FOOTBALL

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14049, 30 April 1919, Page 9

FOOTBALL

THE RUGBY PASTIME. UNION’S ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Hamilton Rugby Union was held in the Baths Buildings last evening. Mr J. Varney (president) was in the chair, and there was an attendance of close on -40 enthusiasts. Annual Report. The committee, in its annual report, stated: —Your committee have pleasure in presenting the report and bal-ance-sheet for the 11)18 season. The season was a most successful one, and did much to improve and foster the Rugby game in the district. Competitions were mostly confined to players under 21, as in previous years, and some very close and exciting contests were witnessed. The adoption of the new rules introduced by the Auckland Union proved a success, and this committee hope that the game will, this coming season, he played unjler the revised rules. During the year the union secured affiliation to the Auckland Union. The senior contest (under 21) was won by the City Club, the same club winning both competitions held in the junior grade. The Clarke Gup contest was played under open conditions, Old Boys’ Club being returned the winners. Frankton Club won an open competition held. Home matches were played with the following teams: College Rifles, Grammar School, Grammar School Old Boys, and Marist Bros. With the pronounced policy of promoting and fostering football in the Waikato and surrounding counties, teams were sent to the following places:—Taumarunui, Te Aroha, Te Kuiti. Morrinsville, Te Awamutu (2), and Cambridge. The committee think these visits did much good to revive interest in football in the centres visited. A successful seven aside and sports meeting was held during the year. ; u

The committee records with pleasure the interest taken in schoolboy matches, and congratulates the teachers on the vitality of their association. Our thanks are due to the Referees’ Association' for excellent services rendered during the year. In all, 138 games were played under the management of the union, and in each game the referee officiating was the appointee of the Association. The committee also desire to thank Messrs Trigg, Menzies, and Hughes for services rendered, also the Domain Board and the press for them aid.

It is with deep regret we record the death of two football enthusiasts — Messrs Newdick and McCarthy. Mr Newdick had been a member of the union for many years, and did much for football as a player, referee and later as the union’s sole selector. Mr. McCarthy was also an enthusiast, and was chairman of the 1916 committee. The prospects for the coming season are very bright; indeed, we fear that the playing areas will be insufficient for requirmeents. Receipts for the year total £154, and outgoings £153. The annual report and balancesheet were adopted on the motion of the president, seconded by Mr M. J. Carroll. Office-bearers. The following officers were elected: Patron, Mr T. Clarkin (re-elected) ; president, Mr J. Varney (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs F. Jones and G. Hamilton; delegates, Messrs B. Yeitch, P. Buckingham and J. Hooper (City) , G. H. Matthews, J. Clarke and R Harris (Frankton), W. E. Waters, J. McKnight and J. Gwynne (St. Mary’s), J. Qualtrough (High School), Colin Speight, T. P. Walshe aind L. W. W. Brown (Old Boys), T. H. Patterson and F. W. Killlp (Referees’ Association. General Business. It was a recommendation by Mr M. J. Carroll to the management committee that the open football competitions be again reinstated and a further recommendation that the inconpng corninfittee relinquish playing the competitions under the amended rules, adopted last year. A lengthy discussion took place on these two points. Mr Colin Speight brought up he question of the insurance of players and the consensus of opinion was that the scheme should be introduced. It was referred to the management committee to consider. Peeling reference was made by the president to the deaths of Messrs A. Newdick and M. McCarthy, and the meeting stood as a mark of respect to their memory. The secretary reported that letters of condolence had been sent to the relatives of the deceased.

