FOOTBALLERS’ SMOKER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5033, 29 September 1926, Page 3

FOOTBALLERS’ SMOKER.

FUNCTION AT NGATEA. PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES. The Ngatea Football Club hejd a smoke concert in the Public Hall last evening to wind up the season. In the absence of the president (Mr J. Costello) on account of ilness Mr H. Dent, vice-president, presided. After the loyal toast and a musical item by Messrs Rooney (pianol) and King (flute), Mr G. T. Davidpon proposed the-toast of the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union. Mr C. S. Foster responded, and spoke of the difficulties encountered in the formation of the union on account of the opposition of outside bodies, until the Thames Valley Unidn took the district under its care. It must be admitted that since its formation the union had been able to field a good teajn and one that could put up a good fight. The difficulties of running a unioh in a district so scattered as the Plainp were great, and players and the public were sometimes’liable to think that the. union was -asleep or was not doing all that it could. There was no doubt that club matches had suffered on a.cco'unt of the number of representative matches. However, the union had to fulfil its. obligations. Challenge matches, were expensive items and, though very nice for the players, it could not be expected that the union could stand the strain as could unions which had been in existence for 10 or 20 years. Hauraki Plains should undoubtedly have won both the -Peace and the Birch cups. It was not the fajilt of the union. It cost from £25 to £3O to take a team to Thames,, and the visits, were feeding the Thames union and keeping their own-union poor. The income of the union for the season 'was £135 18s 5d and the expenditure £139 Is 9d to date. If the playing, of challenge matches, was to be continued the matter would have to be entered into properly. The Plains had the men available, and if they turned out they would win, and the.n the union’.would be able to acquire a -ground xff its own. - -■ -

The toa-st to the Ngatea Club was entrusted to Mr E. A l . Mahoney, the club coach, who paid a tribute to the players as a body of fine, clean, sporting fellows, who had played throughout the season against continued bad luck, including.severe, casualties,.

Responding, Mr H l .' Dent said that the club had made considerable progress during the year. New ground had been broken in visiting Auckland and putting up a good showing against a. team that had almost beaten the champion city club team. The Auckland unio’n officials had been surprised at the standard of football played, and there was. every prospect of several such matches next Reason. Mr De,nt congratulated the Turua; Club on winning the club championship and thereby the Strettbn-Pinchess Cup, and announced that it was his intention to donate a cup for senior competition.

The toast of “Kindred Sports” was proposed by Mr E. Martin and responded to by Messrs E. Bqrtelsen on behalf of the Tennis Club and A. Ludlow on behalf of the cricketers. Mr Bertelsen urged footballers tb take an interest in tennis, as it was a sport in which the ladies who assisted football could take part. The Ngatea Tennis Club had launched, out, and itsl ex-, penditure was greater than that of the football club or the rugby union. With a greater measure of supporf it would be able to carry bn to the benefit of players, the township, and the district.

A tdast very enthusiastically honoured. was that to Mrs Costello, who had always been willing to attend those players who had been injured on the Ngatea field. It was proposed by Mr H. Dent and responded to by Mr E. French,. one of the players who had received first-aid from Mrs Costello. He spoke of the high esteem in which she was held by all those teams which visited Ngatea.

The Patetonga Shield, which had been won by the Ngatea junior teain ! for the third year in succession, was then presented by Mr C. S. Foster«to the club captain, A. Kilgour,, who briefly responded. The medal, donated by Mr H. Dent for the best all-round senior player was then presented by" Mr Foster. The recipient was R. McPherson, who, Mr Foster said, was a good all-round footballer, a clean player, and undoubtedly the best forward bn the Plains. The medal donJa’ted by Mr H. Dun-, can for the best all-round junior player was then presented to R. Phillips. Other toasts honoured were. "The Referees,” "The Team Captains,” Messrs H. Duncan and A. Kilgour; “The Club Secretary,” Mr E. Bertelsen; “The President,” Mr J. Costello.