FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5413, 19 April 1929, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

HAURAKI PLAINS RUGBY UNION ANNUAL REPORT DISCUSSED. The Hauraki Plains Rugby Union held its annual general meeting at Ngatea on Monday evening, Mr H. Dent presiding over Messrs N. Clay, W. Clifford, C. Murray, W. Green, A. H. McClean, C. A. Hayward, A. Taylor, P. Williams, C. Foster, G. T. Davidson, R. Rowlings, R. C. Abel, E. C. Barriball, B. Tynan, W. Madgwick, A. H. Sutton, J. L. V. Reed, E. A. Mahoney, and W. Wylde (hon. secretary). An apology was received from the Hauraki Plains West Club’s delegate. Annual Report. The annual report was read as follows :— “In reporting on the progress of Rugby footgall in Hauraki Plains during the season 1928 it is disappointing to have to record a poor season and a low standard of play. It was again obvious that there were too many socalled senior grade teams, for most clubs experienced difficulty in maintaining' their seniors up to full numerical strength. While this state of affairs is. allowed to prevail the standard of play will not improve, and as an increase in the number of players in the district is not likely, consideration should be given to means of curing the trouble, and in that connection the abolition of all club boundaries seems the only solution. Experience has shown that under the present system no advancement can be made. “The lowering of the standard of play is again reflected in the support given the matches by the public, arid for financial reasons, if for no other, it is imperative that something be done. “Including the Dent Cup matches eight games were played, as compared with nine in the previous year, and only one gate was affected by wet weather. The reduction in the gate receipts, donations, and affiliation fees, coupled with an increase in expenditure, has meant the drawing on the accumulated funds for the sum of £32. Compared with the previous season, transportatiori cost £l9 18s less, owing to fewer matches, and footballs £8 12s 6d less, as no balls were bought for schools ; but jerseys cost £6 10s more, refreshments £l2 more (largely on account of the visit of the Varsity team), while the Thames Valley Rugby Union levied £3 Is fid on its competition gates and £5 Is 6d was paid on account of the previous year. < 1 “Some years ago, when the union’s credit was over £5O, and .clubs were experiencing a lean time, the union agreed to go without its gate thirds and to increase the affiliation fee to £5. This was reduced to £3 in later years,, though the ..legal affiliation-fee is £2 12s 6d. It appears desirable to increase the levy on clubs to again make the total £5, and the present time seems an opportune one, as it is probable that the insurance fund levy can be reduced this season. Inter-Union Matches. “Poland Cup Coinpetition: The senior representatives played six Poland Cup matches and won three, scoring 43 points and having 45 scored against them. “Sharebrokers ‘ Cup Competition : i Against the wishes of your delegates, the Thames Valley Union reduced the junior competition to one round. The few matches played by the juniors in the inter-club competition reflected in the standard of play in the representative games, for no matches were won and the cup .which was held the previous season was lost. The teams scored 14 points and had 37 points scored against them. “Challenge Cup Matches : The seniors played their challenge match against. Thames for the Birch Cup at Ngatea, and were beaten by 16 to 6. It was intended to play a return match later in the season, but this was postponed until the 1929 season. “The juniors were beaten in both their matches against Thames. “For the first time a visit from an Auckland team was arranged, and it was disappointing that the weather was very bad. However, the match was interesting and instructive, and demonstrated the value of such visits. Inter-Club Competition. “Stretton-Pinchess Cup: The senior grade competition commenced on April 21, and was concluded on July 7. For the first time for many years all the matches were played. The Ngatea Club won the cup, this being the second time. “The Patetonga Shield : The number of junior teams taking part in the competition was three, for though the Waitakaruru Club entered a team it did not play any matches. In the previous season there were six teams. Each team played four matches, the Turua team winning the shield for the third time. “Dent Cup : The best football of the season was seen in the knock-out competition for the Dent Cup. This was won by the Turua team for the second time. “Terrill Cup : The inter-school competition was won for the third year by the Kerepeehi school, which becomes the owner of the Terrill Cup. The Hauraki Plains Primary Schools Rugby Union, which was formed during the season to administer, the school games, has pronounced against school teams playing for trophies, and it has undertaken to arrange friendly matches. “Third Grade Matches : During the season three third grade teams were formed and several friendly games were played. It is gratifying to see that clubs are beginning to take an interest in these young players. Insurance Scheme. “The insurance scheme against football accidents amply proved its value during the season, and was generally supported. Of every eleven players ten were insured with the union, and when it is taken into conthat several players have 'weir own private accident insurance, the support is very satisfactory. However, 16 claims were made on the