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. THREE GRADES DECIDED ON. At a meeting of the Management Committee, held subsequently Mr. L. W. W. Brown was re-elected honorary secretary and Mr. J. Qualtrough was re-elected as honorary treasurer. Mr. Speight intimated that owing to family and business reasons he would he unable to accept nomination for the position as chairman of the Management Committee. Delegates regreted that sbeh was the case. Mr. Speight intimated that he would accept the position until next meeting night, on which occasion a successor could be appointed. The delegates adopted this line of action. Opening day was fixed for Saturday, May 17, nomination of clubs and teams and registrations of players to close on May 12th. It was decided to play three grades, viz.. Seniors, Juniors and Third grade. Mr. Speight intimated hat he had guaranteed a minimum of £lO to the Domain Board on the Union’s behalf for the use of playing grounds. This sum was to he in addition to the usual percentage deducted when _ a special charge was made for admission to matches.—The action was endorsed by the meeting. , , A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs Patterson, Matthews, Walshe and the secretary was set up to inyestigate the position in regard to playing areas, and renort to next meeting. The City Club’s application for. the use cf Steele Park to pin;, their annual game with the Farmers’ Co-operative Aurt.oneering Co.’s team on Saturday next, and St. Mary’s Club’s application fer the use of Scddon Park area for the same date were granted. A suh-committee, comprising Messrs Partvrson, Walshe and Colin Speight was set u pto draft an insurance s?ll »me and report to next meeting. It was resolved to hold the Man'nrrem°nt Committee meetings on Tuesday in tael, week the first to he held on Mav C. On this occasion the recommendations from the anrfial meeting ho dubussed. JOTTINGS. (By “ Drop-ldck.”) Now that the annual meeting of the Rugby Union is over, matters will soon he in train for commencing the local Rncrby season. Acouple of non-com-petitive games are to come off at t ie week-end, when a better opportunity will he afforded of viewing the first of the season’s material. . During the week word was received, from soldier-footballer W. Devine who captained St. Mary’s team dining 19 - If he gets hack in time for the new season Devine will he of great assist-

ance to the forward division of the green and whites. Norman Hamilton, who was a useful member of the Frankton F. o', ball Club’s senior vangua.d in pro nai days, returned to this by a ree'ent transport after over three years on active service. He is looking forward to donning the jersey once again. Football is taking a new lease of life in all centres this season, and many of the pre-war exponents of Rugby are returning to the field. In addition to the games in the Hamilton competitions, indications point to clubs being active at Te Awamutu, Cambridge and Morrinsville of our nearby neighbours. Footballers and athcltic followers generally will regret to hear of the ueath of MrT Archibald McMinn. Deceased was one of the best known footballers in the North Island, and on one occasion toured Australia with a New Zealand representative team. He was engaged in newspaper work in Manawatu and Dannevirke for some years, but latterly had been in failing health. The Old Boys’ senior team promises to be light, but from what we can gather at the moment it will be a pretty “nippy” combination. Gasparich, an Auckland representative forward, will be found in Old Boys' ranks for the cpming Rugby season. The wealth of his inclusion is acknowledged. A. Cranston, a useful five-eighth of St. Mary’s a few seasons back, reached his home at Matangi last week-end after a very- long period of active service. Maybe hew ill be seen among the ranks of Rugby-ites during the coming season. It is anticipated that there will be ten teams in the Auckland senior competition this year. University, College Rifles. Grammar Old Boys, Grafton, Ponsonby and Marist Old Briys are all strongly represented, while Parnell, Newton, City and North Shore anticipated entering senior teams. CRICKET. (By “Goverpoint.") Saturday’s game against Tuhlkaramea brought the local cricket season to a close. It has proved an interesting season, in which much good work was shown with both bat and ball by representatives of the various clubs. With the war cloud off the horizon, the coming days should mean much for the advancement of cricket, in keeping with the anticipated progress of all other branches of sport throughout the community. Jack Pomeroy closed his batting average in a businesslike way on Saturday, when he soundly trounced the Tuhikaramea bowling to the tune of 128 (retired). The bowling was not of difficult order, but Pomeroy batted up to his best standard. Of 19 fours in his score, he knocked up nine in succession and then lifted a ball for a sixer and a brace just immediately preceding his retirement. The country batsmen, with the single exception of Griffith, could make little or no progress against the bowling of Loveridge and Blamires. Lovcridge’s figures of five wickets for s ! x runs indicate the accuracy of his attack, while Blamires accounted for the other equal portion of the team for a total of 26 runs. Everyone will be sorry to hear that Captain Pelham Warner is practically closing his cricket book as far as the more important games are concerned, though he may play sometimes at Lord’s, and will retain the lead of his county. Probably there is no cricketer in the' world quite so universally popular as Captain Warner. Cricketers have their strong likes and dislikes anong their fellows, but one has never met-a cricketer who had anything hut praise for the best of sportsmen and the most charmingly unaffected of men.