THE RUGBY YEAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3052, 13 April 1917, Page 9

THE RUGBY YEAR

WELLINGTON UNION COMMITTEE'S ANNUAL REPORT The animal meeting of the Wellington Rugby Football Union will be held on April 17. The annual report of tho union states:— "In common' with nil branches of sport, tho operations of the union" were much curtailed. Most of our players are on active service, and. in view ot this it was necessary to confine our competitions to our young men under military age. Competitions wore promoted in four grades, i.e., first, second, fifth and sixth. In each grade the number of players' competing was satisfactory, while the standard of play was surprisingly good. In addition to the above an attempt was made to promote a special competition among players at Trentham Camp. No very great success attended our efforts in this direction, owing mainly to the disorganisation of the teams through members leaving with the monthly drafts or transferring from one camp to another. The annual college match between Wellington and St. Patrick's College, resulted in a win for tile former. Tho standard of play was well up to the high level set in past years, and tho game was well patronised by the public. The biggest attraction of the season was the annual college tournament between Christ's, AVangamii, and Wellington Colleges. This three-days' fixture was set down to be played at tho Wellington College ground, but through the courtesy of the College Principals the venue was changed to Athletic Park, and the union was permitted.to make a charge, of which a proportion was allocated to the patriotic funds. Eneh of the three games nroducecl a brilliant exhibition/of Hiijiby, and it mav well be said that no better football has been seen here for manv years. The union benefited considerably, and the sum of £53 18s. 2d. was handed to the Wounded Soldiers' Fund. The sincere thanks of the delegates are specially due to Mr. J. P. Firth for his cooperation, and acknowledgments are also due to Dr. M'Evedy, who first suggested the change and lent valuable assistance.

"Tt is pleasing to record that the operations of the Schools' Rugb} Union were carried out during the year with increasing success. Anyone who has watched the games played by the boys cannot but be struck ■ with the excellent football they play, reflecting all credit to the tuition imparted to the boys by the masters in charge of the teams. A matter worthy of note is the decision of the Schools' Union to admit thq Marist Brothers' schools iuto tho competition, and your committee feel that the departure from previous years will prove to he in tho best interests of the boys and congratulates the schools' executive on tho stand taken. Following the procedure of previous years the committee did all cossible with its limited revenue to help the schools. It is proposed to give the Schools' Union representation on the Union Committee, and notice of motion is given to effect this. Warmest thanks are expressed to tjio large number of masters who take an interest in the' boys, and to thoso who assist in the matches e?df week.

"During the year the committee was faced with the question of finance. In connection with the actual operations of lie union, with the exception of grounds rents, it was possible to carry on operations with the receipts from club subscriptions, assisted by refund of previous advances to tho Accident Fund, but tho position regarding tie Athletic Park must bo viewed with increasing concern, as tlie receipts there fell far short of expenditure, despite the fact that the committee took charge of all cates, thus eliminating that item from the expenditure side, and that tho only items of expense are rent, rates, and bare necessities. In tliis connection, it is to be regretted that tho attendance of the public at club contests was not up to what might have been expected in view of tho class of football seen. "The St. John Ambulance Brigade continued the good work of previous years on our various playing grounds, a service much appreciated by players, and for which your committee is duly grateful. "The operations of the coming season must necessarily be on a small scale, and the whole question, together with that of finance, is commended to the most careful consideration of delegates."