POVERTY BAY RUGBY UNION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1730, 23 April 1906, Page 3

POVERTY BAY RUGBY UNION.

(Tho annual meeting of tho Rugby Union was held on Saturday evoning, Mr W. Miller presiding. Tbo report and balanoo sheet was road by the secretory, Mr D. Oowon. "In submitting to you the fifteenth annual report and balauoe'shoet, your Como ruiltee onoe more takes the opportunity of I plaoiog on reoord the foot that the high standard of f .otball in .this dUtriot has been I fully maintained. Both from a playing and I financ'al standpoint, the year has been an I exoeedingiy satisf :otory one, a faot of wbioh I all who are oonoerned in football may feel I justifiably proud. Throughout the season I the matches were all of an intensely Inter- I eating nature, as was evidenoedby the numbers who attended our Dcnnln to witness I the struggle) for supremao/ both in rep?o« I eentative and cup fixtures. I

“ Gup fixtures: In the-saoior cup contest the Kaiti-City Club, after an exoel'eot struggle, proved victorious, and are to be heartily oongratula'ed, the more so as they had to win every one of their last live games to obtain possession of the ooveted cup. The other olubs are also to be con grntulated upon the excellent fight they pul up

!n lha juuior contest the West End, after a hard oonteit, suooeeded in annexing tbe junior banner. In the third oup oonteet, which was as keenly competed for as the others, the West End team proved vice torious.

‘.‘To emphasise the popularity of this branoh of sport, it may be stated that on

saoh Satu'day duriDg last seas so no fewer than ' one hundred and twenty players tick the field to win tumours for their olubs.'

•‘Beprosen'ativo matohes : During the seacon four rep. matoheS were played, our reps, proving victorious in three of them, and being beaten only by a very Emali margin in the remaining one. The Hawke's Bay representatives, who were passing through en route for Auckland on August 9th, were induoed to land and play agalnat our reps, at 9a m. that day. After an exciting and enjoyable game, the homo team succeeded in' wipniog by 8 points to 3 On August 26th we tried conclusions with the Waiapu sub-Un'on, aod just got homa by 8 points to 6. We congratulate the W»iapu team on their display, and assuie them they by no msaus got ihe worst of ths game. Our rep. team journeyed to Napier, acd on Saturday, September 9th, succeeded in lowering Hawke's Bay colors by nine points to 6. On the following Tuesday, Hastings cubUnion was met, and after a very good game tbp home team won by p’even points to fight.

" Your Committee desire to plaoe on record their appreciation of Pm great iaterest taken by all the p'ayers ohos.n for our representative fixtures, namely, Messrs H.’ Bob nEon, G. Bove, W. Hay, G. Nolan, W. Sohraflt J. Skiet, A. Thomaoo, Wi Friday, Wepiha, Brown Turei, Parker Ti;rei, Pini, J. Leydon, J. Allan, Bongo, W. Delamere, 0. Freer, R. fcherratt, H. Carr, J. Newton,, C., Sharp, and congratulate them for the worthy manner ia whioh they upheld the honor of the district.

“ Finance: The gross rooeipts for the 1905 season totalled £319 15j 7d, while the disbursement amounted to £261 13s ?d, including the ereotion' of a grandstand at q cost of £lso,.thus leaving a credit balance of £sß 2s sd, which must be considered ex* tremely satisfactory. “ General: Several important events, worthy of note ooourred during the season, One was the inauguration of the third cup contest, which proved a great suoeess, no le s than four tsams competing. A pavilion has been erected on the ground, at the cost of £l5O, and has greatly added to the comfort of the spectators. It. is the intention of your committee to makeaddltioas to thia-'Btruc-ture as the finances permit. All the various works whioh have been carried out on tbe Domain have been a' big drain on your Committee’s resources, but they feel assured that, with a continuance of the support afforded by the public duriug the past sea* son, even greater improvements may be undertaken.

‘f To those gentlemen who undertook the duties of referee and line umpires, and to players and publlo who eo loyally supported us in making the season of 1905 suoh a pronounced success, we tender our thanks, and trust that one and all will again see their way to ensure the euooess of the o miug season.”

in moviDg the adoption of the report and balanoe abeet, the Chairman congratulated members upon the soundness of the Union’s finanoes and the great improvement in football generally. They had now reached a stage that they bad been looking forward to for years. That was to be in a position to pay their representatives when on tour, and they would be able to do so this season. He paid a high

tribute to tbe liberal manner in which' players had assisted the Union by paying their own expenses oh tqur. There were no permanent improvements waDted Ibis season, and they had a oredit balanoe of £SB. He thought the clubs could have assisted more through the agenoy of season tickets. These tiokets, 10s 6d, would entitle the holder to attend all matohes for the full season,- and school boys oould also seoure a full season ticket for 2s.

Mr Cole seconded. - They - had every reason to be proud of their preient position) financially and otherwise. They had aground as good as any in New Zealand. The success of the Union was due in a large measure to their chairman, Mr Miller. Now that their finances were sound be would like to see the Union Bend a team to tour the whole of the North Island, and he did npt thiok the players they would' fend away would disgrace them. (Applause.) The election of officers resulted:—Presi dc

nt, Me E. Murphy (re-elected); yioe- I presidents eleoted by the clubs : Messrs J. J. Martin (Ksiti City), A. W. Kees (Hula), J. Burke (West End); delegate to New Zealand Union; Mr It. Sim (re-elected); secretary, Mr D. Cown ; treasurer, Mr W. Miller (ro-eleoted); assistant treasurer, Mr J. Wauohcp ' (-e-eleoted) ; auditors, Messrs Bobinson (re-elected) and H. ,I)rigbt. - ; -r , Mr* W-. Gibson said be had bean-re" quested by the-Te Arai Club. to ask the. Union to create a. new district. .They: wished to enter both senior and junior teams. The Huia district as at p esent constituted was too unwieldly, and if a district was created west of the Big Biver they would have two strong c’ubs instead, of one weak one as at present. The Chairman said if it were possible to get a strong club at Te Arai and Fatutahi, the Union might alter the town boundaries to assist tbo Huia Club. Toe Union wisbed to have four senior clubs. It was decided to leave the matter stand over until the Huia Club bad held its nest meeting. -