fund. The credit balance, which stood at £l4 7s lOd at the beginning of the season, was increased to £2B 6s lOd, so it might be possible to slightly reduce the annual levy on clubs. “The receipts were made up of levies on clubs and union, £36 15s ; players, £6O 7s 6d. The expenditure was the amount paid to doctor, £9 19s 6d, and to players, £72 6s 6d. Referees. Insufficient referees were available during the season, and the organisation of the Referees’ Association was not as satisfactory as was desirable, with the result that at times the union had to find men to act as referees. It seems necessary to have this important branch put on a better basis, and to evolve a scheme to make refereeing more attractive. Thanks. "Thanks are due to the officials, the referees, and to the many persons who assisted in many ways during the season.” Balance-Sheet. The balance-sheet showed that the year started with a credit of £4l 12s 9d and finished with a balance of £l2 13s lid. The total receipts for the year was £9l 12s 9d, and the expenditure £123 12s 9d. ? The balance of assets over liabilities was set down at £27 2s fid. Arising out of the discussion on the annual report, it was decided to increase the amount of the affiliation fee and union levy on clubs to £5 per annum. There was some opposition to this, but it was pointed out that the union ‘had had to draw on its reserve to the extent of £32 in the past season, and that it would have to have increased, revenue to be able to carry on. Thames Valley Matches. The president explained that the delegates to the Thames Valley Rugby Union had done theii’ best to have the Poland Cup competition reduced to one round, and theii’ efforts should be continued this season. Mr W. Madgwick said that the two rounds of the Poland Cup took up so much time that the union had no freedom to arrange visits from Auckland teams. These visits, as experience had shown, did more good in demonstrating' styles of play than did Thames Valley matches. After other delegates had spoken it was agreed that the Thames Valley Union be again urged to reduce the competition to one round, and to make the junior competition the same number of rounds as the Poland Cup. Third Grade Teams. I The president said that it was encouraging to see that clubs were beginning to foster the third-grade teams. It was undoubtedly a step in the right direction. The Insurance Scheme. Mr Clay urged that the third-grade players be allowed to participate in the union’s insurance scheme. Mr Madgwick thought the thirdgrade players should contribute at the same rate as did junior players, but the levy on clubs should be increased, as otherwise the fund would have to bear the additional risk without additional subsidy. Mr Mahoney considered that the insurance fund had not yet built up a sufficient reserve to enable it to take on additional risks or to reduce the basis of contribution in any way. Mr Clay suggested that if a reduction in the contribution was made it should be in the direction of reducing the players’ weekly payment to the fund rather than the levy on clubs. Mr Madgwick explained the Turua Club’s scheme, whereby all players were insured, and urged other clubs to adopt a similar method. It was agreed that the basis of contribution to the fund by players and clubs remain as at present, and that the question of admitting third-grade players be referred to the insurance committee for a recommendation. Refereeing. Arising out of the clause in the annual report concerning the shortage of referees last season, Mr G. T. Davidson, last year’s president of the Referees’ Asociation, said that the annual meeting of the association had been called for last Saturday evening, but no one had turned up, so the position this season appeared more unsatisfactory than in the past. In the past year the referees had dealt with players as they thought fit, but it appeared to them that the union’s judicial committee had not been severe enough with offenders. Some referees had become disgusted, and would not continue to act. He and Mr Reed had a suggestion to advance. This- was that delegates to the union endeavour to get the old players of their respective districts to agree to act as referees, the administration to be by the Rugby Union. He pointed out that up to the present most of the meetings of the association had been held in Ngatea, and as the Ngatea members had always taken the greatest interest, it had gradually developed into a Ngatea association instead of a Hauraki Plains body. He was of opinion that it would be difficult to get referees for the present season. Mr Mahoney asserted that the judicial board had dealt fairly with players sent before it; but it was not going to punish a player when it was obvious that the referee had made a mistake. Speaking as a referee, he would point out that he had never been given a match by the association during the whole of the season, but had taken three matches at the invitation of the Rugby Union. Mr Davidson said the association had understod that Mr Mahoney was not willing to act. Mr Dent supported Mr Davidson’s suggestion, and expressed the opinion that there were plenty of capable referees among the ex-players of the district. Mr Madgwick urged that the old differences and any imaginary ones between the association and the union be buried, and an effort be made to pull together for the good of the game. It was agreed that all delegates should endeavour to procure referees in their respective districts and notify

Mr Reed, secretary of the association, who would call a meeting. Officials. In vigw of the alteration of club boundaries, the full list of appointments was not made. Mr W. G. Hayward was reappointed patron, Mr H. Dent was reappointed president, Mr W. P. Wylde reappointed secretary and treasurer, and Mr E. L. Walton reappointed auditor and accorded a vote of thanks for his past services. Club Matches. The Turua, Kerepeehi, and Ngatea clubs applied for and were granted permission to play matches with outNext Meeting. side teams on Saturday next. It was agreed that the next meeting be held on Tuesday, April 23.