RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 106, 7 May 1935, Page 16

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

TRIAL REPLACEMENTS. .

NO HALF-TIME CHANGES.

By the direction of delegates to the annual conference of the New Zealand liugby Union, held in Wellington last week, there will be no half-time replacements of players in the trials to be held this se£VK>n for the selection of the New Zealand team to tour the Home counties, except, of course, in the event of players being injured.

In raising the question at the annual meeting, Mr. N. A. McKenzie (Huwke'a Bay) expressed the opinion that a replacement as indicated and as had been made at times in last season's trials, was most unfair to the player tirought on in the second half. Mr. McKenzie disagreed entirely with the procedure, and urged that it be discontinued. He moved:— "That it bo a recommendation that the selectors be notified that all players in the trial games be kept on the field for the full period of play, unless forccd to retire through injury."

Delegates: Hear, Hear

Seconding the motion, Mr. G. Pojvnall (Wanganui) instanced the case of a fiveeighth in a trial last season .who had been kept in check by a forward in the first spell but who had played an excellent game in the second jpell after the particular forward had been replaced at halftime. Such changes were liable to give a false idea of a man's ability.

"It has been tried and found wanting," said Mr. E. McKenzie (Wairarapa), chairman of the New Zealand Selection Committee, in admitting frankly that he did not agree with replacements of players in trial games. He also took the opportunity of removing an impression created ,in some minds that because a player was taken off at half-time he was a certainty for the team for which the players were on trial. That did not represent the position at all so far. as the selectors were concerned. Mr. McKenzie added that he did not see any necessity for interfering - with the coming trial rames by chatfging the teams during the progress of play.

Mr. McKenzie's proposal met with the full approval*of. delegates, and the motion was carried.

PAEROA REFEREES. At th<> nntiual mooting of the Paoroa Rugby Referees' Association the following officers were elected :—l'ntroit. IT. \V. W. Little; president, Mr. H. Wilton; vicepresidents. Messrs. F. E. Flatt, V. Young and W. liuln: secretary, Mr. S. I. McIntvre; delegate to the X'aeroa Rugby Union. Mr. H. Grant; delegates to the Thames Valley Referees' Association. Messrs. 11. Grant and S. I. Mclntyre; selector, Mr. B. Nell; committee, all active referees. HAURAKI PLAINS. The Haurakl Plains Ileferees' Association has been reformed. Ofßcers elected President. Mr. 11. Vause; vice-president, Mr. A. Cleave; secretary, Mr. P. Clark; delegate to Haurakl Plains .Rugby Union, Mr. E. A, Mahoney; delegate* to Thames Valley Referees' Association, Messrs. K. A. Mnhoney and A. Cleave; members of appointment board, the president, the secretary and Mr. F. Howard. RESULTS AT A GLANCE.

WAIIII. OtPlM'l'ir 'le/it Witilil Iteireserifa fives 3. Saturday's' flip Oaines.—-Miitiinni 8, be.lt KatlkpM 0: foivnt O.r:. 3, drew with High School 0.11. •'!. TAUPIRI. Te Hoe 31, lieat Tauplrl TARAXAKI. Tuknpa 1", beat Ilawera 10. Oknlnwa 7. beat United Old Boys 6. Kaponga 14, beat New Plymouth Old Boys 1). Kt-ntford ."5. bent Athletic 0. .Clifton ill, beat Waimate 13. HAMILTON. firnmmnr Schools Old Iloys (Auckland) B-i beat Hamilton representatives 3. WKM.INOTOX. wSuMtSn° n B. 0011836 ° 1U B ° yH 2ii ' I,Pnf Murlst 18, bent llutt 8. DUNEDIX. Varsity A 10, beat Alhambra 0 Pirated 16. oeat Kalkorat 8 Southern 18, t>?ut Zlnsnrl o. Lnlon -11, beat 'Varsity B C Taleri 3, drew with DuneOln S.