BANQUET AT TURUA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5480, 27 September 1929, Page 3

BANQUET AT TURUA.

FOOTBALLERS’ FUNCTION. PRESENTATION OF TROPHY. The Turua Football Club held its annual banquet to wind up the season and honour its friends and supporters last evening in the Turua Hall, over 200 people being present. Mr A. Tynan, president of the club, presided. After the loyal toast had been honoured and justice done to the sumptuous repast provided, a lengthy toastlist was honoured, the speeches being liberally interspersed with musical items.

Mr T. White, the proposer of the first toast, set a standard for briefness. He said that the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union comprised a hard-work-ing set of members, and they had had a hard, row to hoe. Mr H. Dent, president of the Union, in responding said there was no doubt that the union had had a hard row to hoe, for the year had been a difficult one ; but a good foundation had been laid for next season, and if supporters would rally round all the clubs as they always did to the Turua club there would be little difficulty in bringing the game up to its old standard, and then Hauraki Plains would have a union and a representative team to be proud of. He reminded those present that next year the Thames Valley Union would be sending a team on tour, and he expressed the hope that Hauraki Plains would be having such football as to command places in the touring team for many of its players.

The next toast was to the Turua Club and its senior team, which had won the union’s competition for the fourth time in ten years and thereby secured the Stretton-Pinchess Cup. Mr Dent, in proposing the toast, congratulated the club on its annual function, and said that it undoubtedly did much in the direction of fostering the game by bringing supporters into close touch with the club. The Turua club’" was looked upon as the most loyal club in the union. In asking Mr K. S. Graham, captain of the senior team, to receive the inter-club' trophy, Mr Dent said that his team was unfortunate in not winning the knock-out competition cup as well. He expressed the hope that the success would inspire the players to greater efforts. Mr Graham said that at the beginning of the season his team had been young, light, and inexperienced, but by practice they had been moulded into a combination strong enough to win the competition. The club’s success was very largely due to those staunch followers who had supported it through thick and thin. Mr G. Scott, senior selector, also responded, and recalled that at the beginning of the season it was thought that it would not be possible to get a team. However, as Mr Dent had said, the club wztfe unfortunate in not winning the knock-out competition. On the day of the match seven of the usual team were away and one was ill. During the season the senior team had scored 72 points and had only 12 points scored against it. The goalline had only been crossed once. In proposing the toast of “Kindred Sports” Mr W. Madgwick mentioned that a delegate had gone to Auckland that day to endeavour to arrange for a visit of the visiting English Cricket team.

The responders were Messrs Russell Green (cricket), J. Rogers (tennis), and R. Muller (hockey). Mrs H. Hill responded to a toast to the ladies, proposed by Mr J. T. Davies. Mr C. Scott’s toast ,to the C. 0.8. Club, Thames, was responded to by its president, Mr Arbury, and Mr K. Fox’s toast to the visitors was ackowledged by Mr T. Verran. The musical programme commenced with items by the “K” Boys’ Orchestra. Mr J.' Briggs sang “The Dear Little Girl” and “In an old-fashioned Town,” and later, with Mr L. Johnston, “Watchman, what of the night.” Mrs K. Fox delighted with “Coming Home” and “If I could only come to you,” and Mrs W. Clark sang “The Sunshine of Your Smile” and “By the Blue Lagoon.” Mr L. Johnston’s songs were “Come, Sing to Me” and “Chong.” Mr L. McElvride was recalled twice, his numbers being “Shipmates o’ Mine,” “The Mountains of Morn,” and “My Ain Folk.” Whistling items were given by Mr L. White, and humorous items by Mr T. Verran were so much appreciated that he was recalled three times. The final numbers were by Mr R. Muller, who gave elocutionary items.

The banquet over, willing hands cleared and removed the tables and a dance was held, the “K” Boys’ Orchestra providing the music.