RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21746, 31 March 1936, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

AMALGAMATION WITH POVERTY BAY

RECOMMENDATION BY WAIROA SUB-UNION

(TEBS3 iSSQCUTIOM TZLBORiM.) WAIROA, March 30. The annual meeting of the Wairoa Rugby Sub-Union, the largest yet held, passed a recommendation to the incoming committee to consider seriously amalgamation with the Poverty Bay Union. If this is acted upon, it will mean a severe blow to Hawke's Bay, as for many years Wairoa has provided Outr standing players for that representative team. Last year Wairoa provided C. Smith, P. Smith, Collins, Mataira, Powirell, and Hutchinson, and in the early party Reid, who, with Collins, went Home. It is claimed that the reason for this recommendation was the lack of interest the Hawke's Bay Union showed in Wairoa, the paucity of representative games here over the period when Hawke's Bay held the Ranfurly Shield, and non-consiueration of players for the junior representatives.

REFEREES' .ASSOCIATION

GENERAL MEETING

A general meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Football Referees' Association was held in the Rugby Union's offices, when the president, Dr. D. McK. Dickson, was in the chair. There was an attendance of 54 members. Rulings received from the New Zealand Referees' Association were briefly dis* cussed. ! A suggestion from the Rugby Union I that the association should reopen Its list of members was held over for discussion at the next general meeting of the assoi--elation.' ' At the conclusion of the formal busls ness. Mr A. E. McPhail, manager of the New Zealand University Rugby football team which recently toured Japan, and Mr G.' Parsons, captain of the team, recounted some of their experiences when on the,tour. Both speakers paid a tribute to the sporting characteristics of the Japanese and the serious manner in which they took the game. The Japanese had made every effort to treat the team hospitably. The Japanese played a remarkably fine fast game and, although their backs seemed to lack penetration, they wfefe really' wonderful at passing, and their scrummaging was remarkably compact and difficult to push. Another feature of the Japanese players was their fitness. The players trained two hours a day regularly, and were particularly tough and hard to bring down, and, if brought down, were on their feet immediately. There were some very fast runners, and the majority of the forwards could run and pass as well as the backs. On the motion of Dr. Dickson, a vote of thanks was accorded to the speakers.

RUGBY LEAGUE

CAMPAIGN FOR BRIGHTER RIiAY

Td ANNUAL

MEETING

Brighter and better football is the aim of the Canterbury Rugby League this year. The annual meeting of delegates last evening received enthusiastic reports on the progress of the game and made preparations for a very full season during 1936. Mr W. S. S3. Moyle, in the absence bt the president, Mr C. G. Derrett, presided over a full attendance of delegates. Reviewing the year, Mr Moyle said he was satisfied that the league wiped the Slate a little cleaner during the 1935 season. Players taking part in the game to-day were of a particularly good type. It wag the object of the league to push the game much faster this year and move for better and brighter football. It was with this end in view that amendments to the constitution had been proposed to provide for a smaller executive. Support of Players The annual report gave a full review of a busy season. The outstanding event was the visit of the Auckland representative team, the first in many years, Three hundred and seventy-nine new players had been registered with the code during the year, but it was still necessary to foster players in the Junior grade, and especially to provide them with satisfactory training. All players were advised to insure themselves against accident before beginning the season. In asking for the loyal support of all players in the new season, the retiring officials wished to point out, the report said, that there had been a great Improvement in the standard of play'last season. This standard could be further improved only by continued loyalty among Players to their teams and clubs. The committee also congratulated the Referees' Association on its efforts in the interests of better and brighter football. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £2B 14s Id for the year. The statement of assets and liabilities showed a deficit of £57 IBs lidElection of Officers

