ELLESMERE SUB-UNION

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 3079, 12 April 1927, Page 3

ELLESMERE SUB-UNION

THE ANNUAL MEETING

•MATCHES OPEN SATURDAY

WEEK,

BROADCASTING OF SCORES

The annual meeting of the Ellesmere

Rugby Football Sub-Union was held at Leeston on Friday evening, when a decision was made to open the first and

second grade competitions on Saturday week, April 23.

The following delegates were present: Messrs. H. J. Conway (president), K. W. Macpherson, A. J. Sheat (Dunsandel), R, T. McMillan, H. Gardiner

(Irwell), W. Lowery, W. C. Beamsley

(Southbridge), \V. Bohan, H. D. Jones (Leeston), Miller, Harris (Waihora), Hoskins, Eyan (United), Ormond, Knight (College), K. Bruce and F. j. Mottram (secretary).

The president extended a welcome to the new delegates and expressed .. a

word of thanks to members of the Sub-Union last year whose places were being taken by others this season.

The meeting decided to forward a

letter of appreciation to Mr J. S. McClelland, last, year's vice president, expressing regret at his retirement from the Sub-Union and sympathy in Ms

illness,

LAST SEASON REVIEWED

The annual report upon the 1926 season, presented over the president's -signature, stated that it had been highlysatisfactory in every way. Starting the 3 rear with a balance of £47/1/3, the Sub-Union had finished the season with £76/15/2 in hand, an increase of £29/13/11. Both the first and second grade competitions had been very evenly contested. Dunsandel had won the first-grade with Waihora as runners-up. In the second grade, after a prolonged competition, United had once more been the winners, with Waihora runners up. The third grade competition had had only three teams, a fact to be regretted as this grade served a very useful purpose in providing football for boyp leaving school. Dunsandel had been the winners. In the schools' competition, only one round had been played, but it had been most interesting, as the teams competing were the most even since this competition was inaugurated. The winners were combined Dunsandel and Killinchy schools. The McClelland , Cup match had been played at Dunsandel, and after a good contest Waihora had won by eight

points to six. The seven a-side tournament had again been a very success ful fixture, 34 teams in all competing. The winners had been Dunsandel (firstgrade), College (second grade), United (third grade), Springston South and Greenpark (schools). Seven first grade and two second-grade representative fixtures had been contested. Of these, the first-grade team had won three and lost four, while both the -second-grade matches had been lost. W. C. Miller, T. Wheeler and I. llowatson had taken part in the North v. South Sub-Unions' game, and C. Gilbert and R. Anderson had been selected as reserves. T. Wheeler, C. Miller and I. Howatson had taken part in the Town v. Country game, whilst C. Miller and T. Wheeler had also gained places in the Canterbury B team. After successfully withstanding a challenge from Hurunui, Elloamere had lost the Southbridge Shield to Banks Peninsula by 16 points to 5, and tendered the victors congratulations upon winning the shield for the first time. To members of the Referees ' Association for their valuable assistance and to all who provided cars for the conveyance of representative players, the Sub Union tendered its sincerest thanks. It also wished to thank the Ellesmere A. and P. Association for the use of the Show Ground.

In commenting upon the report, the president said he would like to see more third-grade teams enter the competitions than had done so last year. Ex-scholars should be encouraged to join the third-grade teams on leaving school, and it should be their ambition thereafter to attain as high honours as possible in the game. It was from the third-grade teams that the senior I players of "the future were derived. With regard to second grade representative matches, he would like to have more fixtures arranged this year than last, though it was sometimes difficult to work them in.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted.

THIS YEAR'S OFFICERS Mr H. J. Conway intimated his desire to retire from the presidency this year, and nominated Mr. H. Gardiner, who has been a member of the SubUnion for a lengthy period, to fill the I office. The nomination was seconded, i but Mr Gardiner declined the honour. Mr L. Harris was eventually elected president. The folio-wing other officers were

[elected: Vice president, Mr H. D. Jones;' secretary, Mr F. J. Mottram; treasurer, Mr H. Gardiner; trustees, Messrs. F. J. Mottram and H. Gardiner; suspension committee, Messrs. R. T. McMillan, L. Harris and H. **D. Jones; postponement committee, Messrs T. G. Harper, H. Gardiner and W. 0. Lowery; first-grade selectors, Messrs E. T. McMillan, L. Harris and H. D. Jones; second-grade selectors, Messrs. jT. G. Harper, -Beamsley and H. A. Brown (subject to consent); auditor, Mr E. M . Eobertson; delegates to Canterbury Eugby Union, Messrs L. Harris and R. T. McMillan; draw committee, Messrs. L. Harris, H. Gardiner and F. J. Mottram; executive, the president, Messrs. R. T. McMillan and H. Gardiner. The appointment of referees was left to the executive, acting in conjunction with representatives of the Referees' Association.

Mr Conway vacated the chair at this stage and Mr L. Harris entered upon the presidency.

Upon the proposal of Mr Miller, the meeting decided to record its appreciation of the services of the retiring president. Mr Conway had been associated with the Sub-union probably as long as any other delegate, said Mr Miller, and in his withdrawal it was losing a valued servant, the trace of whose work would remain behind him. Messrs R. T. McMillan and H. Gardiner added words of appreciation of Mr Conway's services to the Sub-Union and referred to the dispatch with which he had conducted the .meetings.

