RUGBY PREMIERS

Evening Star, Issue 23376, 20 September 1939, Page 4

RUGBY PREMIERS

SHIELD PRESENTED UNION CLUB'S FUNCTION Supporters of the Union Football Club and representatives of other clubs and sporting bodies attended a function last night to present to the club the challenge shield won in the senior Rugby competition during tho past season. The president of the Union Club (Mr V. Macdonald), who was in the chair, extended a welcome to the visitors who had joined with the club in celebrating the winning of the 1939 championship. It was particularly pleasing, he said, to see so many old members present. _ The toast of “ Tho Otago Rugby Football Union” was proposed by Mr J. Hope, who said every footballer knew just how much the Rugby Union had done for tho game in Dunedin. Ho had been a member of the Union Club for 54 years, and he derived much satisfaction from seeing his club at tho head of tho list this year. He referred to the work done by many of the presidents of the parent body, and expressed the opinion that it had had a succession of very efficient committees to control the game in this province. The president of the union, Mr D. 0 Jolly, replied. Everybody, he said, had a “pick” at the Rugby Union, but ho thought they would all agree that in tho past there had been some very able men in the responsible positions. To-day there was a better feeling existing between the union and the clubs than ever before. The clubs were expected to bring their grievances and difficulties to the union, which was prepared to help in every possible way. Mr V. G. Cavanagh proposed the toast of “The Union Football Club.” The club was one of the oldest in Otago, and its success was the more pleasing for that reason. There were present many old players who had soood by the Union Club through thick and thin, and that was the test of a club. Ho paid a special tribute to the work of Mr H. Harris, an old member of the Union Club, who, in his position on the (Rugby Union, had done a great deal to put Otago on the map in football, t could be nothing but gratifying to all players of the game and all supporters to have seen the Union team come through, winning 10 matches on end and gaining the premiership. Mr T. O’Shea replied to tho toast. Union, he said, was the second oldest club in Dunedin and one of the oldest in New Zealand. During his 13 years association with the club he had never been so proud as he was that day. He briefly traced the history of the club. There had been a time when the team would turn out at Carisbrook not knowing if it could field a full 15 players. Dp till recently the club’s pavilion on the North Ground had been small and in poor repair, and the parent body had been persuaded to supply the materials for renewals, the club supplying the labour. This work showed the excellent spirit existing in the club. The toast of the “ Senior Team ” Was proposed by Mr Jolly, who, in doing so, made the presentation of the Championship Shield. Mr Jolly said the years of struggling would be repaid with the acceptance of the shield. He stressed the loyalty which members had shown for the Union Club during its times of adversity and expressed the opinion that never before had a club risen from the bottom to the top in one season. There, would be plenty who would want to join the Union Club now that it was the champion club, but the men who had brought the club to its present position could keep it there. The Southern players had made a sporting gesture when, after the final match, they had gone to the winning team to offer their personal congratulations. He then presented the shield to Mr F. Vorrath, who accepted it on behanf of the team. In reply, Mr Vorrath returned thanks for the support that had been given the team throughout the year. The services of _ the club’s coaches were recognised with the presentation which was made by Mr H. Harris to Messrs H. Vorrath and J. Grainger of a fireside chair and a chiming clock. The Simmonds Challenge Cup. presented by Mr G. C. Simmonds for the most improved player in the senior competition was handed by Mr H. C. Williamson to R. Mathewson, of the Union Club. Other toasts honoured were Sister Clubs,” proposed by Mr Harris and responded to by Mr S. Butler, president of the Dunedin Club; “ Old Members,” proposed by Mr T. O’Shea: “ St. John Ambulance, the Press, and the Referees.” proposed by Mr J. Hope; and “The Performers,” proposed by Mr J.' P. Vallis. Items were contributed by a small but efficient band, and Messrs Eireers. Collier, Murphy, Samson, Ausell, and Parker.