FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1922, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

TUKAPA CLUB’S SMOKE CONCERT. CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD PRESENTED. About 150 members and. supporters of the Tukapa Football Club, together with representatives from sister clubs, gathered at the Kawaroa Park bungalow last night on the occasion of the annual smoke concert and presentation of medals. Apologies were received from Dr. Fookes (preaident), Mr. C. Brown (club captain) and the Hawera Football Club, -who congratulated Tukapa on winning the championship. After the loyal toast had been honored, Mr. A. R. Standish proposed tho toast of the “Taranaki Rugby Union,” who were to be congratulated on a very successful season. The inauguration last year of the one division had proved undoubtedly the beet method of carrying oh the cup competitions. Mr. J. McLeod (chairman of the Taranaki Rugby Union) assured those present that he had great pleasure in being present, seeing that this wa® the first occasion to present the McMaetera Shield to the Tukapa Club. He was pleased to know that the Rugby Union was being subjected to more criticism than ever befn l *?. as it showed the interest being taj n in the game. Tukapa was the main club in New Plymouth, and New Plymouth was the main town in Taranaki, and he knew that the club was not going to take a parochial view of football in the province. Bv force of circumstances New Plymouth had this year carried the load of the Rugby Union, a fact that might affect the coffers of the Tukapa Club, but it had helped the smaller clubs. Though probably the highest team in the competition the team had showed how much depended on fitness and the finesse of club football.

“The Tukapa Football Club” was proposed by Mr. A. Smith, who described the members of the club as the finest crowd of sports anyone could wish to meet. He recalled that the last time Tukapa won the championship was when they beat Waimate in 1904, and the team included al! the old familiar names of players who had been famous throughout the Dominion. Tt was very fine to know that the club w iJ still represented in All Black football. Among those who were in the last champion Tukapa team were Standish, Mynott, Frewin, Fookes, Smith and Loveridge. Representatives in All Black teams had been D. Watson, Hugh Mills, Alf. Bayly, O’Dowda, Mynott, Brown, Loveridge, Stohr and Kingston. Mr. G. (“Babe”) Hooker responded on behalf of the club.

“The Referees’ Association” was proposed by Mr. G. Loveridge, who thought the referees were the best sports in the game. Mr. G. Hopkins replied, and added his congratulations to Tukapa on winning tho championship. “Other Clubs” was proposed by Mr. C. Berg, and responded to by Messrs. Ted Foden (High School), O’Connor (Star),

and Taylor (Urenui). Mr. McLeod then presented the McMasters Shield, saying it was the event he had been waiting for for about 15 years. He congratulated other clubs who had put up a strong challenge for the trophy, especially the smallest club in the competition, Okaiawa. He believed that the new rules had been for the betterment of the game*, though Wellington were going to fight against these next year. In 1924, the jubilee of Rugby football would take place in London, and he hoped a Tukapa representative would be found in the New Zealand team which would contest the world supremacy. The speaker appealed for support for providing grounds that would accommodate bigger crowds as the population of the town grew. The shield was then handed over to Mr. G. Hooker, Mr. McLeod remarking that all the competition shields had this year come to New Plymouth teams.

The Dau O’Brien Shield was presented by Mr. E. Jackson. This trophy was for the purpose of promoting healthy rivalry between the Tukapa and Star Clubs. The Carbine Shield, won by Tukapa seconds, was presented to Mr. Royce Hooker on 'behalf of the team, a i photo of the team being presented to I Lieut. L. W. Andrew, V.C., who had I trained the team. Medals for the best forward and best Ixiok in the senior team were presented to W. Beard and G. H. Ennis, the donors being Messrs. C. Fairbrother and E. Jackson. The medal for the most improved player in the junior team was presented to H. Hatley, and for most improved back to F. Stohr. Mr. McLeod's medals for fourth gracle players were won by C. Bartholomew (forward) and G. M*orhead (back). Other toasts honored were: “Old Players” (Mr. W. Beard—Messrs. T. Petty. D. J. Hughes, and A. R. Davis); “Kindred Sport” (Mr. C. Fairbrother— Mr. L. W. Andrew); “The Ladies” (Mr. Ken Stohr—Mr. C. Kingston); and “The Press” (Mr. G. Hooker). Mr. Anderson (Hawera) who arrived later, congratulated Tukapa on behalf nf his club.

The success of the evening was enhanced bv a party of entertainers, who presented an enjoyable programme, to which the. following contributed: Songs, Messrs. L. Smith, K. Ward, W. L. Hay, C. Ferw. G. Hooker and R. Quickfall. Mr. Basil Hartman, in several humorous elocutionary items, greatly amused those present, while Mr. Ken Ward did vsoman service at the pjagfr