CHANGE OF GROUND

The Leeston Club applied for permission to change its playing ground from the Show Ground to the E'ecreation ground. The main reason given for the desire to change was that the spectators at matches on the Show Ground had been few in number in comparison with the previous attendances at the recreation ground, and this had been reflected in the collections. Mr Beamsley asked whether anything had been done to improve the recreation ground for football. Mr H. D. Jones said that the trees around the ground had been cut and the flow from an artesian well removed. The ground was expected to be in good order for football this season. Mr K. T. McMillan regretted that the club had seen fit to change its ground. On past experience the recreation ground had not been satisfactory, though this was not to say that it would not be better in the future. However, the A. and P. Association had spent a fair sum of money on the Show Ground in enlarging the oval and in other directions, for the benefit of football and other games. The larger space at the Show Ground, which enabled cars to be parked around the oval, was a decided advantage. He thought the Club's decision to change was a backward step.

Mr W. Bohan said that the Club had the assurance of the owner of the recreation ground that cars would be able to draw up on the track. The Sub union granted the application.

A NEW CLUB

The secretary of the Eolleston Foot ball Club, which was constituted last year, applied for affiliation with the Ellesmerc Sub union. Sixteen of the Rolleston players resided in the Maivern Sub-union's area, and application had been made to Malvern for permis sion to play these men in Ellesmere. stated the letter.

A deputation from the Kolleston Club waited upon the Sub union in sup port of the application.

A member of the deputation said that the new club was placed in an awkward situation geographically.' Some members resided on the Malvern side, some on the Ellesmere side, and some on the Christchurch side. As it was hoped to organise a second-grade team this year, it had been decided to apply for affiliation with Ellesmere in time to enter this year's competitions. There was every probability of the Malvern Sub-union being in agreement to the footballers in its area, playing for Ellesmere so long as none were drawn from the Kirwee Club. The Club at present had a membership of 22, most of whom had never played football before, and it was on this account that it was desired to enter a second-grade team instead of a firstgrade. It was proposed to play the matches on a private ground on the Ellesmere side of the Eolleston railway station. All the members were permanent residents, with the exception of two who might possibly be leaving the district at any time.

Mr H. Gardiner considered that before affiliation was granted to Rolleston, a written statement should be obtained from the Malvern Sub union expressing- its willingness for the Holieston players in its area to enter the Ellesmere competitions, in order to avoid future complications.

On the proposal of Mr W. G. Miller, it was resolved to admit the Rolleston Club, on condition that the required permission was forthcoming from Mai-

vern to play the sixteen men residing in that area.

RESULTS BY EADIO.

Mr W. C. Miller enquired as ta the j possibility of making an arrangement with the Christehureh. Broadcasting "Centre to transmit by radio the results of Ellesmere matches, together with the Christehureh results on Saturday

evenings,

Mr W. C. Lowery supported this proposal on behalf of the Southbridge Club.

The president thought that such a means of publishing the results would be appreciated by the public, but there was a difficulty in getting in all the results. Clubs had been lax in this direction in past seasons, some neglecting even to notify the secretary of the Sub union until several days after the

match,

It was suggested that a penalty should be imposed upon teams who defaulted in the sending of results. If rightly organised, the scheme should be worked without difficulty.

Mr Hoskins said that at Springston the telephone exchange closed at five o'clock and often the players were not off the field by that hour, and there was no opportunity of sending on the results the same evening.

The suggestion was advanced that the secretary and Mr H. D. Jones should be in attendance at a telephone at Leeston at about 6.30 on Saturday evenings to receive results, and to forward them on to the wireless station as •;oon as they were complete.

Mr W. C. Miller moved that it should be made the duty of the-secretary of the Club upon whose ground the match was played to inform the Sub union secretary, or any substitute appointed by him, of the result of the match by '130 on Saturdays, a fine of 5/- to be Imposed for default, unless a reasonable explanation was advanced.

The reference to a penalty was omitted as there was a doubt as to whether it was constitutional, and the motion was carried with this deletion.

MISCELLANEOUS,

It was resolved to open the competitions on Saturday, April 23. There was a division of votes between April 23 and 30, the earlier date being fav^ cured by the majority. It was agreed to give the College team the first bye in order to meet the convenience of students returning from vacation.

The closing date for entries was fixed for Saturday, April 16.

The Southbridge Club" applied for permission to play a list -of men who had recently joined from other clubs, it was agreed to grant permission provided that financial clearances were "obtained from the clubs to which the players had previously belonged.

In reply to Mr Beanisley, the president said that applications for reinstatement to a lower grade should be addressed to the secretary by the player concerned, and reasons for the application given. They would then be dealt with by the executive.

On behalf of the .United Club, Mr Eyan applied for permission to play one first-grade and two second-grade matches this season on the Lincoln Eecreation Ground, which had been put in good order for football. The -Subunion acceded to the request.

Mr K. W. Macpherson recommended that the Sub-union should write to all clubs which had concrete cricket pitches on their playing fields, requesting them to have the pitches eoverect with turf, instead of other materials, such

as sawdust

Mr Ryan said the United Club had found last year that the turf placed tipon the pitch on its ground had become slippery in wet weather, and the Club had replaced the turf with sawdust, •which it considered safer. Mr Macpherson's proposal was adopted by eight votes to six. Mr H. Gardiner proposed that a letter of appreciation should be sent to the Ellesmere A. and P. Association in recognition of its granting the use of the Show Ground for representative Inatches, and that a donation of £3 3s should be forwarded to the Association. This was carried.