RUGBY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVII, Issue 10902, 27 April 1927, Page 2

RUGBY

ASHBURTON SUB-UNION.

FOURTH-GRADE RESTRICTIONS

The Ashburton County Rugby SubUnion met last evening, Mr W. F, AA'atters presiding oyer a good attendance.

A vote of sympathy was passed to the secretary (Mr J. B. Meeking) in the death of his mother recently. Dr. J. S. Daunt wrote thru:king the Union for electing him an honorary surgeon. The Canterbury Rugby Union wrote advising that their delegates at the annual of the New Zealand Rugby Union would support the application of the Ashburton Sub-Union for a; grant toward the proposed tour of a County representative team on the West Coast his season.

Mr D. Heenan explained that some difficulty was being experienced toward the cost of. the tour. He was of opinion that part of the Union’s £225, which is on fixed deposit, should be earmarked and put toward the cost of the tour.

Mr F. Pritchard explained that this sum was being kept for the purpose of assisting in the purchase of a ground in case of. necessity. ■* The Canterbury Rugby Union further wrote stating that it had decided to remove the disqualification imposed on W. Tatterson, a Rakaia senior player, for using insulting language to a referee last season.

It was decided to grant the Convent School a football on the usual terms. On behalf of the Hampstead Club. Mr A. Gourley moved, and Mr T. J. S. Doherty seconded, that the rule for the classification of fourth-grade players be rescinded and substituted to read, “A fourth-grade player is any player not otherwise graded who is under 17 years of age on May 1 in each season, and whose weight does not exceed nine stone seven pounds on the date of the beginning of the competitions.” Mr Gourlay said there might be some difficulty in obtaining a fourth-grade team this seasion, and it was considered that ages as provided for in the rules were rather low. Mr R. H. Biggar said that if the motion was passed the third and fourth grade entries would have to be scrapled and fresh entries would have to >e called. He suggested that the matter be held over till later in the season. The motion was eventually lost on the casting-vote of the chairman. REFEREES FOR SATURDAY.

The following referees were approved for matches:— Third Grade.—Methven v. Rakaia, at Rakaia, Mr Chapman; Hampstead v. Old Boys, at Showgrounds, Mr Templeton : Ashburton B v. High School, at Showgrounds, Mr Revelley; Technical v. Rakaia A, at Showgrounds, Mr Burgess. • , Fourth Grade.—High School B v. Allenton, at Showgrounds, Mr Wood; High School A v. Hampstead, at Showgrounds, Mr Christie.