FOOTBALL DINNERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5292, 27 June 1928, Page 3

FOOTBALL DINNERS.

THAMES TEAM ENTERTAINED. GOODWILL AND FRIENDSHIP. At the conclusion of the Thames v. Paeroa match qn Saturday the Thames team aftd members of the Thames Rugby Union were the guests of the Paeroa Union at a complimentary dinner at the ROyal -Maiil -Hotel, in the unavoidable absence of Wle chairman of the local union (Mr W. P. Pennell) the Rev. Father J. TTaylor presided'. The chairman extended a hearty welcome to the visitors and congratulated the team on its victory. 'After .apologising for the absence of the president of the Thames Valley Union (Mr J. -W. Silcock), Father Taylor expressed the hope that the time was not far distant when Thames would again bring a team to Paeroa. The game thqt afternoon had been played cleanly, .and was thoroughly enjoyed by the spectators. , At the call of the chairman the' toijist to the Thames Rugby Union was enthusiastically honoured. Tn acknowledging the tribute Mi’ ‘J. W. Danby returned thanks for the generous hospitality received and for x the complete arrangements.- made for - their comfort and welfare. Referring to the afternoon’s match. Mr Danby said that -it had been played without any show of spite or injury, :a,nd it had been a really good* game. He. congratulated the local steam on the fine showing it (had made, and conveyed greetings and expressions of goodwill from Thames to Paeroa Rugby enthusiasts. Thames and Pae. r.o-a, were really sister unions, it being only a matter of territory between them. He would like to see Thames andkPaeroa play together more often. In conclusion, he wished the local union every success and prosperity, and assured.the Paeroa team of a good'time when it played the return match at Thames. ; Mr W. J. Arbury, manager of the visiting te.am, also acknowledged the • welcome and expressed his appreciation of the hospitality received. In proposing the toast to the Paeroa Rugby Uni’on Mr R. Rhodes said that it had given him pleasure to see Thames and Paeroa play for the Birch Cup, and a really good game resulted. The speaker said he regretted that Mr Silcock was not present, as he wished to right a wrong statement thought to have been said 'about the Thames Valley Union. He wished it to be clearly understood that he had no feelings of antagonism against either the Valley or Paeroa, unions. He had always regarded them as sportsmen and gentlemen, an(l so long as he was connected with football he would always treat them as Such. In reply, Mr J. Pinder said that it was desirable to foster football between the two towns, and in his; opinion, because a member of the Thames Union Ira.d passed a remark that had been misconstrued that was no reason why the local union should stand on its dignity and ignore Thames. The I*l union was lookihg forward to the..return match at Thames, and a big effort would be made to bring the Bi’rch Cup to Paeroa. Other toasts honoured were “The Paeroa and Thames. Teams,” “The Referees,” and “The Selectors.” The happy little function was brought to a close with the‘singing of the National Anthem and rounds of .. cheers. AN AUCKLAND TEAM ON PLAINS. NGATEA entertains suburbs. After the Ngatea and Auckland Subcurbs Rugby football teams had played their match on Saturday last the two teams dined together at the Kerepeehi Hotel. Mr H. Dent, president of the Ngatea, Club and also of the. Hauraki Plains. Rugby Union, presided, and a few of the officials and members of both bodies were also present. Afer justice had. been done to the excellent fare provided', a,;short toastlist was honoured'. In proposing a toast to the visitors Mr Dent said that the Ngatea Club had very pleasant recollections, of its visit to Auckland Suburbs last season, and looked forward to being able to again play at Avondale or Eden Park later in the present season. The match that after, noon was the first occasion on which an Auckland team had- played on the Hauraki Plains, and the benefit was <■ bound to be far-reaching, among players .and spectators alike. The visiting backs had complained to him that’ they did not get an opportunity to show out, and he had replied, that it was because the Ngatea forwards had been too good for them. Mr, R. C. Abel, captain of the Ngatea. team and an ex-member of the ■ Suburbs team, also spoke to the toast ' and expressed the hope that the inter. , change of visits would become an an- ‘ nual fixture. There was ho doubt that the visits would do good. He assured the visitors that the spectators had ’ keenly enjoyed watching their style of , play. 1 Mr G. Orral, secretary of the Suburbs Club and a player, replied to the : toast. He said that his team cohsid- { fered itself lucky to have won. The J members, had had a good time, and would be glad to return to Ngatea next season. He extended a welcome * to the Ngatea team to play in Auck. land later in tllie season and to join the club at its annual smoke concert. Mr McLeod, captain of the visiting . team, proposed a toast, to the Ngatea ( Club, and Mr Dent responded. A toast to kindred clubs was pro- j posed-by Mr G. T. Davidson, referefe, c and was responded to by Mr E. Kelly, of itab Thames Rugby Union, and Mr N. clay, of the Kerepeehi Club. Ih proposing a toast to the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union Mr E. A. Mahoney spoke of the day’s match as an exhi.h’tion of town versus country style of 1 football. The tendency of city football was to get ,a team of fifteen 1 backs, and while he was of the ’opinion that they would not stand up to a < team of forward's, of equal merit, there was no denying that the city 1 team's, got their men into the international touring teams. The country was always years behind the cities, as it played the old game of Rugby- 1

He had noticed that members of the Ngatea team had been quick to copy the tactics of the visitors. Mr Dent acknowledged the toast. A great compliment was paid Mr G. T. Davidson, who had refereed the match, by Mr Greensmith when proposing a toast to Iris health. Mr Davidson had given an exhibition of refereeing which, he was sorry to say, had not been seen by any of his; team for many a long day. He had shown that he knew the game from A to Z, and his manner had quickly gained the confidence of the players. Replying, Mr Davidson said that he considered he was the Worst referee in the association, and* being president he ought to know. He acknowledged that he was keen ’on the game, and gave of h's best, so was glad his elfforts were appreciated. He thought that the better team had won, not because it had the better men but because of their finish. He was sure that the Ngatea players would derive much benefit from the visit. A visitor, Mr Forsvthe, speaking on refereeing in a critical but friendly manner, expressed the opinion that the ' Plains was behind the times with Rugby rules. They did not stick strictljr to the old rules nor yet to the new rules. He urged the Referees’ Association to meet every week for the- purpose of discussing the previous Saturday’s games and) the rules of the game. A toast to Mr R. Rowlins, selector of the Ngatea team, was proposed by Mr Abel, captain, and duly responded ttff and toasts, to the host, Mr F. Rogers and his staff, completed the I’st.

After. “Auld Lang Syne” had been sung, an adjournment was made to the Ngatea Hall, where a dance was held.

Vocal items, were given during the evening by several of the visitors.