Shield Football Match Disastrous To Rugby Union

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 78, 22 April 1949, Page 5

Shield Football Match Disastrous To Rugby Union

Although the Te Hurunui Apanui Shield match between Whakatane and Galatea resulted in a financial disaster for the union, receipts from last year’s gates must almost constitute a record, stated the president, Mr N. Semmens, in his report presented to the annual meeting of the Whakatane Rugby Sub-Union.

A credit of £IOO was able to be paid to the Whakatane Borough Council as a share in the outlay on the new grounds. Over 40 delegates and members of the various clubs attended the union meeting and later discussed the report. Mr Semmens considered the past season had been very successful, although play had not yet reached pre-war standard. This had a noticeable effect at the end of the season when gate takings began to drop.

Reference to the success of Paroa in the senior competition and United in the junior was made by the president. He congratulated Mr Henderson on his position as manager of the Maori team that toured Fiji last year, Hi Ranapia, who made the Maori All Blacks, and B. McGougan, who reached Palmerston North in the trials.

Play for the Dunderdale Cup on the King’s Birthday will probably take place on the new ground, Mr Semmens added. In the meantime the union had the use of the old Domain grounds. ® Officers elected:—

Patron, Mr W. R. Boon, vice-pat-ron, Mr W. Sullivan. M.P.; president, Mr N. Semmens; vice-presidents, nine elected; secretary-treasurer, Mr D. O. Stewart; auditor, Mr A. Tomlinson; hon. solicitor, Mr L. Buddie; hon. surgeons, Drs G. H. Maaka, R. Akel, A. W. Fletcher Cole, E. Hefford, F. J. Appleby.