RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1696, 12 March 1913, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

ATHLETIC CLUB. PRESIDENT ON AMATEURISM. The annual meeting of the Athletic Football Club was held last night. The president (Mr. G. I'. (.'. Campbell) was in the chair, and I here were upwards of s.xty members present. i-'oiirtecn new members were elccted. 'ine chairman, moving tne adoption of the report and baiame-slieei, congratulated Ina inenibeis oil tlie reporl, lor vile success oi the year belorc last had been even excelltil last year. Ne\crtlielcss the upon very jignriy was not couclicd in boastful urni.s, seeking to dis|iarage opponents. The emu's pertorinauee had bssn an admirable one, and the honours list, he was glad to note, was a very long one. The club had assets, not only financial assets, but very iine traditions lor the thirty-rive years of its-.existence, it hail tor many years been loremost among Wellington clubs in encouraging young men to play lootbull, and had succeeded in this at times when the club had no chance of succeeding in the senior championships. Filially the club couid congratulate itself upon having entered upon other fields of sport, iostering other athletic pursuits. It was now really more than a lootball club—rather an athletic association. The. gymnasium too wouia 'ne tor the general advancement of tno club in keeping alive club feeling, and keeping the members together. He trusted that during the coming year members would" not only attend to lootball, but would give some of their attention to cricket and the other sports whit*-the club had lately sought to encourage. The report was adopted. Mr. G. F. C. Campbell ivas re-elected president. In acknowledging his election, / Mr. Campbell urged players to try to maintain the amateur spirit. As long as the amateur game was kept going then they would lie assured of the support of the better people of the community. It the professional element were allowed to come into the game then the game would deteriorate, mid the same Hue spirit, that had characterised the liugby game in the past would not remain with them. It was the proud boast of many distinguished old. players of the game that they had not a single emblem to show marking their success, liugby was almost Hie only game in which the prowess of the individual is not rewarded by prizes or monetary gifts. Young men might not think of these things much, but those who had passed the age of usefulness r.s athletes thought of them a good deal,- It was a veal pleasure to liiin to see so many "young men going in for the Kugby game, which was the truest amateur sport left to them. (Applause.)

Other officers were elected as follow:— Vice-presidents, Messrs. J. 11. Coalcs, H. W. Kelly, E. 0. Ilales, W. Jl. Hales, I'. C. Atkinson, A. H. Cock, .T. A. Thomson, G. Robertson, 11. Davy, J. Hyams, W. S. liidler, G. A. Troup, J. H. Pagni, R. M. Isaacs, D. G. A. Cooper, ,1. M. King, \V, Dedell, J. J. 11 . O'Sullivan, \V. Vrnsc-r, A. E. Dawson, J. P. Murphy, A. li. Charters, and A. Pritehard; club captain, Mr. W.. S. Ridler; lion, secretary, .Mr. H. Ryan; assistant-secretary, Mr. A. Mabin; lion, treasurer, Mr. I). W. Madden; delegates to the W.R.F.1".. lfos.sr.si K. 0. Hales, W. S. liidler, 10. P. Carman, and W. 0. Mills; management committee. Mo-srs. W. Bell, K. I'. Carman, .1. Cunninghame, A. Evenson, W. G. Mills, A. Wilson, and. R. Paton; lion, auditor, Messrs. J. A. Thomson,• and G. Lnoni. A vole of (hanks was accoi'deil to the retiring officers. /the gymnasium will b:; open for practice on Thursday evening next and (hereafter every Monday and Thursday evening. Oil Saturday next there will be a practice match, for which I ho ground will ■be advertised, Al Eo.stiT the senior (emu will go lo Christcburch to play Mcrivale. POXKKB Cl.rirS. REPORT.

