RUGBY UNION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 10133, 10 June 1924, Page 6

RUGBY UNION

THE MATCH WITH MALVERN.

PLAYERS' CLASSIFICATION. The meeting of the Ash burton County Rugby Union, held last night, was attended by Messrs W. F. Watters (in the chair), H. J. Chapman, R. H. Biggar, R. G. Shearman, F. W.

Seldon, R. J. Thompson, M. Segers, I. Fallwell A. Thomson, J. Smith, J. C. C. McLachlan, and S. Gudsell (proxy for Mr H. Samey). The chairman reported upon the Ashburton-Malvern match. It had been a success in every way, he said. The amount of the proceeds was probably the highest yet obtained from any shield match. He would like specially to mention the great amount of work which the union members had expended upon the putting of the ground in order. He also advised having consulted the secretary of the New Zealand Union (Mr H. 4 E. Coombes) regarding the control of country grounds. Mr Coombes had replied chat the taking up of collections on grounds not under the control of the union was not an infringement of the New Zealand Union's laws regarding professionalism. The chairman brought forward a suggestion that the union might rent the grounds from the domain boards, but he thought this might not work satisfactorily. Regarding the recent sub-unions' match, the Malvern Club wrote agreeing to play the- match as one purely for the Southbridge Shield. Arrangements regarding the annual match would be made later.

;The:amount of £ll lis 6d was approved as.payment to Malvern of the third of the gate takiners, as provided by the rales under which the shield was competed for. The amusement tax in connection with the Ashburton-Malvern match was applied for by the Assistant Commissioner of Taxes.

Members agreed that only those male patrons of the grandstand need be; eligible to be calculated as a basis of the amount of payment. TheMethven Club asked if the match arranged for it next Saturday against Celtic seniors could be postponed, owing to the, holding of the trotting meeting at Methven. No means of transport would be available. Tt was decided, by nine votes to three, to' hold the matches as set down in the original draw. Following on an application by the Seafield School for a spare football, it was decided to errant the request, at the same time applying to the Canterbury Union for five footballs for distribution among the country clubs. Owing to lack of unanimity on the part of the classification committee regarding the regradiug of R. Young, of the Springburn-Mayfield Club, from senior status to junior—in order that lie might play for his club, which had no senior team in the competition—the matter was debated at some length. It was stated that a prin. yip-xr .was involved, m viiao iv placers 01 this calibre were not graded down, their football would most likely be lose to the county. On tlie other Hand, it was hardly the concern of the union to iiitenere further than granting or refusing the regradiug. finally it was decided to regrade tiie player, and also M. Campbefl, of the xiilentoii Club.

iiie sub-committee appointed to go into the question of passes for players, reported, verbally per Mr Smith, that it was recommended that everybody in the teams buy a ticket at the main gate, and nobody, including players, should be admitted at any gate without a ticket, and payment be exacted m default of this until such time as the secretary of the player'is club cculd certify to his playing that day: A motion by Mr Biggar: "That the gatekeepers be instructed not to allow players without tickets to enter the grounds, players who had paid for admission, could obtain a refund by presenting a pass to the secretary of the union," was carried. Mr Smith was deputed to make arrangements for an inspection of the Show Grounds with members of the A. and P. Association, with a view to having the sheep pens' removed to make room for another football ground. The following gatekeepers were appointed for Saturday next:—Messrs It. J. Thompson, M. Segers, W. F. Waiters, and W. Page.