FOOTBALL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 284, 12 September 1933, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THE NORTH ISLAND TEAM. WELLINGTON.', September 11. Late nominations for the North Island Rugby team are: G. Nepia (back) and A. Baker (forward), East Coast. THE ASHBURTON UNION. PROTEST BY TIN WALD CLUB. The Management Committee of the Ashburton Rugby Union met last evening, the president (Mr J. C. C- McLachlan) occupying the cliair. Reports on the representative fixtures against Ellesmere on Saturday were submitted by the managers. Messrs J. W. Smith and W. H. Sarney said the senior game was played in the usual friendly spirit, but play was not of an outstanding nature. The two teams were entertained at dinner, when the customary toasts were honoured. In connection with the junior match, Mr H. Porter said the Ashburton team had put up a good showing.

The Tinwald Club protested against the Allenton Club’s action in playing M. Wilis in the final match of the third grade competition on Saturday. It was contended that Wills was not a resident of the Ashburton County, and therefore not eligible to-play in Ashburton Club games. His people had been residents of Geraldine for about four years, and Wills was working at Orari Gorge. Tinwald was willing to play the match without Wills, who they considered was the life of the Allenton team.

The general opinion was' that the player in question was a resident of Geraldine, and should therefore he excluded from playing in Ashburton. It was stated that Wills had played for Allenton during the 1928, 1929, and 1930 seasons. He had given liis address as Beach Road when registering.

One member said lie understood Wills had played for Geraldine on Thursday afternoons. Another suggestion was made that he had played once for Geraldine.

The secretary (Mr G. V. Furby) said that a player had broken his residential status if he played for a club not affiliated to the Union, and therefore Wills could not play in Ashburton. It was decided to write to Wills and ask him where had lived, and why he gai r e his address as Beach Road when registering. The chairman said that the protest by the Rakaia Club against Allenton entered a week or two ago was of a different nature altogether, and any decision in connection with this one had no hearing on that matter. The Ashburton Rugby Referees’ Association was granted the use ol the representative jersey for the annual match against the Canterbury referees on Saturday, and the invitation to a

social function after the match was accepted.

The explanation of a player who did not turn up for the North Otago fixture was accepted.