FOOTBALL

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 129, 22 April 1926, Page 8

FOOTBALL

PUTARURU RUGBY UNION. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of .the above union was held in the Oddfellows Hall, Putaruru, on Tuesday, Mr. C. K. Francis (vice-president) presiding over a very good attendance. Mr. C. D. Brown was elected secretary for the meeting. NEW CLUB. On the motion of Messrs. Gasparich and Fergus the newly-formed Putaruru club was elected to membership of the union. PAST SEASON. Messrs. Gasparich and Griffiths explained the difficulties encountered during the past season due to lack of proper organisation, and a lucid statement of the finances by ,the former was received" with loud applause. The statement showed that the union commenced the season with debts amounting to just under £3O, which had been wiped out. Medals to the value of £l7 17s had been provided by the union, and, though all had been promised as donations, only four had been paid for. At the close of the season there was an amount of £lO in hand, with outstanding ac‘counts totalling £l7. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Tire election of officers resulted as follows : Patron, Mr. A. G. Leggatt; president, Mr. W. Yandle ; vicepresidents, Messrs. H. Jensen (Te Whetu), Hollard and J. W. S. McArthur (Selwyn), W. R. Pass (Waotu), Linwall (Arapuni), A. Pearce and H. S. Weightman (Puketurua), P. V/. A. Handman (Arapuni), M. Henderson (Ngongotaha), J. W- Barr Brown and 1 C. K. Francis (Putaruru) and Roy Lee (Arapuni) ; management committee, Messrs. A. C. Thompson, C. K. Francis, J. W. Barr Brown, C. Brown, H. Bennett and J. S. Smith ; selectors, Messrs. H. Jensen (seniors) and G. G. Griffiths (juniors) ; hon. auditor, Mr. S. J. Parker ; hon. secretary, Mr. G. G. Griffiths, (assistant) C. D. Brown ; hon. treasurer, Mr. J. G. Gasparich. HARMONIOUS SPIRIT. A long discussion took place before the appointment of the secretary and the treasurer, the two jobs going begging. Eventually, on the understanding that the management was i o follow business lines, the offices were filled as above. Throughout the whole meeting any difficulties encountered were faced by delegates present in a most sporting manner and the tone displayed augurs well for the coming season, which promises to be one of the most successful yet held. INTERMEDIATE LEAGUE. Mr. J. IV. Barr Brown strongly advocated the formation of an intermediate leag-ue to cater for boys leaving school. If established by the union, the speaker offered to provide a banner for the competition. (Loud applause.)

PUTARURU MATCHES. Mr. J. O. Pettit (Te Whetu), on behalf of his club, offered to play all matches at Putaruru provided other clubs agreed to the proposal. The Te Whetu delegate strongly urged 1 the necessity of clubs supporting the union, and he asked other delegates to assist in this manner. The proposal was warmly received and was left in the hands of the executive. AMENDED RUETES. Mr. Pettit further urged that the amended rules be played ; in particular he urged that players should keep behind the back of the scrum till the ball came out. This question also was left in the hands of the executive. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. At a meeting of the management committee held at the close of the annual meeting of delegates Mr. J. W. Barr Brown was elected chairman. It was decided that nominations for all grades for this season close on Monday, May 3, and that the maximum weight for third grade players be 9st 71b. Permission was given the Putaruru team to play Tirau, and a challenge was authorised for the Finlay Cup. It was decided .that the remit of the Morrinsville union in regard to sole receive the strong support of the union. NOTES. The Finlay Cup challenges received' by the Waikato Rugby Union to date are from the Waipa, Morrinsville and Matamata sub-unions, in that order. At a meeting of the management committee of the Waikato union on Friday night it was decided that the other sub-unions be written to asking them to submit their challenges before the annual meeting this week. The total cost of the Waikato union’s tour last season is given in the balance-sheet at £298 13s 9d. Of this rum £124 was received from the unions vimed, leaving a loss c 1 the 'our of £124. This was £26 less than ’.he estimated cost. Regardi ig the tour the committee’s report reads:— “ For the first time since 1921 the union sent its representatives on tour under the management of Mr. Y. A. Cooper, who, on his return, spoke in high praise of the conduct of the team whilst under his control. Five matches were played, three being won and two lost, so that the tour must be considered as very satisfactory, especially as after the first match, which was against Hawke’s Bay, no less than 8 players were on the casualty list. Return matches from the unions visited have been promised in the 1926 season and will no doubt have good effect on football in the Waikato and also provide much needed finance.