THE PEACE CUP

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 195, 7 November 1927, Page 9

THE PEACE CUP

HISTORY OF PRESENTATION DONOR’S NAME DISCLOSED (From Our Own Correspondent) HAMILTON, Monday. For five years the Peace Memorial Cup trophy, now held by the Hamilton Rugby representative team, has been the object of keen rivalry among representative teams all over the Waikato. The competition aroused has contributed materially to the Rugby football code by yearly raising the standard of play. During the past season it was of inestimable value to Hamilton from a financial point of view, and its possession has been keenly sought by strong teams who have travelled to wrest it from the holders. Its presentation has been responsible in the main for the great advancement of Rugby football in the Waikato, but the identity of the donor, who preferred to remain anonymous, has never been disclosed to the public, and unassumingly he has been a frequent spectator* at matches for its possession. At a complimentary dinner tendered its representative team by the Hamilton Rugby Union on Saturday night, the name of the donor responsible greaily for improving the standard of Rugby football in the Waikato, was made known. HOW IT ORIGINATED When watching two teams struggling to dress in inadequate accommodation at Steele Park, some five years ago, Mr. R. English commented on the conditions, and the suggestion was made that if a trophy had been available for competition, the union might have been able to find the finances necessary to provide the required accommodation. Mr. R. English immediately announced his intention of coming forward in the direction required, and donated a trophy, which on the suggestion of Mr. Colin Speight, was named the Peace Memorial CUp. To the credit of Mr. English goes the honour attached to the presentation of the trophy, and to him are due the thanks of the Hamilton football fraternity, who are indebted primarily to the cup donor for the exciting Peace Cup matches they have witnessed.