MASTERTON FOOTBALL CLUB.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8105, 27 March 1906, Page 6

MASTERTON FOOTBALL CLUB.

ANNUAL REPORT. The following is a copy of the annual report of the Masterton Football Club, to be submitted to the annual meeting of members to be held on Friday evening next:— Your Committee has pleasure in placing ob record that the actual membership of the olub increased to 78 during the season 1905, but regrets that subscriptions were received from lees than 40 of the total. The fault lies more with supporters of the club than with players, and is probably due to inadvertence on tfceir part. Additional interest was lent to the game during the past season by the advent of the Red Star Club and the presentation of a cup by the Mayor (Mr J. A. Ren all) for competition between the local clubs. Besides beooming holders of this cup, your club won the Pownall Cup outright and the Wairarapn Senior Championship for 1905. The Senior team came through the seasou with an unbeaten record. In matches played under the ausp'ces of the W.K. F. Union the team placed a record to the club's credit of which it has reason to feel proud. By reason of this excellent performance your club claims the Wairarapa record for balance of points scored in Championship matches and for highest score in nnv Senior match, lbe record of all matches played is as follows:— Against Carterton, three, won 39 to 8; against Greytown. three, won 54 to 3; against Red Star, three, won 72 to 0; acsainat Athletics, one, won 8 to 0 against Albiun, one, won 44 to 0. The club's Se'iior players engaged in Sn-ter-distric 1 ' matches snored 40 cut of 48 points to tbe credit of the local Union in representative matches, and two members of the olub scored 36 out of 23 points in tbe Provincial matoh against Australia, while one of these also scored for vtbe ftew Zealand team. Every member except two scored pointß during tbe season. JPifty-one tries were scored, and thirty goals were kicked. In all matches J. O'Leary and Wrigley scored 186 points between them. The annual fixture with the Old Boys (Wellington) fell through owing to our visitors being unable to arrange a suitable date, but they have undertaken to visit Masterton as early as possible this seasou. and your Committee has accordingly invited them to meet our Senior team on Easter Saturday. To E. Wrigley belongs the honour of being tbe only member of tbe district to represent New Zealand. lu other representative matches be divides tbe honour of playing for the province against Australia and New Zealand with J. O'Leary, A. Gray and R. Spacbman. Following is the record of players who took part inrepreJentative match es exclusive of those already mentioned:—Wrigley 7. J. O'Lepry 7, Logan 7, 7, P. O'Leary 6, Millar 5, Dnggan 5, Gray 3. C. Williams 3, Lyall 2, Taylor 2, MoKellar 2, King 1, Chapman 1. Your Committee recommends that the delegates who will be appointed to represent the club at the annual meeting of the Union shall be instructed to propose that special efforts be made to improve and encourage junior football. This should be done either by dividing tbe district into two divisions or by giving the clubs more matches on bone grounds. Thrbngh being called upon to engage in so much travelling your Junior team found it impousible to meet its later engagements. Of the four matches played, one was won on protest, one drawn, and two lost. Your Committee also thinks that your delegates should be instructed to bring up the question of forming a Referees' Association, with the view to having the game controlled by desirable and competent men. It behoves members to make better use of tbe gymnasium for training purposes. Too little encouragement is given to your Committee to persevere in the direction of renewing obligations with the Gymnasium Committee for use of the building, eto. In order that players might oontinue to enjoy indoor training your Committee beoame personally responsible for damage to apparatus, etc., during football bours. Members should realise what this means and show tbeir appreciation by taking advautage of the weekly practice aightfl. The thanks of the Tstab are due to tbe Gymnasium Committee for its considerations during the past season. Satisfactory arrangements were made dutilig ibe season for the use of the Park Oval for club matohes, and it is antici pated that the conditi ns imposed will bo renewed this year. Members bave reason to feel gratified that no appeal was made for assistance from the Insurance Fund, and your Committee hopes that this happy condition will long continue. Such a fund, however, is well worthy of support. Tbe first social gathering under the auspices of th« club proved a decided success, and was made the occasion of presenting the Hon. Secretary, with a silver tray in recognition of services rendered. On this occasion the President of the Club, Mr W. P. James, presided, and the thanks of the club are due to him for this and generally for the active interest dislayed by him in its affairs. The balance-sheet will show that the finances of the club are in a satisfactory condition, although many subscriptions are still outstanding. If resignations from membership are not in tbe bands of the Secretary by 30tb March, members are liable for current year's subscription. Your Committee is particularly indebted to Messrs M. C. O'Connell, W. Strang, D. K. Logan, A. Henderson, G. Sellar and Dean McKenna for donations made to the club's funds. The matter of allotting Mr A. Henderson's gold medal for the most useful player in the Senior team was considered, but your Committee deemed it advisable to refer it to this meeting. Four Committee meetings were held during the year, and were attended as follows:—D. K. Lugan 4, J. W. Cochrane 2, J. O'Leary 3, A. W. Renall 2."