A COUNTRY GRIEVANCE.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14760, 2 September 1913, Page 8

A COUNTRY GRIEVANCE.

The. secretary of the Waiau Football Club on Saturday received a message from the Ghristchurch Rugby Union to the effect that, owing to the expense and the difficulty of getting a good enough team away, it regretted that it must let the return, match, Canterbury v. Waiau, Kaikoura. and Cheviot lapse for this -season. This message has caused keen disappointment and resenrment throughout tho three counties, and the match, VHfh was to.have been played at Waiau && Saturday, next, was expected to prove Very interesting. The secretary of the. Waiau Club, who had completed all arrangements for the match, states that the action of the Union is extremely unsatisfactory, inasmuch as it is the second -year it has occurred. The combined , counties' have sent a team to Christclnirob two years in succession, but no return match has been played, though it has been ■ promised before the counties' team went South on both occasions; Such doings are not calculated to have a very beneficial effect on Rugby in country districts. Mr O'l>onnel is telegraphing protesting to this.effect, so the match may come off yet.

A meeting of the Sumner Football Club was held on Friday night, when it was arranged to close the season with tho annual match between, the Sumner. and Redcliffs members on Saturday next, at St. Leonard's square. The same evening the club will hold their annual dinner.