RUGBY FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 146, 16 March 1939, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

Wellington Club Holds Annual Meeting NEED FOR MORE COACHES There was a large attendance of members and prospective members at the annual meeting of the Wellington Rugbv Football Club, held in the I. Hall, Allen Street, last night. In the absence abroad of the president, Mr. J. Thompson, a vice-president, Mr. J. 11. Fowler, presided. Moving the adoption of the annual report, extracts from which have already been published, Mr. Fowler commented on the fact that the club had been third for the second year in succession in the club championship. The club had won the third junior championship and was runner-up in two other grades, the fifth and junior second. The committee Urged that . a united effort be made to improve the position of the club. It seemed that there could be a better organization in some of the lower grades. If more coaches were available early in the season it would make a great deal of difference. The Auckland branch continued to function and took a keen interest in the activities of the club.

The following officers were elected! —President, Mr. J. Thompson; vice, presidents, Messrs. W. E. Shern, A. D< Bayfield, F. Bond, T. Brodie, G. IL Dixon, K. D. Duncan, G. C. Fache, J. H. Fowler, W. Francis, A. H. Hollis, C. J. F. Irons, W. D. Irons, G. F. ML Jackson, G. F. Johnston, O. G. Kember, A. K. S. Mackenzie, H. Manoy, J. Murray, N, IV. Nelson, H. Perry, J. G. Roache, J. M. Robb. F. J. Shanks, 11. D. Smith, C. E. Tennent, F. Turner, T. M. Wilkes, M. E. Wood. Club captain, Mr. G. 11. Weir; assistant club captain, Mr. A. T. Smith; secretary, Mr. C. *S. Barron; assistant secret."/ry, Mr. G. W. Jackson; treasurer, Mr. F. W. Hislop; management committee, Messrs. F. D. Kilby, M. M, Cooper, J. L. Cragg, R. C. Veitch, J. H. Bracken, D. A. Stevens, F. H. F. Smith.; delegates to 11’61111131011 Rugby Union, Messrs. G. F. W. Jackson, F. D. Kilby, G. 11. Weir; auditors, Mr. H. C. Steere; social sub-committee, Messrs. A. E. Bell. A. H. Hines.

Mr. 11. E. Morrah was elected a life member of the club. Mr. J. Slurray was thanked for his offer of a trophy for forward play. It was reported that the club would send a team to Christchurch at Easter to play the Christchurch club and ilie Pirates club, Dunedin; and that J. Taylor, Dunedin, the New Zealand fullback, would shortly be joining the club. Another team is to be sent to Carterton. on Easter Saturday.

MARIST BROTHERS’ OLD BOYS Enthusiastic Annual Meeting If the enthusiamu shown -by the 100 members of the Marist Brothers’ Olil Boys’ Rugby Football Club who attendedthe annual meeting in AVellington last night is maintained on the playing fields the club should have a successful season during 1939. Mr. 11. Bowman, a life member of the club, who presided,' expressed pleasure at seeing such a large attendance of members. in moving the adoption of the report mid balance-sheet, he congratulated the members of the club who had won representative honours last season. The junior team had put up a fine performance in winning their grade, and the third team had gone through the competition without a defeat. Credit was due to the coaches of these teams.

Referring to the financial position, he said that there was no room in the Marist club for professional players. Every member should pay his subscription, and lie hoped to see a more satisfactory position in this respect in 1939. He had never seen a Marist club show its true strength , till it met with adversity, and he saw ho reason, if all showed a little enthusiasm, why the coming season should not be one of the most successful in the history of the club. Air. V. AL Gormley, in seconding the motion, referred to the good record the club had put up last year. It was a good performance to win two championship competitions in the one year. He paid a tribute to the work of the coaches, and hoped they would all offer their services again during the coming season. It appeared to the outgoing committee that the present subscription was not sufficient to meet the expenses of the chib, and had it not been for donations by officers the financial position would not have been as satisfactory as it was. The motion to adopt the report and balance-sheet was carried unanimously. Eighteen new members were elected. Several members handed in their names as willing to act as coaches during the coming season. A sub-eomniittee was set up to organize the club’s team to take part in the Spillane Cup tournament in Wanganui at Easter. The Wellington Rugby Union's proposal that the senior competition this year should be confined to two grades, with 12 in the first division, and 10 in the second, was left in the hands of tho club’s delegates. The election of officers resulted as follows: Patron, his Grace Archbishop O’Shea ; president. Mr. P. J. Doyle; vicepresidents, appointment left to incoming committee; club captain. Mr. O. Johnson ; hon. treasurer. Mr. F. D. Mcllroy (re-elected) : hon. secretary, Air. P. P. McGavin; committee, Messrs. P. Stiver, J. H. Roache. B. Vile. F. Fitzgerald, M. Frost, J. Gouley. and A. J. Wareham; delegates to AA’elliugto’n Rugby Football Union. Alessrs. 11. Bowman, O. Johnson, and F. Fitzgerald.