RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22656, 10 March 1939, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL

OFFER TO CHANGE CODE G. MASON MAY TURN TO LEAGUE (From Our Own Reporter.) WESTPORT, March 9. In spite of a denial from the official headquarters of the Inangahua Rugby League that no offers had been made to prominent Buffer Rugby Union players to turn to the League code, it was revealed to-day to “The Press,” by Gordon Mason, captain of the Buller Seddon Shield team, and South Island representative last season, that he was considering an attractive offer to play Rugby League in the Auckland district, but had made no definite decision on the matter. He was contemplating starting business at Westport when the offer was made this week. Mason is a fine breaking forward, who has represented Buffer for several years, in ojie season as a back. It is believed that the offer did not come through the Inangahua League.

LYTTELTON CLUB

A special meeting of the newlyformed Lyttelton Rugby Football Club was held in the Toe H rooms last night to elect officers. Mr A. Stanley presided over a large attendance. The following officers were elected; —President, Mr A. Stanley; vice-presidents, Messrs F. E. Sutton, R. E. Cairns, J. D. Sargentina, W. W. Toy, C. Boyd, M. J. Scott, J. Roach, L. Scott, B. J. Graham, L. C. Matthews, C. Toy, E. C. Brown, T. Ballivan, P. Miller, A. Mason, J. Bisman, A. LeComte, L. E. Denton, T. A. Mahar, R. S. Cording, H. A. Rhind, J. Stanley, D. Pannell, F. Coffins, A. C. Dyne, G. C. Taylor, and A. R. Mutton;. captain, Mr I. Dromgoole; deputy-captain, Mr P. Perry, secretary, Mr C. Lewis; management committee, Messrs E. Foulds, B. Hendry, C. Barnes, R. Scott, C. Duff, H. Harris; coaches, Messrs T. Ballivan, C. Boyd, C. Kane, J. Roach, and L. C. Matthews. It was decided to enter teams in the third and fifth grade competitions, and to send a deputation to the Lyttelton Borough Council to ask that the sports ground at Diamond Harbour be put in order. The offer of Mr W. W. Toy of the use of his grain store for night training was accepted, and it was decided to hold the first night training on March 21.

The opening day was fixed for March 18 at the Officers’ Point ground

ATHLETIC CLUB

The club was in a sound financial position, the credit balance having shown a substantial increase, said the report presented to the ninth annual general meeting of the Athletic Rugby Football Club. The president (Mr St. J. J. Dunne) presided over the largest attendance of members since the formation of the club. He congratulated the members on a successful year. In his capacity as representative of the Canterbury Rugby Union he presented the trophies won during the season. The election of officers resulted;— Patron, Mr J. McKendry; president. Mr St. J. J. Dunne: vice-presidents, the Rev. Father E. A. Andersen, the Rev. Bro. Philip, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, Dr. E. B. Reilly, Messrs P. Kelleher, D. Galvin. O. Watson, M. O'Brien, G. Dobbs, E. Doyle. H. C. Radley, Bradleigh Crowhurst. W. Maloney, M. McKendry, P. O'Connell. M. R. Stewart, W. Irvine, and H. Preston; club captain, Mr B. O’Connell; joint secretaries, Messrs L. Mahar and H. Woodham; treasurer, Mr W. S. Mikkelson: committee. Messrs W. Clark, B. O’Fagan, V. O’Connell. J. M. Morel, J. Miscall, L. Noonan, and R. Dunne; delegates to Rugby Union, Messrs St. J. J. Dunne, W. Mikkelson. D. Cnllinan, and F. Corbett: auditor, Mr R. Boland. Many new members were elected. The opening day was set down for March 25.