JOHN PILE RUGBY DISPUTE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14658, 29 April 1948, Page 5

JOHN PILE RUGBY DISPUTE

CUP RETURNED BY ROTORUA TEAM UNION SETTLEMENT OF ISSUE A sequel to a dispute which occurred towards the end of the 1947 Rugby football season concerning the playing of the John Pile Memorial Cup, for competition among leading sub-union teams in the Bay of Plenty, was heard at the annual meeting of the Bay,of Plenty Rugby Union in Whakatane. No grounds were available at Rotorua after September 30, and the Rotorua team concerned declined a suggestion that challenge matches after that date should be played in another centre where grounds could be provided. The question was discussed at length at the union meeting, the Rotorua delegates defending the action of their senior champion club. The union decided, by an overwhelming majority, to uphold the decision of the 1847 executive to request the Rotorua sub-union to return the cup, and to consider the question closed. The cup was returned at the conclusion of the union meeting.

Referring to the question in his report, the president (Mr ( A. E. Spratt) said a serious position had developed in connection with the competition. The question was too involved to attempt to describe in the report. Briefly the position was that the executive decided that the Rotorua sub-union should be instructed to secure and return the cup to the union. This .request had not been complied with. Following the executive decision matches were arranged with Opotiki and Tauranga and the winners played Whakatane. Paroa (Whakatane) wen the final match and was without the trophy.