FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 107, 5 May 1916, Page 7

FOOTBALL

AUCKLAND RUGBY LEAGUE. MEETING OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Management Committee of the Auckland Rugby League was held on Wednesday evening under the chairmanship ot Mr R. Jienson. Other members present were: Messrs J. Endean. R. Pollock, A. W. Tatton, T. Peildlng, C. Baker, 1. Fellows, and R. A. Splniey (secretary). UNIFORMING QUESTION. In connection with the League's endeavour to secure the better uniforming of players on the field the Management Committee has jlccldcd, if-practicable,-to purchase the whole of (he jerseys for the League from well known P.rltl<h athletic outfitters, in order to -cfure uniformity in quality and shade of colour. An inquiry has been directed to Mr. .1. Piatt, secretary of the English Northern Rugby Union, and' at the last meeting a retter was received from Mr. Piatt advising that quotations will he forwarded by firms which have supplied the English body. Incidentally, the English secretary expressed the hope that the game was going well in New Zealand, and mentioned that although the game was being conducted nt Home; It was under difficulties* as so ninny men had rightly joined the Army. THE NEW GRADE. Included iv the report of the .Tunior Advisory Board was a recommendation in regard to the new sixth grade for players under the age of 16*. The Board suggested that in the interests of the other junior grades no players should be allowed to he regraded into the boys grade. The meeting decided that regradlng would only be allowed in very special circumstances. The Board also recommended that in the event of clubs under itv Jurisdiction lapsing through the enlistment of members the club should he allowed to retain its seat on the Board until the end of the year. The Committee decided that only clubs having teams In" the competitions at the present time shonld be entitled to representation, and any lapses occurrmg during the season should be dealt with on their merits. A MILITARY TEAM. An application was received from members of the New Zealand Military Force stationed in the various garrisons for permission to establish a club and enter senior and junior teams in the competitions. The writers of the letter pointed out that whereas It might be exceedingly difficult for members of the garrisons to get regnlar leave to play for separate clubs, that obstacle would probably be overcome by the formation of teams representative of the garrisons. The committee decided to hold the application over until nominations have been completed from the remaining clubs. . JUNIOR TROPHIES. The Junß>r Advisory Board recommended that caps be provided for the champions of the fifth and sixth grades, and the committee decided to reply that, although it had been resolved not to purchase any competition trophies this year, the League would be pleased to make allowances should any donors come forward with the offer of trophies. It was intimated that one of the officials of the League was providing a banner for the newly-formed'sixth grade. A NEW CLUB. , ) A newly-formed club at Rlverhead wrote expressing a desire to participate in the third grade competition, and the secretary was instructed to. communicate with its officials with regard to the steps necessary for. affiliation. MISCELLANEOUS. The Richmond Club forwarded a copy of its annual report and balance-sheet,''which were commented upon by the meeting as being highly satisfactory. The Remuera Club wrote intimating that it would have to withdraw ou account of enlistments. • " ■ The Grafton Club nominated Mr. Alderton as Its representative on the 3uuior Advisory Board. It was reported that the City, Richmond. Suunyside. Urafton. Manukau. North Shore, and Maugere Clubs had between them placed 29 teams lii the competitions. North Shore Albion applied for the uplifting of the disqualification placed upon Mackay, a junior player, and the request was referred to the Junior Advisory Board. . -. * BIG ENTRY OF TEAMS. DESPITE WAR DEPLETIONS. Notwithstanding the fact that 457 Northern Union players "in the Auckland district hare responded to the call to arms, there is every indication that football will he conducted-with almost as many teams as In normal times during the coming season, judging,by the condition-of affairs reported to the iraimgement committee of the Auckland Rugby League at its last meeting. It will not. exactly he "football,as usual,'.' •however, for with most of the regular senior players In the ranks of the Expeditionary Force, the ranks of the main teams, will be largely filled by playens who long since cast off the football Jersey for the less strenuous life dictated by family considerations and years of dlgnltv, and fey striplings who have not attained their majority. The bulk of the" entries . arc in the junior grades, particularly those catering for rout ha whose weight does not exceed a hard and fast limit,- and, while it has been fonnd possible to maintain the usual number of six senior teams by the simple process of dragging retired players from their armchairs, and promoting juuiors, the first juniors have correspondingly suffered, and only four teams have thue far been entered in this grade. The following nominations were reported:— Senior Grade.—City Rovers, Grafton Athletic, North Shore Albion, Pousouby United, j Newton Rangers, Otahuhu. " ' I Second Grade.—City' Rovers, Grafton Ath-' letlc, Mangcre, Ponsonby United. Third Grade.—City Rovers Uwo teams), Manukau, Grafton. Athletic, Richmond (two teams), Sunnyslde, Rivcrh'ead Fourth Grade (9st 71b limit, with 01b allowance after three games).—City Rovers, Sunnysidc, North Shore. Manukau, Grafton. Fifth Grade (Bst 71b limit, with 01b allowance after three games).—City Rovers, Suunyside, North Shore, Maunkau, Grafton. Sixth Grade (under lft.} years, Sst Gib limit; no allowance).—City, Richmond, Manukau, North Shore. Thus 20 teams have entered to date, and in the third, fourth, lifbh and sixth grades the nominations the Ponsonby, New?sn and Otahuhu clubs have not yet been received. When the list is completed early next week, the draw will be made, and -t is expected that the total.number of teams entered will not fall far short of 40. ■In the senior grade there Is a posrtbility of a team drawn from the Garrison Artillery being entered. The sixth grade is an entirely new division, which will practically cater for schoolboys and very young players. . THE GKAFTOK CLUB. The Grafton Club are holding a practice on Saturday next nt the Domain. The committee trusts that all members and intending member* will attend A practice match by the City Rovers will be held at Victoria Park on Saturday next, at 2.30 p.m. All members and Intending members are requested to attend, bo as to enable the selectors to pick their respective teams. A practice match of the Ponsonby United will be held at Victoria Park on Saturday at 8 p.m. All "members are requested to attend: :•■•;.,