Annual Report 1957

1957 has seen few external changes in the Club; although the strength within the Club in the form of clubmindedness and ties is believed to have been at an unprecedented level. Out of a total membership of 102, 54 of those people were players and we had 19 associate members, an innovation that allows the non-player to take an active part in our membership.

At last we have a home-ground. The Linden Park ground and it's facilities, in an attractive setting, have been made available to us by the Rugby Union. Late in the season, in the offing, there was talk of acquiring our own Club ground and establishing a Clubroom and Rugby field. This is the ideal that was left in mind, and the matter at present rests in the negotiating stage.

Another matter in which definite objective efforts must be made early in the comming season is the form of an auxiliary Junior team. By doing this we not only give the younger lads a chance to enjoy the pleasures that we have obtained from playing, and having associated with the game; but also consolidate and strengthen our Club position in South Australian Rugby Union.

The 'A' Team
Under the supervision of Dr Hone, this team managed to finish 3rd on the premiership table before being knocked out in the finals. A few new faces rapidly acquitted themselves to earn and hold their position among the stalwarts in this team.
The visit of the Kiwis came somewhat as an anti-climax where our team was able to make it's final bow for the season in defeating this vaunted Victorian team. It is planned that this match, or a match of this sort will be held in 1958, and in future years.

The 'B' Team
Cpt McCormac guided them throughout the season, and they were well able to hold their own; but owing to continual changes in the team their strength was not sufficient to gain them a place in the finals.

The 'C' Team
The last two years have seen little improvement in the prospects of keeping this third team on the go. Of the influx of players generally what a pleasure it was to see many chaps joining our Club to resume playing.

All Blacks
The night of June 8th saw the biggest of SA's Rugby attractions in recent years and we were fortunate to have Geoff Hone from our Club representative in the SA team
The coaches Dr Hone, Cpt McCormac, and the same McCormac and Mr Fraser acting as team managers, and all those efficient and able helpers in the Club earned our esteem thanks, and we hope that for 1958 we shall continue to have the same spirit resting among chaps who are willing to buck in.
Not to go unmentioned in the effort of Howard Clay, Peter Fraser, John Callaghan, Graham Angus and Blake Ormsby in all aspects of the Club's activities.

Thirdly, it would be blasphemous of me to neglect to mention the Rev. Howell Witt, a man whom we were proud to have as our President; who has left his mark wherever he has travelled in Rugby circles, and without whose help this Club could not have functioned as it has.

The Social Activivity and Financial position, to be covered in other reports, was wholly successful and the
stability of both of these parts of the Club proved to be beyond even our fondest hopes cherished at the beginning of the season.

At our Annual Dinner, Trophies for 1957 were presented to Pat Forbes and Lance Otto for the 'A's and Malcolm Begg and Trevor Kerley. Congratulations to these fellows on their playing ability.

Finally, if the combination of the reasons of the Club's past successes can be applied to the forthcoming season, I am sure that 1958 can be our bumper year.