RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26986, 11 March 1953, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

RANFURLY SHIELD CHALLENGES (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 10. North Auckland has lodged with the New Zealand Rugby Football Union a special challenge for the Ranfurly Shield. Canterbury, which previously lodged a challenge, has asked that this be regarded as a special challenge. NEW BRIGHTON CLUB The annual meeting of the New Brighton Rugby Football Club was held recently. The following officers were elected:—patron, Mr B. Penrose; president, Mr T. Dixon; vice-presidents, 15 were elected; delegates to Rugby Union, Messrs F. Brownie, Penrose, D. Frost, D. Keogh; delegates to junior advisory board, Messrs F. Hawes, D. Keogh, R. Fitchett, P Carbines, W. White; club captain, Mr A. McLeod; assistant club captain, Mr Fitchett; secretary, Mr N. H. Buchanan; assistant secretary, Mr R. Hockley; treasurer, Mr K. Bradbury; groundsman, Mr T. Long; assistant groundsman, Mr L. Arps; committee, Messrs C. Dorn, W. Smith, J. Hecker, H. Emery, P. Goosey; auditor, Mr D. Frost. Opening day was arranged for Saturday, March 14. ASSOCIATION CODE PROBLEMS OF SHORT SEASON Only 24 Saturdays were available for competition this season, and 30 Saturdays would be required to fit the association’s programme v in comfortably, said the president of the Canterbury Football Association (Mr M. A. Gordon) at the annual meeting last evening. There were several alternatives, each of which was bound to be unpopular in some quarters. The alternatives he saw were: to reduce the senior competition to six teams; to split the competition into two divisions; to eliminate byes for teams which had three or more players in a representative team on a particular day; and to play the Chatham Cup and the Hurley Shield competitions concurrently. Officers of the association were elected as follows: Patron, the Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.; president, Mr M. A. Gordon; vice-presidents, Messrs E. Billcliff, A. H. Henderson, R. W. Fuller, G. Cox, P. Donalson, C. Williams, and H. Weatherhead; hon. treasurer, Mr R. Hopkins; hon. solicitor, Mr J. G. Leggat; hon. auditor, Mr W. A. Clark; management committee, Messrs T. Hastings (Technical), R. S. Smith (Western), F. Mathews (Christchurch), T. Johnston (Shamrock), F. C. Mahon (Celtic), A. Stanton (Rangers), E. Speke (Thistle), D. Gowans (Nomads), M. Turner (Training College): delegate to the New Zealand Football Association, Mr J. K. Smith.

The association’s competitions will open on April 11.