RUGBY UNION

Marlborough Express, Volume L, Issue 81, 5 April 1916, Page 7

RUGBY UNION

The annual nieeting of the Mar> borongh Rugby .Union wag^al^ MonJav evening, when there were preS. Messrs Robson (in the chair), Jellvman, and Dunckiey. " ELECTION OW OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted:— President, Hr H. R. Bagge; vicenrcidents, Messrs H. Lanib and J. Strickland ancl Dr. Noble-Adams; was iixed for May Ist. ANNUAL REPORT.

Following is the annual report,. wh'uh was adopted:— :■ _ , Competitions. —Despite ,■ the laige number of players wlio had. gone on active service, the Union managed to conduct a senior, and junxof competition. Four teams entered 1 for the wsu-.nr competition, but > early in the season two clubs—the Central and. the ■Mcitcre—had to withdraw owing to a dearth of players.in their, respective <ii3trict3; This left thaOpawa and the Awatere to fight out the finish, which gave promise to be very interesting. However, before the final stages., the Awatere Club took excep-, tion to the Union's government, and without i/iving the notice required by the rules refused to play their notches. For their fracture or the ■rules the club has been fined £1 Is a^d all the members suspended until tl>o fine is paid. The fine is still1 un-p-ud. The junior competition was one of'die most interesting there,has been for years. Six * teams entered, including'the High School, who were ad^ m Sited" for the first time. The compoi ition nas keenly' fought, excellent fooi ball was played, and right to the fiimhthe result was id doubt. In the otid the Opawa team secured the verdVfc, from the Waitohi by one point only. A noticeable feature of the com-p.-ition was-the even quality of the teams at +he finish, two teams especi'iX\ly__the^Central and the Moutere A '•'-■— approving rapidly towards the close of the season. Although these two dir;lricts could not turn out a senior rteam throughout the season, there «see .is to be no danger of football Anguishing if they can. turn out such fiond juniors. Shool Football.—As in _ recent years, the >JJnron devoted funds to the «ncouragemeni of play between tlie SC;V\r>ols. " . .l>oniain. —A proposal to do away vritti the ' Domain grounds was made during* the past year. A strong current of public opinion soon manifested itself against this, and the ide^a was dropped. The Union was alive to the ' sitimtion, and ready to take steps to • proat-rve ihe interests'of footballers if nect.ssary. It would be a disastrous thing if such 'dn excellent ground, whai-o the Union .lias spent a good deal of money, should be lost to the community. " Probably the Borough Council will tp.ke it over in the near future, and footballers should see that they still further improve it. . Koferrcs —The. members or the Referees' Association continued their useful work. The thanks arid support of the Union and all players .are due ,to "hem. It should be remembered that there can be, no football without the referees. \ ' , Finance.—Despite the, adverse circu.vistances,. the Union managed to slightly improve its position as regards finance. The position, however, is a poor one, and will not be satisfactory until the Union £ets rid of its overdraft. The gate receipts were only £13 for the season, as against £06 last season. General. —The Union trusts that all lovers of football will endeavor to keep the game going during these trying times. A good footballer is a better nia?i for it, and makes a good soldier.

It is an outstanding'fact, that so.many Marlboro ugh men at the front' who lia^o writ their, names so-large and

Marlboro'.fgh players and supporters. Those for whom the whistle has gone have played the game for a great cause, an'«.l they at least have won. Honor to them. . During the year our esteemed president, Mr J. L. Lord, left the district. He has worked hard and successfully \ for football for a number of years, i and his loss is a .severe Qp.e.