FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4403, 19 April 1922, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

PLAINS RUGBY UNION. 4. SECOND ANNUAL MEETING. The second annual meeting of the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union was held at Ngatea last Wednesday afternoon. Mr W. J. Costello presided. The following delegates were present : Messrs R. McCullough, T. Cashen (Patetonga) ; G. A. Avey, P. Aro (KA’epeehi) ; D. Green (Ngatea) ; C. Clark (Waitakaruru) ; and D. A. Vincent, hpn. secretary.. Delegates, from the Tarua club (Messrs A. C. Scott, C. K. Fox, and G. Porteous) also attended. but indicated that they did not intend affiliating at present. They were to report to a general meeting of their club. REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The hon. secretary, Mr D. A. Vincent, . presented the following report: For a first season football in this district has been very creditable, three senior and three junior teams playing under the newly-formed Hauraki Rugby Union. Three rounds were played by the seniors for a cup presented by Messrs Stretton and Pinchers, of Waitakaruru, and which was won by the Waitakaruru club after a series of very even games. The juniors much neglected, although they were playing for a very handsome shield, presented bv Patetonga, but this year, with the material available the Union will need to look after and further the interests of junior football. Travelling is and has been a great difficulty, but we trust, with the improving roads', to be in a better position in future in this respect. Smoke concerts and entertainments have been a great drain on the clubs’ and union’s finances, and I think we should cut, them down to a minimum this season. Last season we decided to affiliate with the Goldfiedls Rugby Union, but we were handicapped by being too late in the season. Paeroa Union kindly sent a team to Ngatea, and beat us. We, however, defeated them in the return game shortly after at

Paeroa. This was a very creditable performance for a young team. A match was arranged with the Waihi Union, but did not eventuate owing to difficulty in getting players,, away so late in the season,. At the commencement of last season we affiliated W'th the Auckland Rugby Union, but owing to the hostile attitude of Thames Rugby Union this affiliation fell through, although the Auckland Rugby Union accepted our fee, and have not returned for -which I think we should ask for 'a refund. The Thames Referees Association gave us every support by sending over referees on four when the club teams had been, so even that the fairest way we could see was to engage outside referees. Although the expense was heavy, the results were highly satisfactory. We challenged for the Peace Cup, but the Thames Rugby Union shelved the challenge. I hope the ■challenge will again be made this year, as I feel sure pur players will give a good account of themselves. Finance.—The amount held by Mr Wallis was uncertain at the time our balance-sheet was drawn up, but I have now ascertained that the amount was £7 9s 7d, instead of £6, as shown oji 1 the balance-sheet, which will show a balance of £5 3s 6d of liabilities over assets.. This amount the three clubs will be called on to meet, as arranged at the beginning of the season. I trust that the friendly and sporting spirit hitherto shown will continue. The balance-sheet included: Expenditure : refreshments and dinners, £lO 10s 9d. Receipts : Gate receipts, Paeroa-Plains match, £l4 Bs. Cash in hand, Ils 9d. The statements of assets and liabilities, showed that £l3 7s 6d was owing to sundry creditors, ami assets totalled £6 14,s lid, leaving a debit, balance oft £6 12s 7d. Commenting on .the balance-sheet, Mr Cashen said the position was not unsatisfactory, seeing it was the first year. Mr Costello said that with more clubs the position should be more satisfactory this season. The balance-feheet was adopted. SECRETARY AND PRESIDENT. Mr Costello proposed a hearty vo’e of thanks to the secertary for ais able administration and the suitable presentation of the accounts and report. A new organisation required a great deal of work, and the present satisfactory state of affairs reflected on Che ability of the secretary. Mr Cashen added his quota of praisd. saying that Mr Vincent had battled, very hard in getting representative fixtures. He seconded Mr Costello’s motion, which was parried

by acclamation. On the motion of Mi Vincent a 'hearty vote of thanks was carried by acclamation to the retiring president, Mr Costello. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected: Patrons, Messrs H. Poland and T. W. Rhodes, M’s.P.; president, Mr W. J. Costello; vice-presidents, Messrs Tapper, Reidy, Cotter, Potoky, A- McDonald. J. Gratwick, J. K. Hodge, and R. Muir (Patetonga),. Elliott, W. Stretton/ Clover, J. T. Williams, 0. W. Harris, C. W. Parfitt, and J. Dalgety (Waitakarurii), J. H. Nicholson, A. Chatfield, R. L. Davis, E. Taylor, J. M. Thompson, R. Connor, P. Henry (Kerepeehi), W. G. Hayward, H. Johnstone, E, Harvey, T. McClean, L. Rowntree, A. Cleaver (Ngatea) ; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mr D. A. Vincent; management committee, Messrs Cashew, McCullough (Patetonga), C. Clark, F. Stretton (Waitakaruru), Aro, Avey (Kerepeehi), D. Green, C. Smith (Ngatea) ; hon. auditor, Mr E. Walton. The appointment of selector was deferred. The meeting decided to move immediately in the forming of a referees’ association. KEREPEEHI CLUB. OFFICERS ELECTED. A meeting of footballers was held in Kerepeehi early in the month, and it was decided to form a Kerepeehi first, and, if possible, second, fifteen, to be affiliated with the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union. Mr J. H. Nicholson was voted to the chair. Mr R Cahill was appointed secretary, and Messrs G. A. A'vey and P. Aro delegates tp the Rugby Union.