MARIST CLUB HAS GIVEN 25 YEARS TO LEAGUE

Grey River Argus, 2 September 1948, Page 9

MARIST CLUB HAS GIVEN 25 YEARS TO LEAGUE

Celebrations Open Tp-day, Perhaps the most powerful incentive the Rugby League code had in its - 33 years of history, was the change-over of the Marist Rugby Club‘to .the code ih 1923 and their entry of teams in the. 1924 competitions, thus 1948 marks the silver jubilee of the club’s history. The. events leading up to the change do not seem to have been fully, recorded in history, and newspaper reports at the time do not give a very clear picture of what transpired, However, the. decision qf the club was made following the disqualification of the Marist .Rugby Club in Christchurch, after they had been championship winners from 1919 to 1923. Individual interpretations of. the events of 1923-2’4 will no doubt form a large part of the reminiscences which old time players and officials will indulge in from to-day, when the club’s silver jubilee celebrations will open with a complimentary smoke concert tendered to the club, former members and players, by the West Coast Rugby League, at Harker’s Lounge this evening. MANY TEAMS:

Because it found its players mainly from the ranks of the Marist Brothers’ Schoolboy teams, the club has been most fortunate in the past quarter of a centuty in being able to field teams in almost every grade, season after season. As many as ten teams have been fielded, apart from those engaged in school house competitions, and from the younger players there has grown up a strong League tradition. In the present season, teams have been fielded in all grades, and although the senior team has had more than a bad run of luck, the lower grade teams have had some notable successes. CHAMPIONS FOUR TIMES

On four occasions in the past 25 years, Marist have won the West Coast senior championship, while they have been runners-up at least in another ten seasons, indicating that they have occupied a prominent part in “major competition play. It was not until 1928. when a strong side, captained by Charlie Robins, first annexed the West Coast -senior championship for Marist. Success followed four years later when Jim Calder captained the 1932 . team. Another four years was to elapse before success again came the club’s way, and the 1936 team, with Jim. Beban as captain, was successful. On the last occasion Marist succeeded, in 1940, the captain was Billy Mann. 'Apart from qhampionship successes however, thfe club has had a fine record in Thacker Shield, Bradshaw Cup and Knock-out Cup competitions, having won more than their average in each section. THE FIRST TEAM'.

At present on display in Mr Sam McAra’s window in Mackay Street, are many interesting old photographs of teams and players. Amongst them is that of the original team and the names will be recalled with keen interest this- week. \ Those in the group are: T. M. O’Hallahan (secretary), L. M. O’Neill, Jack Kennedy, Con Hall, L. Jackson, J. Delaney, Jack Wright, J. Hinshm, N. Doogan, M. O’Grady, H. Mears, Mick Keating (president), H. D. Hanrahan (delegate), Rev. Brother Herbert (now of Fiji), T. Dunn, N. Mouat (captain), H. Brown, Rev. Father McMonagle, F. Moore, W. Kennedy, D. James. Those shown as absent are: R. Quinn, Jim Devaney, Jack Quinn, C. Heaphy and J. Barclay. This team created something of a surprise by annexing the Challenge Cup in its first playing year.t FIVE KIWI PLAYERS

N. Mouat and the late. Jack Wright were the club’s first Kiwi players, and in later years Jim Calder, Mick O’Brien and Bill McNeight joined the select band of five which the club has had to represent it in New Zealand teams. Apart from these, probably twenty have represented the South Island. These include: ft. Mears, N. Mouat, J. Wright, C. Robins, E. Quinn, P. Doogan, J. Devonport, E. O’Brien, W. McNeight, A. Beban junr., J. Beban; T. O’Connor, J. (“Chappie”) Mundy, J. Curnow (the present field captain) and J. Pascoe. A record of Marist players who have represented West Coast is not available, but it is considered that no less than 100 times has the club supplied players for the representatives. LOWER GRADES:

Few clubs have fostered lower grade players as has the jubilarian club, and innumerable- lower grade championships have come the club’s way during the pakt 25 years. Many of those taking part in the celebrations will recall their own playing days as members of a champion side for the years when a number of championships have not come to the club have been few, if any at all. WARTIME EFFORT:

No club suffered more during the 1935 war than the Marist Club, which lost practically a whole side before the war was . far advanced. A number paid the supreme sacrifice, including A. (“Mick”) Hopkins, one of the finest halves the Club has produced P. Grogan, one of the outstanding forwards of his time; Leo Burger, a good all-rounder; and Pat Beban, a fine back, all senior players. THE CELEBRATIONS:

Commencing with to-night’s smoke concert, the celebrations will conclude on Sunday. To-morrow, chief interest will be centred round the Jubilee Ball at the Sturge Street Hall Cobden. n , , , Saturday’s game between Past and Present players, will be preceded by a procession of the Club’s teams, with the old-timers, leaving the Marist School at 1 p.m. One of the lower grade teams is engaged in a curtain-raiser with the other town club, Kohinoor, and an added attraction will be the match between the West Coast fifth grade team and the South Island schoolboy representafives. Many old-timers will be present; and a strong side is reported to have been chosen to play the present senior team.

On Sunday, all teams and visitors will assemble .at St. Patrick’s Church for Mass and Communion at 8.30 a.m. and in the afternoon the celebrations will be completed with a picnic excursion to Mitchell’s.

Prominent Old Timers to Play No less than seven former South Island players, including three Kiwis, are included in the Marist Old Timers team .now in training. The players ’ J.' Calder, M. Power, J. Delaney, M. O’Brien, J. Beban. N. Mouat, S. Amsy, W. Hopkins, E. O’Brien. W. Mann, J. Roberts, J. Devonport, R. Pollock P. Affleck, R. Williams. J. Pope, P. .Mal-

one? D. Pearson, F. crogan, J. Griffen, B Casey, J. Kennedy (2). C. O Leary, H. O’Leary, E. Garth, J. Matthews, P. O’Brien, P. Sweetman. R. McQuinn, T. Anisy, S. Knapp, T. Eurlong, J. O’Laughlin, D. Watson H Brown, J. Mundy, A. Mundy, R. Buchanan, W. Sequin, R. Donovan, J. Knowles, W. Moore, M. Powell, W. Gilbert, J. Atkinson, W. Mundy, R* Quinni Doogan, Jas Devaney, W. McNight, D. Wallace, and R. Baird. Mr C. Dewar will referee the game.