A FITTING FINALE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 August 1939, Page 9

A FITTING FINALE

TO RUGBY TOURNAMENT SCHOOLBOYS’ DINNER IN MASTERTON. GAMES PLAYED IN FINE SPIRIT. “Play through life in the same spirit in which you have played in this Rugby tournament during the past few days, and you will become excellent, honourable citizens of This Dominion,” said Mr J. F. Thompson, president of the Wairarapa Rugby Union, in replying to the toast of the New Zealand Rugby Union and local unions at the annual primary schoo s Rugby dinner in the Y.M.C.A. Hall, Masterton, last night. Mr E. G. Coddington, president oi the Wairarapa Primary Schools’ Rugby Union, presided, and those present included the Wellington, Manawatu, Wanganui and Wairarapa repiesentative teams with their managers and coaches, referees who had taken part in the tournament, the committees and friends responsible for the splendid organisation of the tournament. ’ During the evening, Mr Coddington presented the banner to O'Keefe, captain of the winning Wairarapa team. Cheers for the winners were given by the three other unions, the compliment being returned by Wairarapa. The toast of the Nev/ Zealand and Local Rugby Unions was proposed by Mr J. Kennedy. In replying Mr Thompson said that he was proud of the fact that Wairarapa had won. “For some time this province has had a bad run as far as Rugby football is concerned, and it was not until this season that our representative team had scored a victory in about three years,” said Mr Thompson. “This year, however, we have had several wins.” Mr Thompson congratulated the four teams on the happy way in which they had contested the games, and also congratulated the boys on the manner in which they respected their masters. “As long as you respect your masters who are trying to make you worthy citizens and footballers you will be a credit to New Zealand, he said.

“Your masters have done, and are doing, a lot for your Rugby education; when you leave school don’t stop playing. Keep on. Rugby football is a worthy game, and worthy of the best of New Zealanders. Looking round me I fail to see one ’sissy’ and if you continue to play Rugby there is no fear of you ever becoming a ‘sissy’,” continued Mr Thompson. “There are three main things to remember in playing Rugby—combination, condition, commonsense—these three factors will help win you more games, and a place in life than anything else. In conclusion I would like on behalf of the Wairarapa Union and for the New Zealand Union to congratulate you one and all on the standard of your, play and your spirit. I see amongst you several budding All Blacks,” he concluded amidst loud cheers from the boys.

Mr V. A. Welch, in proposing the toast of the referees and honorary surgeons, stated that it was indeed pleasing that it had not been found necessary to call on the honorary surgeons. “The referees are a very important part of RugbV football, and many people do not think of the time and trouble that is put in gratis by the referees,” he said. “The Wairarapa referees who have taken part in this tournament have had a hard time and have had to give up something of their own in order to referee your games. Som6 worked all the dinner hour and went without lunch in order to be on hand so that the games might be played and played on time.” said Mr Welch. On behalf of the manager, Mr Welch extended thanks to the referees for the high standard of refereeing. In responding, Mr H. Matson urged the boys to take on refereeing after they had finished playing. “The games I controlled were of a very high standard and 1 was greatly impressed with the liveliness of the four teams,” said Mr Matson. Continuing, Mr Matson said that each side contained many promising boys who he considered would go a long way in the Rugby world. In conclusion Mr Matson, on behalf of the other referees, thanked the boys for the way in which they accepted the decisions. The toast of the “Visitors” was proposed by Mr M. Whimp and responded to by Messrs J. Ward (Wanganui), J. Pine (Manawatu) and J. Lamason (Wellington). All speakers referred to the efficient manner in which the tournament had been run. Congratulations were extended to the Wairarapa team on their victory and thanks were extended to those people who had billeted the boys and to all who had assisted in making the tournament the success it undoubtedly was.