Rugby Union Prepares For Season

Chronicle (Levin), 28 March 1946, Page 7

Rugby Union Prepares For Season

I Club Deiegates Meet in Levin j Bright Fooibali Expected | ttixiy-ihn'o dob gntes from eleven clubs oi' the dis- | Iricl m ! in 1 lio I. anilroom, Levin, on Tuesday evening on Ihe ot'f.'ision oi' ilie l ' orowhenua Rugby Union's annuai in"ei ino". T'he ganto is aboi.it to enter its first season since Ihe wa.r cinied, anci the enthusiasm displayed by those preseiit vu'.s a happv augury for the future.

The pre.siuent i'Mr. W. Hannan) oecupied Lie chsir and before the business ema'm i.eed refeir&d to the following euiviment in the annuai report : "it L wiih "oal regret that the pruS-.-iiU'- t i eeorded oi' Mr. F. ("Troop": " Va jir^on, cf Foxton. The hue ntlei:: .oi had been aesociatcd whih ihe union i'roia the very early Uv . ava '.T.ui rendeTed yeoman s;. e in niany u-Uekil positions; ua • Ma Gr dv.im Maclean, who sc-r»\u on the union for a number oi y.ors." M^nibers stood in eilence i :• a nronent. as a mark.of respeet. Annuai Report The annuai report read as follow.s : — "Followin f/ the reeemmendation oi Ihe annuai me-.'iing your couini'li e exploi. v d ihe possibilities of reverting to open grade rugby, and aftcr eonsideration tiecided to stage the open grade and a competition for players under 19. However. after again reviewing the entrios it was decided o play the senior competition and one for under 19 s. Six kamo cntered for the senior gre.de ond ihe competition pioved one oi too most evenly eontcsteu for :>■ >ir e years. The staudard of ruguy. althcugh not liigh, produeed ;one promising players, and our representative sides, vvhieii ceusisted mainly of players under 21, produced promising rugby for i\vo wins and a loss. With the chibs fielding youthful senior sides, together with most of the young i.v-u m the forces, made the iask of produeing strong under 19 tenm? froin eiubs a hard one, and consenuently tiiis coinpetilion lacked the previous years' staudard. Ilowever, your committee earnestly eoim mnds clubs to increase their act.ivities in the vounger teams, and feeis that with the material offering, players of a high standard can he pioduced. Congratulations are extcndod to Foxton — Moutoa Clu'o 011 its ehaaojioiiobip win, thereby winning oulright ihe Ramvbottoni cup, t o Kuku -Manakau C-ub on winning the Nuvh, MeLennen ar.d Fastou enp. and to the Coilegr "A" team in winning the under 19 compelition. "Representative fixtures and results for 1945 wero: — Senior: llorow homai Colts v. Manawatu Colts. lost G — 9: Horowhenua Colts v. Munuwat.il Colts, won 20 — 3; Horowhenua v. Hardham cup representatn rs. won 13—2, Under 19. Iloruv lienua v. Manawatu, won 6—3: H -ro whenua v. Wellington Founhs, luxt 5 — 6.

Referees' Association: "Your committee is deeply indebted to the iioierees' Association for its services throughoui the season. Uii, appointments for the season were made by that association, but with travelling difiiculties the usuai inter-ehange of referees could not rake place. However, the job.was very well done. "To enable him to participate in the senior competition Mr. M. Staples tendered his resignation irom the committee and Mr. R. Robin ;on was elected to fill the vacancy. "School football: Again this year school football was assisted as much as possibie by your committee. Besides winning the local competition, the Horowhenua Coilege tsam succeeded in maintaining its high position in inter-college rugby. Of a total of flve games played, three were won and two lost. During the season the primary schools' quadrenguljyr tournament was staged in this district. Visiting teams from Wellington, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa participated. Your committee rendered every assistance in coniunction with the Horowhenua Primary Schools' Rugby Union and feels sure" their stay in Levin was enjoyed. The type of rugby displayed was very encouraging, and although success did not come the way of our own team, its display was very creditable. "Once again the work of the members of the St. John Ambuiance Association is much appreciated. This association is endeavouring to atreiia wnexevcx l'ugoy is played in the union, and we hope that with travelling perhaps a little easier this can be brought about. Our thanks are tendered to our hon. auditor, Mr. F. Nicholson, and to Messrs. Blenkhorn and Todd, hon. solicitors. Also to those whose help and interest ha s added to making the season so successfui ana enjoyaoxe.'-' Finances The statement of accounts for the year ended December 31, 1945, showcd a profit of £37 4s 5d on the year's working. Revenue totalled £331 19s, the main items being £260 12s 6d from club and rep. games, £45 from the N.Z.R.U. grar.t to schools for two years and the ; N.Z.R.U. broadcasting fee of £29. Expenditure totalled £344 14s 7d, the principal items of which were gatei keepers' wages £34 7s, insurance ! ^

i account £50 and footballs £24 17s 3d. j The insurance account showed a 1 profit of £85 6s Od, the principal i items being £50 from refund. £17 12s 6d from players' premiums and £13 13s from club premiums. | The expenditure totalled £256 13s id, ' the main items being £150 for National Savings and £90 for the P.O.S.B. Qfficers Elected r The election of oHicers for the coming season resulted as follGWs: — Patron: Mr. F. S. Easton; president: . Mr. A. Gillespie; vice-pres-.dento: , Messrs. N. D. TilLey, N. Winiata and V. J. Bateman; secretary: Mr. J. A. Zuppicich; hon. treasurer: Mr. F. G. Carrington ; management comniit- , tee: Messrs. H. Roson, R. L. Rob-: inson, E. Cook, D. Cole. 3. D. McFarlane, H. Wylie and T. Winiata; hon. auditor: Mr. F. Nicholson; hon. solicitors: Messrs. Blenkhorn and Todd; delegate to N.Z.R.U. : Mr. A. Gillespie; insurance fund: Messrs.; W. Hannan, V. J. Bateman and J. A. Zuppicich. j General Business A letter was read from the Levin ■ Borough Counc-il advising that tha> Levin Park Domain 'Was going to l?e top-dressed before the commg season, and that the grounds woMd not be fit for use for the plaving of football until the surface had cguin hardened. A committee consisting of Messrs. N. Tilley, A. Gillespie and J. A. Zuppicich was' formed to v/ait i on the council at its next meeting. | The Levin School 'asked permission to be abie to wear the union' 's colours, and for the union to grant £7 to enable tlie school to piuchasc representative jerseys, which would | cost approximately £20. The'matter | was left to the management com- ; mittee. It v/as decided to play the Maori— : Pakeha match at Shannon on June 3. The nominations for teams will close on April 10 as the season wiii officially commence on April 27. l During the evcning, Mr. A. Jelferies presented a cup to thc union for competition by the third grade teams. Mr. J. W. Procter also donated a cup. Eleven clubs will be competing in | the various competitions.