The thirtieth annual report of the Poneke, Football Club, which is to hs presented at the' club's annual meeting this evening, records thai. Ih" first; fifteen played, in ail, 11 matches, and won ■!. lest 10, scoring !!(l points as against lili. Taking ill! matches played to date, the first .fifteen ployed MfiS. won 21!!, lost OH. and drew iu III). Points for, 2. r )!)0: against, ISBS. Tile following gained representative honours:—Messrs. H. Elliot, E. (I. Irving, A. Morris and K Dingle. The second fifteen played feu matches, won 3, hist Fifths played 12, won 0, lost 4, and drew in 2. Sixth played 0, won 3. lost; !i, and drew in 1. Tho committee regrets that through lack of membership' they were unable to place a third and fourth team in the competition. Messrs. Algar, Andrews, and Hedges gained places in the lifth-class representative* team. The committee views with pleasure the uositiou of runners-up gained by the fifthclass team under the tuition of Messrs. Astill and Wilkinson, whom they desire to thank. The committee wish lo thank the following for donations to til" dub funds:—Dr. A. K. N«wn>nn, M.ossrs. T. E. K. Burgess, E. 'A. Dawson. A. H. Turnbull, W. Brown, A. H. Somerville, A. H. Robinson, A. F. Wircn, G. Deslandss. .T. M. Muir, W. X. Johnson, and F. M'l'arland. The committee, wishes lo thank the referees for the able manner in which they controlled the games of the season just past, and to St. John's Ambulance Brigade for kind services so willingly rendered at all times. The financial position of the club shows: Receipts, JilOi 2s. 5d.; expenditure, £42 fts. -Id.; leaving a credit balance of X'C2 2s. Id. ST. JAMI'S AXXUAL MEETIXG. The twelfth .annual meeting of the St. •Tames Rugby Football Club was held lasit evening, Mr. W. H. Pollock presiding. The annual report, which was adopted, stated that the senior team, though not quite as successful as in the previous season, finished fifth in the list. and. with tho combination of the members during the current season, the committee were confident of the highest success. Tho club, though not quite as strong numerically as in previous seasons, in no way had need to feel dissatisfied with the showing made, considering the number of its players w-ho deserted in favour of the professional game. The desire was expressed that all members, young and old, will endeavour to maintain an amateur status, r.nd assist the _ club to their utmost. Members' attention was directed to the financial position, which was not quite as satisfactory as might be. They were asked to do all in their power to make it more satisfactory during Mic current season. The election of officers resulted as follows :—

_Patron. Rev. Win. Sltiror; nrflsiiJcn't, T\ Kitfco, K c n., J. P. j vice-presidents. Dr. Cameron, Messrs. ft. (4. Ttogger, A. Campbell, ft. -A. "WrMlf, W. "PIoWO. .1. Croupe, •T.P.. C. ,F. Pulley, 1?. Fletcher. W. 3-f. PollocV. TT. Hume. ,T. M'Donntd. H. G'atlatc, W. J. Connor. J. W. O'Sullivun. M. Long. V. "\l'Pari a rid, ]-J. Thvyer. W. ])«b- - Uurquhart; club wnhijiT, F.. Wright: lion. socrctnry. Mr. K. Brown: lion, jmxswv.r, Mr. 15. V'oun or; cjpnpl'al committee. Messrs. T.. Cozens, A. 0. K»lo A. Donaldson. V. Wright, C. Hills: deleto AV.H U.. .Messrs. L, \y. Cozens, F. Aloe, A. C. Ki'tio; lion, auditors, IT Holierts, inn., and F. Crcwcs.

Six new members were elected. A letter was received from (lie Shannon Rovers Rugby Club asking for a visit from St.' James Club either on Easier Saturday or Kasler Monday. It was decided that a team be sent, and that arrangements be Wt in tho hands of tho incoming committee. NEW CTVUB FORMED. At a meeting held at Rerhamporo on Monday evening, it was decidcd to form a Rugby football club, to be named, the Bcrhajnnore Football Club. The fallowing officers were electedVafron. Mr. G. Flux: president, .Mr. A. Whilelav vieenresidents, Messrs. M'Kenzic. Mel lor, Campbell, Tee, Hell, I). Russell. M-ir, Patience. Hindmarsh. llarton, Hill, Edwards. .Jcli'e, ami lit'ek; teeretarv and treasurer. Mr. 0. Resell; d"legat«'lo the liugby Un.um. Mr. H. lludkin; Management Committee. ]\le-srs. Gray, Wilson, M'Guire, I'eak, Rudkin, and Rus'ell. The club is entering iuams for the third anil fourth-class chani|vonship. A NEW SOUTH WALKS TEAM. A soecial meefing of the Council of Ihe N'ew Zen hi ml I'ugbv Football Union will be held at a.la o'clock this evening lo eonsider_ important letters from the New South Wale= I'ugby Cuion. One is in reference la a proposed visit of a New Sonlji Utiles tenm to New Zealand, saggntlinr tint the team hove Sydney on August :n ; (tin nth-r concerns the proposed visit of a Maori Eucby team to Australia.,