LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 86, 11 April 1935, Page 19

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

SEVEN SENIOR CLUBS

PROMOTION OF MT. ALBERT. NEW SENIOR B GRADE RULES. At its first official meeting for the 1935 season last evening, the Auckland Rugby League Board of Control, with Mr. G. Grey Campbell presiding, decided to admit the Mount Albeit United Club to senior grade, thus making seven teams in each of the two senior grades.

The chairman read the rules relating to teams in the competition. He said lie had gone into the position of the Mount Albert Club, the names of players having been submitted. All the players were well recognised seniors of Rugby League or Rugby Union, and the nuin.es warranted the speaker in giving a favourable report for Mount Albert's acceptance, with the strict reservation that this season no transfers from any other Rugby League club be allowed, the idea being that a new club should not be strengthened at the expense of the existing clubs, which should be protected.

Mr. R. 'Doblc agreed with the admission of Mount Albert, which was a very good district, and from what he knew of the management the new club would be an asset to the top grade.

Mr. Campbell said he felt sure Mount Albert would bring life to the competition and there were great possibilities behind the move. He had found that in Sydney they believed the district scheme was the only way, but over there they had the residential qualification, which was hardly suitable here yet, though district naines for clubs were a strong factor. Allowance had to be made for the strong organisation and school spirit behind Marists. The chairman finally expressed confidence that Mount Albert Club would prospei and bring a fresh interest and impetus to the game in Auckland.

Replying to a suggestion by Mr. Rukutai that the code flourished before the district scheme was ever considered, Mr. Campbell said that the early club names nevertheless carried an inference of districts, such as Newton, Ponsonby and Devonpoit.

On the motion of Mr. Probert. the admission of Mount Albert was confirmed and the question of providing a special room for the club at Carlaw Park was left in abeyance.

Over sixty new player registrations, including a number of prominent exponents of Rugby Union and Soccer, were approved. Seven senior club nominations were received, and it was announced that the draw would not be made until after Easter.

The chairman suggested that, the club delegates on the board should represent to clubs the matter of getting their own training grounds where possible, to intensify training and coaching in tactics, which could not always be developed in the presence of other teams practising on Carlaw Park.

It was decided that school boys be not allowed to train at the park after 7 p.m. owing to the needs of other teams. The Ponsonby. Club notified that its president, Mr. S. McDonald, was transferred to Wellington, where he would be a valuable acquisition to the new control there. Mr. C. J. W. Taylor (late secretary) had been elected president of the club. , It was decided to have n supply ol amendments to rules for immediate issue to the Referees' Association and the Auckland clubs. The former body was asked

to have representatives at Carlaw Park tor Uie beneiit ot teams uow naming. X'Ue junioi , management tiecreUry, jlr. YV. i'. ClarKe, moVKU uie loiiowmg recommendntione on the senior li . grade: Flayers are to be of the same status as a senior A player with regard to regrades, but any player under the eoutrol of the junior "board going to senior A will come under the rules regarding transfer fees. The junior board reserved the right to refuse a team nomination any time, after taking into consideration the question of the clubs' juniom teams. It was suggested that the Sharman Cup be donated for the championship, and the Foster Shield for the knock-out. The third open grade is to be eliminated, and the clubs asked to nominate same as second grade. lhe senior B grade winners are to have the right to enter for the Koope Rooster competition. . „ Mr. Wilkie explained that the senior li elubn would meet on Tuesday "regarding the new grade status. The elimination ot the third open grade left the grades in numerical order, but the third grade would still be weighted. The junior report " Leydon, the swimmer, thanked the board for its recent donation to the fund for her recent visit to Sydney. Officials were elected for the year as follow*:— Hon. secretary, Mr. Ivan Culpan; linn, treasurer, Mr. J. E. Knowling; New Zealand Council delegate. Mr. R. Poble; lion, solicitor. Mr. H. M. Rogcrson: Press steward, Mr. R. Doble; hon. auditor. Mr. R. A. Spinley; lion, physicians. T)rs. Tracy Tnglis, Pfzavo. Gw.vnne. Holdgate. Waddell. Burrell and Locke; lion, masseur, Mr. 1 , . Flannagan; timekeepers, Messrs. W. Liversidge and A E Chapman; referees' appointment board. Mr. L. Binns; insurance cotnmittec, Messrs. Doble. Binns and WllKie; emergency committee. the chairman, secretary'and Mr. Rukutai; finance committee, the chairman, secretary and Messrs. Probert and Mincham. \ letter from the council regarding the terms for use of Carlaw Park and grandstand for international fixtures was referred to the trustees.