranaki and Manawatu were played as usual and the Union was fortunate in being able to arrange fixtures with Wairarapa and Ruapehu. It is interesting to recall here the incident in the return match with Manawatu at Palmerston North whereby mistaken identity cost the Wanganui team the game. The match was played in a sea of mud and a force-down by E. V. Beiliss was mistaken for a try by a Manawatu player. The following were the results ol various representative matches.— Played 6. won 2, drawn 1. lost 3. Points for 61, against 53. June 2nd, v. Taranaki, lost 15- 19. June 21, v. Manawatu, won 11—4. July 21. v Manawatu at Palmerston North, lost 3—B. August 2nd, \. Wairarapa, won 21—3. August 9th, v Taranaki at New Plymouth, lost 3—ll. August 23rd, v. Ruapehu, drawn B—B. The following players qualified for representative badges:- -T. McCashin <6). R. Rouxel <6), T. Cairncross (6). B. Goldsbury (6), W. E. H. Auld (5). E. V. Bellas <5). E. .•. Barrs (5), \v'. Firmin (5). A. Martin (4). M. Dickie (4), R. Bruce (4), W. James (4), J. Whale (4‘, W. Lucy (4). Junior Management Board. - Although it took some little time for lhe junior grades to settle down the Junior Management Board continued to function successfully under the chairmanship of Mr. T. Latham. The Union appreciates the co-operation of the Secondary Schools in the lower grades but it was regretted that only three teams entered the fourth grade competition. An interesting feature was the reintroduction of Midget games for boys under 11 years of age. These games were keenl.y contested and appreciated by Rugby followers. Representative fixtures were arranged for the Senior B and Third grade teams. Finance. After taking into consideration all the ditiiculties experienced during the season, the statement of accounts show a very satisfactory position. The Management Committee made ever., effort to keep expenses down to minimum and after writing £215 oil the Spriggens Park Leasehold the Income and Expenditure Account shows a small loss of £6 5s Id. Atkinson Park was again responsible for this lossSpriggens Park showing an excess ol income over e.xpenditure of £8 9s 6d. A principal repayment of £lB5 was also paid to the N.Z. Rugby Football Union. The Army authorities vacated Spriggens Park before the commencement of the season and the ground was in good condition throughout the winter. Although the Army occupied tiie Racecourse satisfactory arrangements were made whereby the Union had the use of the playing fields. Both Spriggens Park and the Racecourse are again occupied and it is not known at present if the grounds will be available for the coming season. Once again it is this Union’s pleasure to congratulate the Primary Schools' representatives on winning the 1941 quadrangular tournament which was held in Wanganui. Wanganui and district players continue to be mentioned in teams playing in Great Britain and Egypt. Enlistments created big gaps in our senior ranks last, season but the Union will be faced with a problem of magnitude in its endeavour to carry on during the coming season. Many of our players are now prisoners of war and we offer our heartfelt sympati y to those relatives whose dear ones have made the Supreme Sacrifice. It is with deep regret we record the death of Mr. R. C. S. McKenzie who was a life member, and a oast-presi-dent of the Union. Mr. McKenzie had given many years of valuable service to Rugby, particularly in the Rangitikei district. The Union's thanks are extended to the Referees’ Association for their valuable assistance and co-operation throughout the season, to the St. John .Ambulance Association for their ever ready assistance at all matches and to the Press for their generous publication of Rugby matters.