FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1922, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

TUKAPA CLUB ENTERTAINED. A COMPLIMENTARY DINNER. , A very pleasant gathering l took place at the Imperial Hotel last evening, when Mr. R. Barlow, who has been a keen supporter of tho Tukapa Football Club, entertained the club to dinner to mark the success of the senior team in winning the. championship of Taranaki. Mr. A. R. Standish, chairman of the Tukapa Club Committee, presided, and there were present about 40 guests, including, beside members of the club. Messrs. Jas. McLeod (chairman), A. L. Humphries, Jas. Garcia and G. E. Jago (Taranaki Rugby Union), E. Jackson, G. Hopkins, A. R. Davies, W. Roch (Referees’ Association), and Captain Hutchinson, of the Port Denison. After full justice had been i done to the splendid menu provided by Mr. Barlow, a short toast, list was discussed, opening with the loyal toast. Mr. E. Jackson proposed “The Parliament of New Zealand,” which was responded to by Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P. for Taranaki. Mr. A. L. Humphries, in proposing "The Tukapa Football Club,” remarked that their success had been due to the combination that their members had shown. Individually the members the team were no better than those 4)f other teams, but collectively they “lost” the other teams. This was purely due to cohesion and combination. He congratulated the team on their well deserved success in bringing the shield to New Plymouth, and expressed tho hope that they would still stick together and play the gaune. He stressed the point that players, no matter how good they were, had something to learn, and he gave them the advice that if a player learnt anything he should not keep it to himself, as a move could not be successful unless the other players knew about it. He congratulated the committee on keeping the chib together, as it was in the Interests of New Plymouth that the town should possess a strong club. Mr. C. Brown, the captain of the team, in responding, expressed his thanks to the members for the way they had trained and had travelled to the matches. The club also owed a debt of gratitude to Messrs. Steele. Lepine, and Sole, who had taken charge of the junior teams. Nothing encouraged the young p’ayers more than for old players to take an interest tn them. Mr. H. Hooker, who also responded, said that the senior club’s success in the championship was largely due to the coaching of Mr. C. Brown, whose advice had proved in- ‘ valuable, and had always been taken tn heart : by players. ’ - "The Referees’ Assnelation” was proposed bv j v A. Smith, and responded to by Mr. G. ■ 1-opkins, who emphasised the necessity for , discipline and silence on tho part of the ! players, riiarrcteristics possessed by the Tukapa Club. The now rules had proved' rather j conflicting at the start, but thefr system of | holding weekly meetings enabled them to j quickly overcome this.. He expressed pleasure

I that the efforts of the referees had been appreciated. In proposing the toast of the host, Mr. McLeod expressed appreciation of the splendid manner in which the team had been entertained by Mr. Barlow, who had always been a keen supporter of the club, and was a goou sport. The success of the Tukapa Club this year had been due to the great traditions of the club and the realisation of those traditions, and also to the coaching otf Mr. C. Brown. He urged all members retiring from the game to assist the club, as far" as possible, in preserving its esprit de corps. He hoped that no player who had assisted in making the high traditions of the club would do anything that would break them down by going over to the new game, which, he understood, would be started here nett season. He had nothing against the game, but there was no room in New Zealand for two games of Rugby. The Taranaki Rugby Union did not propose to go out and fight the new game. He expressed the thanks of the club to Mr. Barlow for the kindly thought ’.hat had prompted the entertainment that evening, for the splendid repast, and the excellent service. (Applause) . Mr. R. Barlow, in responding, stated that he was only fulfilling a promise made to the club, of which he had always been a strong supporter, that he would entertain them to dinner if they won the championship, and he hoped that the success would be repeated in future years. He stated that the function would have been held much earlier after the close of the season, but he had delayed it so as to permit of tho attendance of Messrs. Brown and Kingston, who had been injured. (Applause). "The Press” was proposed by Mr. G. E. Jago and responded to by Mr. J. Garcia, and the singing of Auld Lang Syne brought an enjoyable function to a close.