RUGBY FOOTBALL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 130, 14 March 1930, Page 2

RUGBY FOOTBALL

HAMPSTEAD CLUB. THE SEASON REVIEWED. The annual meeting of the Hampstead FootbaH Club was held last evening, when. Mr H. J. Chapman presided over a large attendance. The report stated that the season had been! successful. Four teams had been entered in / /nie Union's competitions, one in each grade. The seniors were runners-up for the Watters' Shield and won the Union's trophy for the knock-out competition. Seven members gained representative honours as follow:—G. Dav., G. Stephen, F. Kennedy, D. Tainui, D. Moodie, J. Mulhern, and A. O. Whiting. Difficulty was again experienced in fielding a junior team. Sufficient players were enrolled to warrant the team's inclusion in the competition but lack of support on the .part of actual junior players saw the team short-handed on many occasions, and the vacancies had to be filled with third grade men. The third grade team was the best lower grade team and was in the first four at the conclusion of the competition, but interest then lagged . and fourth grade players had to be called on. This latter team had not sufficient heavy forwards to permit it to go far in the competition. One outside match was played /by each of the senior and third grade teams. Little interest was taken) in the (practices, particularly in the lower grades, and was discouraging to those who were keen, and only individual benefit was derived. It was hoped that the twsition would_.be rectified in the coming season. The thanks of the Club -were due to the Ashburton East School Committee for the use of the grounds for practice. The services of Mr D. C. Browm as coach to the senior team were much appreciated and the Club was indebted to him for liis interest and support. The fortnightly socials had proved most successful. Mr C. Wellman acted as M.C. and music was provided by Mrs Chapman's orchestra. The social account showed a credit balance of over £SO, which was most gratifying, as without the socials the Club would not have shown a credit balance unless it restricted the benefits of players by not subsidising transport. The Club was to be congratulated on its financial .position. The credit balance was £46 2s, as against £2B 13s 7d at the beginning of the season. Assets exceeded liabilities by £B4 3s 4d.

On the motion of the chairman and IMr C. F. Day, the report and balancesheet were adopted. The following remit was received, to be presented at the annual meeting of the Union: "That in the event of a club entering more than one team in any one competition, it shall, prior to, the opening of the competition, forward to the secretary of the Union a list of players constituting the different teams, designating the teams ,A, B. C, etc., in order of merit. A player of a lower team shall 'be eligible for promotion to a higher, and shall not be debarred from playing for the lower team through having played not more than two matches for the higher." The motion will be moved by Messrs R. H. Biggar and W. Crawford, and if adopted will substitute "Rule 3." The chairman said this rule, which referred to A and B teams in the same grade, had not been strictly observed by the secondary schools, and this remit was brought forward so that the teams woidd not be unjustly penalised by sickness or for a similar reason. Mr Day suggested the matter be left to the delegates. The chairman thought it was for the, meeting to decide whether the remit should be supported. On the motion of Messrs E. H. Vincent and Day, it was decided that the delegates be instructed to support it. The chairman said the club had nominated Mr D. C. Brown and himself as vice-presidents. He considered the club had more chance of having one elected than two. He would be able to work better for the club if he were elected to the Management Committee. He asked permission to withdraw his nomination. Mr A. R. Gourley thought .it more advisable for the two nominations to be put forward. The chairman considered one of the present vice-presidents was in an almost unassailable position, and there seemed little chance of the club's two delegates being elected. On the motion of Messrs Day and R. Tait, the chairman was allowed to withdraw his nomination. , The election «f officers resulted as follows: Patron, Mr H. F. Nicoll; president, Mr E. B. Newton; all the • vice-presidents were re-elected; hon. secretary, Mr O. H. Day; hon. treasurer, Mr A. R. Gourley; club captain, Mr G. Day; delegates to annual meeting of Rugby Union, Messrs Hf J. Chapman, D. C. Brown. A. R. Gourley, G. Day; auditor, Mr G. V. Furbv; committee, Messrs E. H. Childs, W. S. Kerr, D. C. Brown, S. Bevan, H. J. Chapman and C. F. Day. An honorarium of £1 Is was voted to the hon. auditor. N One new member was elected. The chairman considered that the sum of £l2, which had been expended by the club in transport of players to matches, was too high. In other centres the players paid the transport, fee themselves.

Mr Vincent said each player should pay something toward this cost, a rate to be struck in each grade. Any deficiency would be made up by the club. He moved that this be a recommendation to the incoming committee. Mr D. C. Brown considered the players' subscriptions should be increased slightly to meet the expense. The chairman said the club's subscriptions were higher than any other in the County. Jt was decided that a flat rate of 2s be levied on all players and others being transported to a match. The present system of the senior representative selector being elected by the Management Committee at 'the conclusion iof the annual meeting of the Union was discussed. Members considered it would be more fair that the coach be appointed by the delegates. KICK-INTO-TOUCH RULES. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 13. The annual meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union last night, on the motion of Mr Murphy (Athletic) decided to recommend the New Zealand Union that in view of the visit of the British team this year, all matches in the Dominions this season be played under the old kick into touch rules. Mr Dean said that no doubt New Zealand Union would cany the motion. There was no question that New Zealand would be up against serious opposition from the British team, and it was only fair to give Diminion players a chance to meet them on level terms. An eighth grade class for boys under fourteen, years was decided upon and age limits' for other grades were automatically fixed at fifteen, sixteen and seventeen to nineteen, years,