FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5197, 31 October 1927, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

POLAND CUP PRESENTATION. SOCIAL AT WAIHI. The Waihi Rugby Union’s annual smoke concert for the presentation of trophies was held op Saturday evening, October 22, Mr S. H. Walmsley (president) in the chair. The visitors present included the president of the Thames Valley Union (Mr J. W. Silcock), the president of the Paeroa Rugby Union (Mr C. T. Mettam), and the treasurer of the Thames Valley Union (Mr J. Walmsjley). TRIBUTE TO WAIHI TEAM. The proceedings were opened with the toast of “The King/’ accompanied by the singing of the National Anthem, Mr Met,tam presiding at the piano. Mr Silcock, in proposing the toast of “The Waihi Team,” the winners of the Frank Poland Memorial Cup, referred to the fact that this cup was the, major trophy of the Thames Valley Rugby Union. Undoubtedly the Waihi team had proved itself the best individual team in the field during the past, season, and it was rather unfortunate that the team had not competed for the Peace Cup, as he felt, sure that had it done so the coveted cup .would have come to Waihi. The men of the Waikato had indicated that the Wajhi team was the best union fifteen that had played in the South Auckland district. It was a very difficult thing for country players to get representation in the big games. To bring this about their play had to be, generally speaking, about 20 per cent, better than the city player, because of the fact that the New Zealand selectors 'had not the same opportunity of seeing country players. In the future Thames Valley would be able to put forward a team which would bei justified in meeting metropolitan teams in New Zealand, and the individual players would then get recognition. It would be recalled that the district had provided a good many AU Black flayers. They had excellent material, and it was up to the young players io stick to the game. The football field usually found the man, and if they played the game it brought ou,t the man. HISTORY OF THE CUP. The speaker then gave a short.resume of the history of the Thames Valley Union, and stated that its finances had, during the year in common with other unions, suffered, as the result of so many wet Saturdays. Before presenting the cup he briefly referred to its history, stating that it had been presented by Mr H. Poland, the late mejnber of Parliament for the district, and Mrs Polatnd in memory of '.their son Frank, w ho was killed in the Great War in O’ctober, 1917. The deceased .was a member of the Goldfields team, and one of a great football family. Mr H. Poland had also in the earlier days "been one of Auckland’s best forwards, and for the last 15 years there had alv zaysi been a member of the family plai ying in representative matches. I. n handing the cup to the captain of the Waihi team (T. Black), he said he would like to state that the; Iteam had created unusual interest 4 uring the past season’s play, and it 1 therefore afioided him very great inleasure to present the trophy. The: W.aihi team was comprised of a vej'y fine', class of men, a tribute he could endorse from personal -.xperience 'of the r-layers, and he would urge u’pon them 1 to continue to play footba’n for th© - love of the game. ‘ ' THE CAPTA.IN

Mr Black-, reply jng, said it gav-e him great pleasure t<j receive this trophy, and he hoped tljat next year whoever was captain of the successful ream would have t’jfie. same pleasure. He trusted that ini the; future Waihi would hold up their end of the stifrk, ana not le4 the cup pass out of their hands if they could avoid itHe cou’ .a only add his best thanks to Mr Sil C o C k for the nice things he had said f ipout the team. M’r Mettam, in adding his tribute t° the winners, said he xas only too P 1 eased to have t,he opportunity of congratulating the team on fhe distinction achieved in winning the Poland Memorial Cup. It had beep a treajt to the followers of the game to see the Waiihi fifteen in action. He was of the opinion that a lot of the; success of the team was due to Mr C. Dillimore, amd the Waihi Union owed a debt of gratitude to that gentleman for his fine effort.

Responses were made by the chairman, and ; the secretary (Mr H. Mullins). Mr- Walmsley said it had been his privilege to occupy the position of president of the Waihi Union for over 20 ye;ars. During that period they had been successful in holding the Sharebrokers’ Cup for six years, but this w as thie first, occasion that Waihi had becm successful in annexing the Pc iland Cup, and they wer& naturally ] jroiid of the achievement. TH E PARENT UNION. Mr D. M [cPhersom in proposing the toast of ‘ ‘The Thaanes Valley Rugby Union,” s ;aid he had followed the work of the union very closely and could sa;r thjrit; the officers were a hard-wor king a md painstaking body. The Tha mes Va lley schoolboys’ touring team, had co 'me back loaded with honours, and for- the second time in succession had k teen .able to win the Roller Mills S hield. The Valley Union deserved every credit for obtaining a. trop ihy for competition amongst the schc wlboys of the Thames Valley district, and Messrs Fleming and Son (Paerc ia), were entitled the schoolboys’ best thanks for their generous gift of ! the shield. THE RE FEREE’S JOB.

The chairman, in proposing the toast of “The R degrees,” said that he had heard it s; ijd that the referee’s job wag the wc irSt of the lot, arid he believed it.. Th e referee had to plea&e 30 men, and b t behoved every footballer to rem&r ftifcxer that.

Mr J. Manni ix, in responding, paid a high tribut< 3 to the secretary of the Thames V 'alley Union, Mr W. D. Nicholas, parti culafly l referring to his courtesy and f icjpfulness in his correspondence.