WANGANUI RUGBY UNION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13338, 29 March 1911, Page 7

WANGANUI RUGBY UNION.

ANNUAL REPORT, 1910-11.

The following is the report to he pre sented at the annual meeting of the Wanganui Rugby union, to be held at Dustin’s Rooms at 8 o’clock on Thursday evening, March ,30th, 1911: 'FINANCE:—The season 1910-1911 commenced with a bank and cash credit of £l4 11s Id, 'with outstanding accounts (including , honorariums) of £9B fia Id, and the finish of a very successful season financially shows the hank account" in (kbit to the extent of £lO 4s sd, after transferring amount of insurance fund to a separata account, and outstanding accounts totalling £67 5a !?d. Burins' the year an amount of .£75 was paid off the loan account, and our contingent liabilities to Wellington and Taranaki Unions, amounting to £62 0s 2d, were discharged. Our Cup match receipts totalled £ll6 15s, a decrease on the previous season of £57 14s, wdiilst our rep. matches accounted for the sum of £259 0s 7d, against £217 15s 2d in 1909, notwithstanding that the matches with Wairarapa and Wellington were played under miserable weather conditions, which greatly affected the attendance, The rep tours undertaken were responsible for an expenditure of £B4 19s 7d, an increase on the previous year of £2O 3s Id, so that upon careful analysis our financial position is a vastly improved one.

REP. MATCHES.-'-During the season -opresentative matches were played against Taranaki (2), Wellington, Awarna, Ruapehu, Wairarapa, Ilawkc’s Bay. and Mauawatu (2), and what was undoubtedly ‘he most important of all, a match against ho touring American Universities’ team This game, which was played on Cook’s Jardcns before a large crowd of specta ore, was somewhat marred bv the mi pm , litious weather conditions which prevail-' ed. Nevertheless, an insight into tlm narvellous rapidity with which ourAincrian visitors had adapted themselves to the arac was witnessed by the spectators. In nir other rep. matches we were not very mccessfnl. the. continual changes in the '.earn through various causes being alto 'ether detrimental to combined play. SENIOR CUP CONTEST.—Four teams, ncluding the newly-affiliated Eastern ’lub, entered for this competition. After iome keen contests the Pirate Club once igain carried off the chamnionship for 910.' -

JUNIOR CUP.—Five teams were on •■aged in the Junior contest, and the trugglo for supremacy between College, Pirates, and , Wanganui teams was easily he closest seen for many years in junior qotball. The standard of play was very ligh, and augurs well for senior-football ••his' coming season. Pirates ultimately se■ured premier honours. THIRD CLASS COMPETITION.-Four ■earns contested the premiership in this Trade, hut the Pirate team proved alto'cthcr too good for their opponents. FOURTH' CLASS (President’s Compcti'oni ~-In this grade the Kaieran team arried all before them, and won the com•et't'on with an unbeaten record.

REFEREES’, ASSOCIATION.—In all 'iateh.es referees were appointed by the ical branch of the New Zealand Referees' Association. As several of our prominent •oferees are retiring from active refcrcoug, it is to be hoped that players who lave finished playing will devote their turdav afternoons to the furthering of he good old Rugby game. Without keen md capable referees football will not con■iniie to keep its hold on the public.' PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ FOOTBALL The keen interest displayed by the local schools in the competitions controlled by ’he Primary Schools’ Union was again ui evidence last season. Numerous matches with outside schools were plavcd, and his encouragement of Rugby football by he teachers of our sehols must inevitably •eave its mark when the boys leave school. Ve cannot imagine a more effective setback to professional- sport than the en-‘-ouragomeut-of our ..national game among :he schoolboys- The usual grant was redyed from the New Zealand Union, and istributed in the shape, of footballs and monetary grants among the schools in. our “strict.

ACCIDENT INSURANCE SCHEME.liter years of considering ways and means or this very necessary matter, yonr comuitteo set up a sub-committee during the reason to draft a sclicmc. The scheme which the committee supplied was adopt'd and immediately put into force by the Management Committee. While it is not on such an extensive scale as your committee desired, still in tire light of other Onions’ costly experiments it was deemed idvisable to start in a small way and hen, benefiting by the experience gained, increase the benefits of ,ho scheme if iananecs would allow. Yu nr committee trust ihat footballers will give the scheme their hearty approval and confirmation at the annual meeting. GENERAL.—The North Island selectors lelected W. Dustin as an emergency for he North -sland team during the season, nd though we should have preferred to •:cc him included in the team, still it is roped that is only a matter of time. Tim lanagemont Committee met on 12 occasions during the season, the attendance if members being:— G. Spriggeus 10. G. I. Simnson 11, U E'. Bassett IT, Dr. Wall i, A. Gray 10, B. Ashcroft 11, L. Purrie 9, W. Bellvo 11. G Reynolds 5, L. Crain' Jo, R. Dunkloy 12. Mr Dove kindly placed tire College grounds at our disposal for the season, a courtesy which is deserving 0 { great thanks from footballers. A satisfactory feature of the season’s football is that not one case of ordering off came up before the committee—surely a record for any footballers to be proud of. The thanks of the committee arc due to MiHall for so kindly placing his rooms at the committee's disposal, and to Dr. Wall for services rendered to injured players. GROUNDS.—During the off-season the grounds' have been "top-dressed and returfed in several places, and should be m good order for playing.