Our Sportqs Summary

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 13, 8 April 1925, Page 41

Our Sportqs Summary

'J 1 M. 8.0.8. Rugby Football Club, Auckland ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Rugby Football Club was held in the Vermont Street School the other Monday evening. About 70 members attending. A very satisfactory report of last year's activities was presented. The, club teams were runners-up in three grades, while the balance sheet disclosed a credit balance of I £2O. It was decided to enter a team in the ;. sixth grade competition this year, the team I to be under the direction of the Rev. Brother Director of the School. A committee was appointed to raise funds for the establish- ■ I ment of club rooms, and it was also decided to issue honorary club members' tickets. In view of the urgent necessity of providing adequate club rooms it is hoped that the supporters of the club will give their asl\ sistance by availing themselves of these tickets. Mr. J. P. Mahoney was' unanimously re-elected club president, the election of the other club officials resulting as follows: j Secretary, Mr. T. O'Brien; treasurer, Mr. B. Courtney; club captain, Mr. A. Power; delegates Junior management board, Mr. J. Hoare; Auckland Rugby Union, Messrs. C. Anderson, J. Twomey, T. Courtney. A special voto of thanks was accorded Mr. C. Anderson to whose efforts as club secretary during the last three years much of the i success of the club has been due. Thirty -sL new members, including eight new senior >N £layers, were granted membership; the club's prospects for this year thus appearing ] very satisfactory. ."•";:■ Celtic Football Club, Timaru ANNUAL MEETING. The nineteenth annual meeting of the Celtic Football Club was held in St. Pat- • rick's Hall on Monday evening, March 23, when there was a large attendance of members (says the Timaru Eeralcl). Mr. J. -. Murphy was voted to the chair, in the absence of the president (Rev. Father O'Ferrel), who has left the district. The annual report stated that the season '*;- was commenced with bright prospects, the r, club having the good fortune to secure the services of Brother Vergilius as coach. Although senior fifteen were not so successful as expected, it is hoped that the players will take to training more keenly this year. The junior fifteen started the season with a strong team, and owing to the shortage of players the seniors had to call on ;v them to fill gaps, and the club is very grate- / ful to the juniors for the way they came forward in this respect. During the season, .two junior representative games were played, the following players from the club were Selected to -represent South Canterbury—%L. Fitzgerald,. 0. Dwan, P. Roper, S. D. / Mason,, and W. Bulman. One of the mem- . ; bers, S. D. Mason, captained South Canterbury against the -Canterbury junior team. ; Third ~ and fifth grade .players ac- • quitted themselves very creditably during the season, and it is hoped that the young

members will come forward this year as before, The committee regret having to state that the club, from a financial point of view, is still unable to show a credit balance on the year’s workings. It is . pleasing to note that practically every member paid his subscription. The club is greatly indebted to the representatives on the Rugby Union (Messrs. D. Herton and J. Molloy) for valuable services rendered on the governing body. The club also has to thank Messrs. Darcy and Rosevear for their services and place on record also the good work done by the clergy and Brothers during the season, also the lady supporters for their valuable assistance. During the latter part of the season, a heavy loss was sustained in the departure from the district of the President (Rev. Father oTerrel), also Brother Palladius and Brother Vergilius, and a prominent member of the first fifteen, Mr. L. P. Kane.

The report was adopted. The following office-bearers were elected: Patron, Rev. Father Hurley; president, Mr. J. Rosevear. The fourteen vice-presidents of last year were re-elected; secretary, Mr. G. Flett (re-elected); assistant secretary, Mr. S. D. Mason; treasurer, Mr. M. Angland; auditor, Mr. W. Bulman; delegates to South Canterbury Rugby Union, Messrs. D. Hertnon and J. Murphy; coaches, Messrs. J. Rosevear and M. Darcy; executive committee, W. Reilly, P. Dickell, C. Dwan, W. Bulman, R. Baxter, and P.' Collins; delegate to Catholic Club, Mr: P. B. Hogan. Eight new members were elected. Selectors—One coach, together with two members from the senior division, and the other.coach, with two members of the lower grades. The captain of the senior fifteen is to be elected on the field. It was decided to fix subscriptions the same as last year:— fifteen, 7s 6d; second ss; third, 3s; .fourth, 2s. It was decided that the entering of teams for the competitions be held over until training commences. An invitation was extended by the Marist Old Boys' Football Club to play a match at Invercargill at Easter.— was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the secretary and assistant secretary. It was resolved, after considerable '■■ discussion, that the meeting approve of a sole selector for South Canterbury. It was decided to send letters of appreciation to the late president, Rev. Father O'Ferrel; Brother Vergilius, as coach; Brother Palladius, and Mr. J. Downey, as assistant secretary, in recognition of their services. It was decided to start training at an early date. Several other matters, pertaining to the club's welfare, were discussed at considerable length.

"Not a thing broken or even scratched" is a tribute to the care and skill of our packers. You are assured of a like satisfactory service. The New Zealand Express Company, Ltd. Offices in all chief towns. > Y

Mr. Jim Driscoll EX-FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION. Cardiff turned out en masse (says a Home paper of recent date) to pay a last tribute to the late Mr. Jim Driscoll, the ex-feather-weight champion of the world, and the scenes in the city's principal thoroughfares were deeply impressive. At ten o'clock in the morning Requiem Mass was celebrated at St. Paul's Church, Tyndall Street, and the large building was packed to the doors. Many people had travelled from Scotland, the Midlands, and London, to attend. Early on the morning of the funeral waggon-loads of wreaths arrived at a time, and the capacity of Driscoll's home and the homes of neighbors was taxed to the uttermost. The funeral was of a military character—a tribute to Driscoll's service with the Army on the Aldershot Command. The celebrant of the Mass was the Rev. Father Grieshaber, parish priest, and among the clergy present were Mgr. Irvine, Canon Hannon (St. David's Cathedral), Father Crawley, Father Barratt, and Father Tobin. As the procession estimated to be nearly three miles long—moved through streets lined ten deep by men. women, and children there were many affecting scenes. All the principal streets of the city were lined with people as the procession passed through, and all traffic was brought to a standstill. Behind the mourners' carriages followed an enormously long train of men friends from all parts of the country, and behind*them were the children of Nazareth House, an institution he had generously befriended, each little girl carrying a wreath. Then came the Guard of Honor of the Welch Regiment, followed by the Cardiff Post Office Band. The empty gun carriage followed, and immediately behind it was the draped coffin, borne by Driscoll's old friends. All the approaches to the cemetery were thronged with people and all roads absolutely impassable. It all served to make a unique and spontaneous tribute to the man whom Welsh sportsmen regarded as "Our Jim" and whom all the sporting world loved and admired. At St. Mary's, Canton, on the following Sunday, the Rector asked the congregation for their especial prayers for the deceased, who was not a member of that parish, but whose extraordinary charitableness to Catholic causes in Cardiff, and indeed everywhere else, gave him a special claim to their prayers.