PONEKE CLUB FESTIVAL

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 59, 7 September 1931, Page 14

PONEKE CLUB FESTIVAL

"When I see so many Old Boys clubs cropping up I feel that unless we can build up strong junior teams there is a danger that clubs such as Poneke and Oriental may in a few years become extinct," said Mr. S. S. Dean when proposing the toast of the Poneke Club at their annual smoke concert on Saturday night. During the season, said Mr. Dean, the Poneke teams played exceedingly well and deserved to be congratulated. In impressing on the junior. members of the club the necessity for holding together and working with the team spirit, Mr. Dean said they had traditions extending over a period of 48 years to look back upon and to uphold in the future. He hoped that the club would remain in existence for 148 years. In conclusion, he congratulated Mr. E. Jessep on his being selected as a New Zealand representative.

Replying to the toast, the club captain, Mr. J. Taylor, said they should be very proud of the splendid spirit that had been displayed in all grades during the season. The success of a club depended a great deal on its coaches, and in this respect Poneke had been fortunate in having the "services of some fine men, to whom all their thanks were due. Mr. Taylor also paid tribute to the older members who still retained a keen interest in the club.

In presenting Mr. A. Wiren with a handsome silver salver and a fruit dish for his wife, Mr.. Dean said -he doubted whether there was any other man, with the exception of Mr. W. Beck, who had such a close association with club football. Mr. Wiren had been with the club since 1883, and his work in their interest and in the interest of sport in general was greatly appreciated. Thanking the members for their gifts, Mr. Wiren said he was very proud of his connection with the Poneke Club.

Proposing the toast, "The Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union," Mr. W. Wallace said that. the club was very satisfied with the way they had been treated during the season. Dr. P. M'Evedy, in reply, said they would all recognise the difficulty the committee had in doing its best for all the clubs, and it was a pleasure for him to come and find out that their efforts had been appreciated.