NOW CLOSED BOOK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 140, 16 June 1938, Page 28

NOW CLOSED BOOK.

RELEGATION ISSUE. ECHO LAST NIGHT IN TWO OTAHUHU "WARNINGS." STURGES PARK QUESTION. The senior Rugby relegation question— the rearrangement of the two divisions after the first championship round—is now regarded as a closed book. It had its echo at last night's meeting of the management committee of the Auckland Rugby Football Union, which received two friendly "warnings" from Otahuhu enthusiasts, but they were received without dscuasion. Later the relegation of Otahuhu and University to the second division, and promotion of Technical Old Boys and Training College were confirmed. Belief that the union was making a grave error in relegating the two bottom teams of the senior first division to the second division was expressed by one o>f the Otahuhu writers. In his opinion the only fair way to relegate any team was for the bottom first division team to play off with the leading second division team. The Otahuhu team, he said, had played good football all the season. Now, through just a shade of luck, which could easily' have been the other way, Otahuhu were] to be "degraded." He added that many of his remarks could also be said of Ui.iver jity. "New, with League struggling again for a hcid, you propose to play right into theiv hand®," the writer declared. In a suburban township particularly, players, and the public went where the best players werj, whether it was League or Rugby, i Did the union, he asked, want to lose Sturges Park to League in another season or two ? The chairman, Mr. A. A. Baker, said he had received a letter from another "wellwifeiher" at Otahuhu, who said lie felt anxious about the future of the local club. Relegation of the senior team to the second division would put the club in a desperate predicament, for it was felt that a great many players and supporters would be lost. The League people, said the writer, were already rejoicing at the prospect, and he felt that it would be disastrous if the team had to move down. If League got a hold many woukl swing their way. The Chairman: They seem to think they're going to lose Sturges Park, but they probably don't know we 'have the park tied up for five years, with another three seasons to run after this one. So bhat's that. The letters were received and it was left to the chairman and the secretary to reply to the effect that no action was to be taken. Valuable Citizen Passes. The country had lost a most able soldier and the city a most valuable citizen with the death of Major-General Sir George Richardson, said the chairman, when at his request the members of the committee rose and passed in silence a motion of sympathy with Lady Richardson and the family. Procedure which referees were now I adopting in regard to injuries to players during the progress of a match was set out in a communication from "their association, which will be circulated to all clubs. When a player is obviously not seriously injured and enn walk to the toi:"hline, the referee should, it was ruled, order him to do so, and the game should continue immediately. In cases of minor injuries to legs—for example, shin kicks, twisted ankles —the referee should order the player to be carried to the line at once, allowing the match to go on. Where an injury was serious, or its full extent not obvious, the referee should await the decision of the ambulance men, and then, if the player was fit enough for it, have him removed to the line, or, if his condition was not suitable, have him attended to on the field. No stoppage should be allowed for broken bootlaces, belts, and so on. Mr. J. Sweeney: The objective of the referees in setting out the procedure is that the procedure is that the matches may be kept going whenever possible. The letter was received and will be circulated. Matehes at Papakura. Co-operation in the staging of two matches at Papakura is to be offered to the Manukau Sub-union. One of the games proposed is a senior competition match on August 13 or 27, and the other a match between a representativ-e team from the senior • reserve grade (to be selected by Mr. P. Sheehan) and the Subunion's representatives on a date to be fixed. The Kaipara Union invited the Auckland- senior B representatives to play Kaipara, at Helensville. The question was held over for a week, and in the meantime Kaipara will be asked to name a date. In case weather conditions made Blandford Park unsuitable for its match against Victoria College next Wednesday, the University Club asked for—and was granted—permission to play at Eden Park if necessary. The curtain-raiser is expected to be H.M.S. Leander v. Royal Air Force. Financial assistance in regard to representative matches ft proposed to stage was asked by the Combined Services Rugby Football Association, which also expressed a wish that a match should be arranged for it with the Sydney Fire Brigade team if the latter was definitely coming to New Zealand. Both requests are to be discussed and reported on. Issue of pennants instead of caps to the championship-winning teams would not be favoured by the Northcote and Birkenhead Club, the committee was advised. The club believed caps gave a greater incentive to the teams to strive after honours, and were of a much greater ientimental value to the recipients.

The committee's nominees for selection of referee in the Waikato-Auckland match on Saturday:—Messrs. J. B. Finlayson, C. W. Hendci •son, J. A. Malcolm, G. Peace, J. G. C. Widcs. For the rep. match at Papakura: Messrs. S. V. Nicol, V. Mace. Mr. Sweeney was appointed team manager for the Thames trip, and Messrs. G. Orrell and S. Cleal were appointed to manage the Auckland team against Waikato. Messrs. Colgan and Harvey were appointed ground officials for Saturday.