Officers were elected as follows: Patron, Mr J. Vivian; president, Mr C. G. Derrett; vice-presidents, Messrs C. Goodman, R. McGloin, W. J. Mitchell, L. Gregory: honorary secretary, Mr H. B. Rogers; honorary treasurer, Mr W. Rogers; honorary auditor, Mr W. E. Desmond: honorary solicitor. Mr J. A. Kennedy; Canterbury vice-president of the New Zealand Rugby League. Mr H. B. Rogers. At a subsequent meeting of the management committee, Mr Moyle was reelected chairman. ....*. It was decided to open the competitions on April 18. Entries will close on April "in accordance with his notice of motion. Mr E. McSweeney moved that alterations to the constitution be adopted. The principal alteration provided for was the appointment of the chairman, deputy-chair-man, secretary, treasurer, and two delegates from the clubs to act as an executive in place of the larger management committee provided under the present rU It S was decided to recommend to the incoming committee that fee of Is for senior players and 6d for players In grades from second down to fourth oe imposed.

JUNIOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

OFFICERS ELECTED

Officers of the Junior management commit ee of the Canterbury Rugby League were elected at the annual meeting of the committee last evening as follows.— Chairman Mr A. E. Clarke: secretary, Mr E F.'McSweeney: match committee representative, Mr W. Young; grounds committee representative, Mr A. *.. yarice, weights committee. Messrs R. Keller, H. Pugb, and A. E. Clarke. New weights for the grades were approved as follows:—Juniors and third grade, open; fourth grade, not over 9st 31b; fifth grade, Bst: sixth grade. 7st; seventh grade, 6st; fly-weight. sst 61b for seven-a-side games only. It was decided that boys should be weighed for competition only once in each season. April 18 was chosen as opening day. Entries will close on April 6

REFEREES' ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING HELD

Mr C. W. Allen presided at the annual general meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Football League Referees' Asspciation. The annual report, submitted .by the secretaryA Mr : '%- A. King M ;described the 1935 SeadohVa* dne of the ,Drtost successful the na 2- A>] , . y :> > ~-: . ; L*' The president welcomed the new members and expressed the hope that other enthusiasts would take an active part with the whistle or the touch-lines. Officers Were elected as follows:—President, Mr C. W. Allen; cnairman, Mr H. Stapley; delegate to the centre, Mr H. Stapley; delegate to Junior board, Mr J. G. Underwood: selector of referees, Mr w. Desmond; deputy-selector, Mr H. A. King; delegate to New Zealand Referees' Association, Mr C. Hill (Auckland); match

committee representative, Mr Underwood: press steward, Mr H. Stapley: advisory committee, Messrs H. A. King, T. Carroll, J. G. Underwood; social committee, Messrs P. O'Connor, P. Cotton, C. Taylor, W. Thornton, T. Carroll. It was decided that the delegate to the centre report to the next meeting on the proposed alterations to ,the constitution. The next meeting of the association was fixed for Thursday, April 16. The chairman spoke of the support given by the executive of the Canterbury Rugby League. In reply, Mr W. S. E, Moyle referred to the work the referees put into the game and urged the active participants to try to bring about an open style of play and to avoid using the whistle unless absolutely necessary. Firm control with an elastic mind was an asset to the members with the whistle.

VISIT OF ENGLISH TEAM

APPEARANCE IN N.Z. THIS SEASON

Some comment on the English Hugby League team which will visit Australia and New Zealand this season was contained in the annual report of the Canterbury Rugby League presented to the annual meeting last evening. "The personnel of the visiting team indicates that it is one of the best combinations ever assembled," the report said. "Their appearance against New South Wales and Queensland teams is already creating great interest, and it is probable that the matches will eclipse all others in every respect. Though the visit of the English team to New Zealand will be curtailed, the team's appearance on the playing fields of the Dominion will attract the attention of all unbiased Rugby players and supporters, more especially in Wellington and Auckland. "With the probability of a fixture on a local ground, there is every incentive for our ralayers to endeavour to gain selection to play against the visitors. It shou'd serve to encourage our players to train thoroughly, and make themselves fit to oppose such doughty opponents. "Mr R. Anderton, who accompanied the previous English team as team manager, has again been selected to fill this important position, and the former capable leader, J. Brough, will lead the visitors."