FOOTBALL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 168, 30 April 1935, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

THE ASH BURTON UNION. LINWOOD MATCH UNCERTAIN. The management committee of the Ashburton Rugby Union met last evening, the president (Mr J. C. C. McLachlan) presiding.' Mr H. B. D. Porter stated that he had attended the meeting of the Ashburton Rugby Referees' Association, but the attendance was so small that Mr J. MacMillan did not make his report on the .Referees' Conference held at Invercargill. However, a further meeting was to be held this week, and an invitation had been extended to the referees, members of the union, and also footballers to attend. He understood that Mr MacMillan'saeport would be a very interesting one. Mr Porter added that the president of the Ashburton Referees' Association greatly appreciated the union's grant towards the expenses of the delegate to Invercargill. In his report the secretary (Mr G. V. Furby) stated that a number of registrations had been -received since the last meeting of the committee. With regard to the default of Springburn juniors to Rakaia on Saturday, he stated that no official notification had been received at the union's office.

Mr F. Kennedy who had gone to Rakaia to referee the match stated that at Rakaia he had been given to understand that the Rakaia Club was notified before 10 o'clock on Saturday that Springburn had defaulted. A fine of 10s was automatically imposed and it was decided to notify the Bpringburn Club that the union must be notified of any default before 10 a.m. on Saturday morning. In reply to the Ashburton Union's suggestion that a match, South Canterbury and Ashburton v. Canterbury, be played at Ashburton on May 18, the Canterbury Rugby Union wrote regretting that this would not be possible as its competition matches would be played on that date. Mr S. Drew (headmaster of the Barrhill School) wrote making application for a football for his school, where he intended to encourage the game of Rugby. Ho also pointed out that he had 'been surprised to see his name given as the referee for the RakaiaSpringburn junior match on Saturday. Last year he had! aefereed in South Canterbury but because of the distance he was from Ashburton, Rakaia and Methven, he had not intended to start again this year.

The application was granted. Mr J. W. Smith stated that he had attended a meeting of the general committee of the Ashburton Agricultural and Pastoral Association, where

he was informed that the union Would have the same accommodation as previously at the show grounds. The committee was surprised to learn that the space had been restricted. Mr C. W. Wellman (referee) wrote drawing attention to the unsatisfactory marking out of the Methven ground. Mr Porter stated that the ground was properly marked out, but not in white. The markings were of a brownish colour. It was decided to ask the Methven Club to give this matter its attention. It was stated at the meeting that no definite information had been received from the Linwood Club regarding a match at Ashburton on May 6. Mr Porter said he had been unofficially informed that Linwood had stated that it would be playing at Ashburton. Mr D. E. L. McDougall said the secretary had sent a telegram, but no reply had been received. Mi- Porter suggested that the union should try other clubs for a match. In the event of a match being played Mr C. W. Wellman was appointed referee and Mr H. R. D. Porter manager. Mr Porter stated that he would have no difficulty in selecting a team after the matches on Saturday.

Draw andl Referees. Following is the draw and referees for next Saturday's matches:— Senior Grade—Old Boys v. Allenton, at Showgrounds (Mr J. MacMillan) ; Rakaia v. Technical Old Boys, at Rakaia (Mr C. T. Miller); Methven, a bve. xt- j Junior Grade—Methven A y. Hinds (Mr L. Hadley); Technical Old Boys_y. OTd Boys, at Showgrounds (Mr C. W. Wellman); Rakaia y. Methven B, at Methven (the Rev. E. A. Osmers); Mayfield v. ISpringburn, at Springburn (Mr A. H. Guiney)j Tinwald, a bye. Third Grade—Methven v. High School, at Methven (Mr A. Cox) ; Technical Old Boys v. Allenton, at Showgrounds (Mr D.Wood); Old Boys v. Rakaia (Mr A. C. Trigg). ' In the. event of Tinwald being able to field a team, the following fourth grade friendly matches were arranged for Saturday:—Tinwald v High School, Allenton y. Technical:,