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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 13, Issue 3 (June 1, 1938.)

Cricket and Rugby Enthusiast

Cricket and Rugby Enthusiast.

This year's president of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr. A. M. Ongley, is a man of enthusiasm for both cricket and Rugby. Born at Oamaru and educated at St. Patrick's College (Wellington), Mr. Ongley represented North Otago, Hokitika, and Manawatu on the Rugby field and for his services to Rugby in the Manawatu district was elected a life member after many years in the office of president of that Union.

On the cricket field, Mr. Ongley represented Hawke's Bay, West Coast (taking, eight wickets for 36 runs against “Plum” Warner's team), North Island (playing in the first contest between the North and South Islands) and Manawatu (captaining the district team against Melbourne Cricket Club). For the past 15 years he has been selector of the Manawatu teams and for a similar period has chosen the Country team to play against Wellington.

His was the guiding hand that brought about a reconstitution of the New Zealand Rugby Union, a move that should bear fruit in the years to come.

In civic interests, Mr. Ongley has not waited for others to do the work. For seven years a Borough Councillor in Feilding, he later served six years as Mayor of that progressive town. If he carries the same enthusiasm into his new role he should go down in history as a “big man” in New Zealand football.