Football Club

The Football Club has had an eventful season this year. The match with Canterbury University College was played for the first time for some years, and a Junior side played for the first time against Massey Agricultural College, at Palmerston North. This latter match will be played annually on the 3rd of June alternately at Palmerston Ncrth and Wellington. Both these matches were lost, the first by 28—14, the second by 19—6, but we do not regret that.

We also sent a team comprised of players from all grades to play Te Aute College at Waipukurau. In a fine game, before a record crowd, Te Aute beat our team by 20 points to 10.

Our Senior team started off with great promise, but owing to the New Zealand University tour of Australia, and an abnormal number of injuries, which resulted in the team in a number of games taking the field minus almost all its regular back line, we ended up in third to bottom place.

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When, however, the team did at last get its full side back, the hard knocks the players had received and the weeks of inaction on the bank were very noticeable in the first two or three games on return. The side was ably led by R. H. C. Mackenzie, whose loss through injuries in a number of games was severely felt by the team. As in other years, F. S. Ramson scored a big tally of points for the side, getting well over fifty. The following played for the team during the season:—Full-back, F. Cormack; three-quarters: J. D. Mackay, F. S. Ramson, J. H. Rttru, N. Hislop, D. Young; five-eighths: R. H. C. Mackenzie (Captain), D. Mulvihill, J. Black, R. Leech; halfback, J. M. Pacey; wing-forwards: D. Griffin, R. Simmers; forwards: T. M. Elliott, J. Beaumont, R. E. Diederich (Vice-Captain), C. E. Dixon, W. R. Hart, G. R. J. Hope, E. E Blacker, H. Macaskill, D. Barker, M. E. Mahoney, Banks and Dalgieish. S. Kidd, Webber, H. Middlebrook, Mastrrs and Dickinson each played one game for the side.

Results of the team's games were:—

v. Oriental	Won	10—7
v. Old Boys	Won	19—3
v. Petone	Won	17—14
v. Berhampore	Won	24—15
v. Marist	Lost	8—10
v. Poneke	Lost	9—32
v. Eastbourne	Lost	8—17
v. Miramar	Drawn	11—11
v. Athletic	Lost	11—17
v. Wellington	Lost	14—19
v. Hutt	Lost	9—10
v. Petone	Lost	17—19
v. Oriental	Lost	11—14
v. Athletic	Lost	9—19
v. Berhampore	Won	52—11
v. Miramar	Won	19—6

Won, 6; Lost, 9; Drawn, 1; Championship Points, 13.

The Senior B team started a good side, but having to replace the missing Senior A members ruined the team's chances for the championship. However, the team was a happy side, and every one in the team seemed to enjoy the football they played. The team was ably coached by Messrs. F. Petre and H. C. Bailey.

The following played for the team:—Read, Webb, Young, Dickinson, Gully, Hislop, Whitcombe, Black (Captain), Leech, Paul, Clifford-Jones, McKee, McWhinnie, Barker, Dalglish, Desborough, Kidd, H. Williams, Macaskill, Webber, Banks, Mahoney, Benge, O'Shea and Steele.

The team played 15 games, winning 7, losing 7 and drawing 1.

The Junior team had a good heavy pack, and a good set of backs, but owing to lack of practice, failed to gather more than 18 points. With more combination, however, and less drawing on by other grades, they would have been considerably further up the championship table.

Our Third A and Third B teams were, as usual, well down the list. Both teams have a facility for enjoying themselves and do not mind whether they win or lose. They met for the first time in a championship game this season, the match being won by the B's, 10—9. This made them level on the championship table, and they ended up the same.

Unquestionably the best team in the Club this year was our Fourth A team. This team was only beaten once in its grade, and that was by the leaders, Petone A. This team was the best lower grade side we have ever had, and we are justly proud of their record, the team comprising mostly boys in their first year away from secondary school. They played good football, and were always a treat to watch. We have to congratulate Mr. A. P. O'Shea on the way in which he trained the team. The following played for the side:— Blandford, McConville, Elliott, McNaught, Jerram, Hall, Rockel, Wild (Captain), Edgar (Vice-Captain), Burgess, Deck, Coup, Lauchlan, Chorlton, Connell, Wilton, Middlebrook, Maunder, Norris, Buddle, Callingham, Clendon, Linton and Archibald.

Results.—

v. Institute	Won	19—5
v. St. Pat's O.B.	Won	19—0
v. Onslow	Won	20—0
v. Technical College O.B.	Won	24—0
v. Petone	Lost	0—11
v. Wellington College O.B. "B"	Won	47—3
v. Miramar	Won	12—3
v. Wellington "B"	Won	12—0
v. Melrose	Drawn	3—3
v. Johnsonville	Won	6—0
v. Eastbourne	Won	17—3
v. Upper Hutt	Won	6—5
v. Wellington College O.B "A"	Won	8—6

The Fourth B team did not have many successes, but with a little more luck they would have done better than they did. They were a team that, if properly coached, would have given a very good account of themselves in the championship.

The new practice ground behind the gym. is approaching completion, and when it is finished will give the Club a big advantage, as far as training is concerned. The ground will be lighted

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at present, but it the Club ever has sufficient funds a gymnasium will be erected at one end. The ground is built so that it may be turned into a full-sized football ground, but it is impossible to do this at present, owing to lack of funds. The annual dance was held in conjunction with the Hui Marae Club, but owing to the apathetic support of the Club as a whole, resulted in a financial loss. As a social function, however, the dance was a great success, and many of our younger Vice-Presidents attended.

Four members of our Senior team, namely, C. E. Dixon, R. Deiderich, J. D. Mackay and J. Ruru were members of the New Zealand University team which toured New South Wales. Several others were not available. Mr. F. Petre, a member of our Committee, and coach of our Senior B team, was selected as manager and carried out his duties in a very capable way. From this it will be seen that we were well represented in Australia.

R. Deiderich, J. D. Mackay, E. E. Blacker and F. Cormack are members of the Wellington representative side this year, while H. Williams was tried out in the Senior A v. Senior B game for the Wellington B team, but failed to gain a place.

J. D. Mackay was chosen for the North Island team, but was unable to play, and was also chosen as emergency back for the All Blacks at Auckland. He is to be congratulated on these distinctions.

Several numbers of our Fourth A team—R.Wild, K. Maunder, J. A. R. Blandford and W.Coup—are in the Town team which plays the Country team.

The Committee is at present devising a method of raising money for the new practice ground, and hopes in the very near future to raise sufficient to light it and partially fence it. There is also the top-dressing to be attended to, and until this is completed the ground will not be much used.

As stated before, several friendly matches were played, and in addition to these, it is hoped that the match against Auckland University College be played next year, in which case the Club will have a busy season. It is to the advantage of all that these matches be kept up, and for this reason the Committee is using its utmost endeavours to arrange the matches for fixed dates. At present matches against Te Aute College, at Waipukurau, and Massey College, at Wellington, are fixed, but these are for our Junior teams only.