SEVEN-A-SIDE RUGBY

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LII, Issue 56, 14 July 1931, Page 5

SEVEN-A-SIDE RUGBY

AUGUST 1 AT LEESTON.

REP. MATCHES NEXT MONTH. CLOSING OF COMPETITIONS. July 25.—First grade competition closes. August I—Seven-a-side tournament at Leeston. August B.—Ellesmere v. Canterbury Senior B at Southbridge. August 15.—Ellesmere first and second grade v. Ashburton at Ashburton. August 22.—McClelland Cup match; Ellesmere v. Peninsula second grade, both probably at College. August 29.—Ellesmere v. Malvern at Kirwee. The above programme for the tootball season until the end of August was arranged by the Ellesmere Rugby Sub-union at its monthly meeting at Leeston last evening. The meeting was attended by Messrs R. T. McMillan (president), W. S. McLaughlin (Irwell), F. B. Clausen, T. D. M. Bradley (Leeston), W. M. Nidd, H. G. Hubbard (Southbridge), R. J. Caldwell, K. A. Johnston (Dunsandel), W. Hopley, B. Moran (Lincoln), M. D. Ryan, J. F. Wright (United), R. A. Sherwin (College), Jas. Miller, N. Withell (Waihora), R. Bruce (Schools) and G. A. H. Atkinson (secretary). Apologies for absence were tendered on behalf of Dr. I. W. Weston (College) and W. H. Joblin (Waihora). EXECUTIVE BUSINESS. At a meeting of the executive on June 20, of which the minutes were read, E. C. Maindonald, of Leeston Club, had been reinstated as a second grade player, and the entry fee for third grade teams in the competition had been fixed at 5/TRANSFERS AND REINSTATEMENTS. On account of his residing in Christchurch, A. A. Gudsell, who enclosed his clearance from the Dunsandel Club, was granted a transfer from the Sub-union. The Waihora Club notified that W. Jackman had been granted a clearance. On the application of Mr Miller, secretary of the Waihora Club, he was granted a transfer to Lincoln. H. Grimwood, whose clearance from Culverden Club was received, was granted a transfer to the Unit ed Club. The application of N. Meredith, of Leeston Club, for reinstatement from second to third grade status was granted. The applicant wrote that he had joined the second grade team before the third grade competition was organised. The Lincoln second grade team was granted permission to play Mount Herbert Sports Club on July 18. PLAYER CAUTIONED. Mr H. A. Brown, who refereed the Leeston v. Southbridge first grade match on June 27, reported having ordered off the field C. G. Frost, a Leeston player, who had used his fists against a Southbridge player. He had previously cautioned the players for scrapping, and had no option but to order the player off. The president said that Frost had since left the district, and had been requested to send a letter of explanation before his departure. In his letter, Frost stated that he had since transferred to Christchurch. The referee claimed that he had hit another player, but he had not explained what was the matter at the time of ordering him off. Mr Bradley (Leeston) said that Frost was a quiet-natured player who would be unlikely to strike another man. He had witnessed the match and he was satisfied that a serious mistake had been made. Mr Clausen said he considered

there had been a case of mistaken identity and did not think the player should be penalised. Remarking that it was the duty of the Sub-union to uphold the referees, and that the tendency of play at the present time was towards roughness, Mr Miller moved that Frost should be cautioned. He would not like to see a player wrongfully. treated, but the referee's action could not be without foundation. Mr Caldwell seconded the resolution and it was carried. CLOSING OF COMPETITION. Mr Miller moved that the first grade competition should close on July 25, two weeks earlier than the expiry of the draw, as the result was expected to be definitely settled by that date; and that the seven-a-side tournament be held on Auguts 1. Mr Caldwell seconded and the motion was carried. On the motion of Mr Johnston, it was agreed that the second grade competition should be continued until August 8, omitting the date of the seven-a-side tournament and that the question of continuing further should be considered at the August meeting of the Sub-Union. On the motion of Mr Miller, it was agreed that a further round should be played in the third grade competition. THE SEVEN-A-SIDE. The Leeston Club applied to have the seven-a-side tournament played at Leeston. Mr Ryan advocated that the tournament should be played on the ground of each club in rotation, and in the event of College not desiring the tournament this year, in view of the vacation, he applied for it to be played at United. In support of the Leeston application, the delegates said that, on past experience, a good gate was assured, wire fencing would be erected around the ground at the expense of a local resident, and good shelter and catering facilities were available. Moreover, the tournament had been played on the opposite side of the river last year. Messrs Hopley and Sherwin moved \ that the tournament be played on the United ground. ' Voting was deferred pending inquiry into the dates and grounds of previous tournaments. The minutes disclosed that the tournament had last been played at United in 1926, and that the College and Irwell Clubs were entitled to the fixture if. they so desired before United's turn recurred. The president expressed his opinion in favour of Leeston as this year's ground. An amendment that the tournament be played at Leeston was moved by Messrs McLaughlin and Bradley. The amendment was carried, there being no dissenting voices. The appointment of officials and selection of trophies for the tournament was left to the executive. The admission charges were fixed at 1/6 j for adults and 1/- for cars. REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. \ The Canterbury Rugby Union offered a match against a Canterbury Senior B team on August 8, and this date was accepted. It was decided, on the motion of Messrs Nidd and Bradley, that the match be played at Southbridge. The admission charges were fixed at 1/6 for adults and 1/- for cars. Mr Hubbard was appointed manager of the Ellesmere team. The Ashburton Rugby Union invited the Ellesmere first and second grade teams to play at Ashburton on August 15. The challenge was accepted. The Banks Peninsula Sub-union enquired whether it would be possible to arrange a match between the Ellesmere and Peninsula second grade teams on any Saturday in August. The McClelland Cup match, between the .winners and runners-up in the first grade competition, was fixed for August 22. It was decided to accept Peninsula's challenge to a second grade match for the same date and on the same ground, that is, the ground of the team winning the competition. The Malvern Sub-union asked Ellesmere to nominate a date in August for the annual representative match, and offered a choice of grounds between Kirwee, Glenturmel and Hororata. It was decided to reply that August 29 would be the first available date, unless claimed by Hurunui. The meeting selected Kirwee as the ground. GRANTS TO SCHOOLS. On the president's proposal, it was agreed that grants of footballs or

their equivalent in value should be made to the school teams participatin the competitions, and that Mr Bruce should ascertain the teams eligible to receive such grants this year. NOTICE OF DEFAULT. Mr Miller mentioned that the referee (Mr Joblin) appointed for the Lincoln v. College B second grade match last Saturday had not been notified that the match had been defaulted, and hence had made an unnecessary journey. Mr Moran said he understood that an endeavour had been made to communicate with the referee by telephone. Mr Miller added that he had raised the matter by way of reminding clubs of their obligation to notify referees when their services were not required. Mr Ryan said that the Dunsandel team had defaulted to United last Saturday at only a few minutes' notice. Explaining the position, Mr Johnston said that the Dunsandel team had not known until late In the day that it would have to default. The reason was that some of the second grade players were required for the first grade team. He offered his Club's apologies. COMPETITION RESULTS. Notice was drawn by Mr Ryan to the fact that the results of competition matches broadcasted by radio on Saturday evenings had not been com- * plete lately, the reason apparently being that some clubs were neglecting to notify them. The president expressed the hope that clubs would recognise the good service received from the radio by co-operating in making known the results. The secretary stated that all club secretaries had been advised of their obligation in this respect. It is requested that the scores be communicated to telephone 80, Leeston, as soon as possible, after matches are concluded.