THAMES NEWS.

Thames Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 10348, 24 April 1911, Page 2

THAMES NEWS.

THAMES RUGBY UNION,

ANINIUAL MEETING,

The annual meeting of the Thames Rugby Union was held in the Juno-! tion Sample rooms on .Saturdiay niii'ht. There was a big attendance of players, and Mi- M'cD'ouigall was» unanimously elected to the chair.

—(Annual Report.—

Tho report as follows was) read

Finance). —'Your Committee '.ook office with a credit balance of £41, tho re&uilt of a particularly successful (season in 1909, and after 1 making certain allowance- detailed, below, it will Ibje isieien thiat !the Ibalancja of £32 now in Land is very satisfactory. Compared! with 1909 receipts the Auckland excursion and local gates show decreases of £18 and £29 respectively, while included in 1910 expenditure are itetas of £12 12s for rep caps andl special donations ■equalling £10. These items place the funds for 1910 at a disadvantgegia of £70 asi compared with previous yea.r, so that the £9 less in hand is Well accounted for 1. A special match against Gioldefildls was played at Waihi, this Union talking half the gate, whicih, after deducting expenses returned us: £15. This ciounter balances Auckland's donation of £15 last year. Tlie decrease in gate receipts was d!ue -to the bad weather experienced pradH dally thrbugh the whole; season, one of the worst days being that on which the AuriklandThames match was played, this alone resulting in al decrease of £9 odd at the gates. Representative matches i-esiulteld as follows: V. Aiudkland, lot* 25 to nil; V. Goldfields, lost 11 to 3; v. Goldfields, lost 9 to 6; v. Auckland, won 11 to nil; v. GoldfiV.dls, drawn, 3 to 3. This is rather an unattractive record, but is relieved] by the sensational defeat of a strong' Auck-

land team on thel locial ground by 11

to nil, and this certainly provided ample satisfaction to our team and the public generally for the defeats sustained. Had the firsifc rep. matches beien played a little later in the £ea-

con. ibieittar results may have been at-

tamed, but arrangements in this direction could not toe made. Every credit must ba given to the Goldfields' team for their splendid play, and tha record of their matches furnished a significant object- lesson to the holders of the Ranfurly Shield. The local Cup competitions provided many close and exciting 1 games, and resulted as follows: Senior,

City ;

Ist juniors, Combined City

aind Suburbs; 2nd juniors. City. A pleasing feature of the second junior grade rts the increased number of player's participating, including a team from the Higli School. Judging from the fact -that 120 players indulged in the matchesi nearly every Saturday, there appears littlei chance of the national game deterioriatinsr hare.

General.—Tins Union again affili-

ated- with Auckland, and Messrs H

Hayward and Harrison represented the parent bbdy with exceptional credit, and the fact of the Ranfurly

Shield remainir-g in Auckland isi due

in no small jneasur© to the fine efforts of these t\vo sterlingl plajrcrs. The C'oromandel Union affiliated with us, but it was found impossible to

arrange any matches with that body, but efforts will be made to> do so this season. 'Southern Tour.—-Your committee recognising that local players have

not had a "foreign" trip for many years decided to take the preliminary step of sioundling 'the Wangamii. Manawatu, Wellington, Nelson^ and M'ai'lbotrough Unions with this end in view. iSlo far siitisfactoiry replies have been received from Nlel'&'on aaid Marl'borolugh, the Jformjer, as siiggehted liy us, offering 1 half the gate and the latter «fi2S. Wangianud and Manawatu have noifc replied!, while Wellington declined to pledge a provable new committee, and requested a 1 renewed application this month. Timste three unions hare recently teen communicated with, ami their repress should soon he to hand. Application has also been made to the Auckland Union for half the gate of our next match in their ground. Should our anticipations in these directions be realised no doubt the tour willev'en•tuate, and that without any seriou&i inroads being made 011 our funds.

Guaranteed Trains.—An arrar.ae-

meaiit has Ibben made with the railway authorities under which the Deipartmenti will in future collect lsad-

mission on all tickets issmed for trains guaranteed 1 by this Unioai.

The sad death of Nat. MciKeown on

the field of play was a regtreilibaible feature of the season's record', and the occurrence Waia deeply deplored by all footballers, their 1 supporters, and the public:

The Union has to regret Mr A Newdick's departvii-e from the dis

trie*. He has for many years represented! Thames, and on several occasions Auckland has also, called upon him. His .loss will bta'keenly felt, and he takes with him to HaniiUcn the be&fc wishes of his comrades and friends. Youi' committee appointed Dr. Lapraik a life honorary member in consideration of his unfailing kindness to injured players. The report as read was rticleivod and adopted. ■

—Election of. Officers,I.—i

The following offioe-baai'ers were elected): —■

Patron: Mr A. Myers, W.V. President: Mr James Jordan. Vice-Presidents: Messrs El. II Taylor, M.P., F. H. Olaxton, H.

Lowe, J. Quiim, Wl. P. Gage-Brown, A .Billing, A. P. Dousilin, J. Kevin, Jamea Twbhill H. Brownlec, J. T. Injrlis, Ei. Desble, Drs. Lapraik and Walshe.

Secretary and TiVusureir: Mb A F. Brown.

Auditors: Messrs Hammond and Lloyd. -

Management Committee 1: Messrs McOougall, Snowling, Goirdon, D'afrow, Peters, and Cioutts. Ai votto of thanks to the out'oving committee! concluded the general meeting. —Committee Meeting.— - A meetiivgi -of the new committee followed. On the motion of Mr Darrow

seconded 'by Mr Gordon, Mli MbDk>ug'all was unanimously elected chairltuui of the committee.

The secretary said that he had written to,tha Thames Joeikey Club applying for the use of the racecourse for the season's matches at the usual teams, £-20 for tine season,, andi had received a reply granting the use of tha course, but aifc the increased rental of £25.

It was decided to ajcept the ground on these terms.

It being understood! that the room ait the Catholic Glulb was still available for tho us© of the committee', Mr MoD'ougall moved and Mir Peters seconded, that the committee meeting's bie held there as usual and that the members of the dub be thanked for their kindness in the past. — Carriedl.

The members were of one mind that the Thames Union: should affiliate with Auckland aa in })reviouvs years and the secretary was instructed to take the necessary steps.

It wasi decided to hold the weekly committee meetings on Tuesday evenings commencing sharp at 7.30 o'clock.

Some of the teams having! notified their readiness to commence playing right aWay the doanmittee decided to open the sieason on Slaturd'ay next.