FOOTBALL SMOKER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4382, 24 February 1922, Page 2

FOOTBALL SMOKER.

PRESENTATION OF (’APS. AN ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING. A social gathering of the Paeroa Rugby Union was held in the Returned Soldiers’ Club last evening, when there was a record attendance. The chair, was occupied by Mr F. E. Flatt, who said that he had been called upon to occupy that position on behalf of His Worship the Mayor, who was unable to be present. The night had been set aside to celebrate the wins achieved last) year and .to present the caps which had just come to hand.. One could not help remarking what great strides sport had made during the last year in Paeroa. Last season. Paeroa footballers had been successful in winning the Frank Poland Memorial Cup, which is the Goldfields championship. The caps had been presented by Messrs A. Robinson (Hikutaia), D. McWatters, F. J. Wells, and T. P. Vuglar, and the union acknowledged their generosity. After the toast of! the King had been drunk with-musical honours the chairman read apologies for the un-< avoidable absence of toe chairman 0i the Union (Mr J. Sil cock), and. Messrs H. Poland and P. E. Brenan. The toast of the Winning Teams was proposed by Mr E. Edwards, who remarked on the exceptionally good and clean games that had been played, and congratulated the Paeroa Rugby Union on its success. He paid a high tribute to the captain of the Suburbs team, Mr V. Young, better known in football circles as “Raupo.” The Suburbs had trained well and were well schooled, and nobody begrudged thdir win. He thought that perhaps the East Junior team played the best fpotbalj last season, and put (up some excellent games. He heartily •congratulated the winning teams and wished them all a good innings, in the coming season.

In responding on behalf* of the captain of. the Suburbs team, who was finable to bd(. present, Mr, J., Barrett said th.at he considered their success was due to good training, and if any team wished to beat them: this coming season their only hope/was to get in early and train hard. Mr . Jim Treanor acknowledged' the toast as captain of the Juniors, and Mr A. Bush on behalf of the captain of the Third Grade.' He. said the third grade were pleased to be taken,under tfhe wing of the Riugby Union, and although there were only two teams, they had some good fights. He lipped to see three or four teams competing this year, and also hoped that there would be a school grade as welL They would then, have football from the cot up to old men.; \ The toast of the Goldfields Rugby Union was ably proposed by Mr A. Bush, who said that since the war ended there had been considerable difficulty in getting the, footballers on a good footing. Last year they were successful in getting the co-operation of the Piako and Waihi umi'dns, and next year he hoped to see a still bigi ger union embodying Waihi, Piako, Hauraki Plains,. Paeroa, and Thames. If this could be achieved, and he saw no reason why it should not be so, then he predicted it yould not be long before the ; Ranfurly /Shield was brought to this district,' /Paeroa as a centre had proved what could he done in the way of a gate without any expense of- special trains. He was satisfied that they could run a big match. He hoped to encourage the movement of a Thames Valley Union. Mr J. Walmsley, secretary of the Goldfields Rugby Union, in acknowledging the toast, said he was pleased the matter of the Thames Valley Rugby Union had been voiced. He was in correspondence with Wellington at the present time, and hoped soon to be able to announce that the Union’s efforts had been successful., One thing was certain, and that was the Paeroa Domain Board would have to give the footballers a better ground. So far fihe Thames Union had given them the cold shoulder, but that did not matter, ’A strong union coiUd be got together without!Thames, but he thought it ,would be to the ini terest of footbal.l if all the local unions were joined* together. There was no doubt they had the players, and it was only right that these players should get a game in international football.. < The Referees Association was toasted, and in speaking tp it Mr, Penlingt'on said that all would admit that ou the football ground the referee was the most important 'individual. Last year they had formed the association, and it had prov.ed a* good thing for football, and also good for the secretary of the Union. The association took charge of the matter and saw to it that referees were available. They had found a good man in Mr Bryden. He hoped to see the Goldfields Asso-i ciation working well next year, and thus be able to have ne.w referees for each match. .This could be done by interchanging with, affiliated associations. He thought that with the interchange of referees much help would be given to football. Mr W. Moore, in responding, said that he would like players to become more conversant with the rules of the game. They were all welcome to come to the referees’ meetings. If the rules were studied he was sure the games would be carried through much, better. The interchange cf referees would do much to 'help the game. PRESENTATION OF CAPS. Tn .presenting the- caps won x -he chairman said he regretted that Suburbs were not present, but the\ fault was not theirs. A reunion qAce a year brought the men ( intfb closer touch with each other, and helped them to understand one another better. He congratulated the winners. The caps for the Seniors were donated by Mr A. Robinson, of Hikun taia, and the winning team was: V. Young (capt.), J. Winder, A. McCoU lum, F. Hill, A. Morrison, P. Corbett, G. Asher, A. Royal, B. Burkhardt, 1,. Penticost, G. Fisher, A, Fisher, R. Md’-rison, A. Jones, W. McCollum 1 , W. Welch, J. Douglas, L. Buchanan. The Junior caps were donated by Mr D. McWatters, and the winners, who were lined up, were: J, Treanor

(capt.), A. Williams, W. Collett, J. Pretty, W. Whelan, H. Pennell, F. Thorp, A. Waldon, P. Morgan, H. Thorp, E. Moore, C. McNamara, Wilson, B. Rae, J. Baxter, Covan, M. Pennell, J. O’Brien, V. Vuglar, H. Campbell. i The caps for the Third Grade players were donated by Messrs Wells and Vuglar, and were duly presented to the boys, who were present! as fellows : D. Smith (capt.), L. Smith, D. Haskell, K. Couper, J. Denton, J. Neil, J. Walls, H. Moore, AL Vuglar, S. Kerr, G. Lawrence, C. Treanor, S. Samson, M. Rice, W. Whitley,- N. Denton, G. Thorp, H. Mclver, Garry, Bunting. In presenting the caps the chairman said that he trusted that the recipients .'w.ould not relax their efforts, especially the third grhde boys, who were just making ,a start and understanding the playing of. the great game of life. His heart went out to these young men, as they will be the coming men and the men to take up tjhe battles long after the old ones s are passed away, .-Three ringing cheers were then given for the victors, followed by the singing of “For they are jolly good fellows.” The toast of the Supporters of the Game was proposed by Mr Pehlington, and responded to by' Messrs Garry, Bramley, and S. Holes. “Kindred Sports,” by Mi; T. P. Vuglar, and replied to by Mr W.. Lawrence (crickr et) and Arch. White (golf). “Mr Arthur Bush,” proposed by Mr E. Edwards. “Selectors,” by Mr Penlington, and responded to by Messrs Barrett, Treanor, and Bramley. “The Press,” proposed by Mr Jim. Treanor, and responded to by Messrs W. D. Nicholas and E., Edwards. Songs during the evening were contributed by Messrs Whaley, Rawlinson, Trott], Edwards, and Tukekino, and pianoforts solo by Mr Coburn, The accompaniments duripg the evening were played by Messrs Stapleton and Clarke. < ' -