TOO EARLY?

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 75, 30 March 1932, Page 13

TOO EARLY?

STAET OF RUGBY SEASON

A CLUB'S OBJECTIONS

A protest against the decision to open the 1932 season on 16th April wa3 contained in a letter received from the Wellington Club at last night's meeting of the Management Committee of the "Wellington Eugby Union. The club considered that the decision represented a decided departure from past practice, about the last Saturday in April being the generally accepted date. It was also held that sufficient time was not allowed for club organisation, and many players would either be absent on leave or playing cricket. The proposal was not favoured by the players, as the grounds would probably be too hard and the weather too warm for the playing of serious Eugby. The club suggested that the Saturdays 2nd and 9th April be left free to the clubs, that club benefit matches, be played on 16th and 23rd April, and the senior competition opened on 30th April. • The chairman, Mr. J. Prendeville, said that consideration of the Wellington Club's letter meant re-opening the whole matter. Mr. H. Murphy did not consider that, the reasons advanced by the club warranted such a course. If Easter had been later this year the trouble regarding leave would still have arisen. Inquiries as to matches proposed for next Saturday showed that games had been arranged between Oriental and Berhampore and Petone and Marist, while there was a possibility that other clubs would be playing friendly matches. It was pointed out that the season was being started only one week earlier than usual this season, and it was decided to take no action. INJURIES TO PLAYERS. A circular letter was received from the New Zealand Eugby Union advising that the Medical Association had ! suggested that when a player was stunned and temporarily incapacitated in the course of a game he should not be allowed to continue playing. In a brief discussion the opinion was expressed that although the Medical ! Association's suggestion was a good one, it would be difficult to carry into effect as it would mean ordering players off the field. It was decided to send a copy of the letter to the clubs, so that it could be brought under the ; notice of coaches and captains, and to \ the Referees' Association. A transfer from the Hutt Club to . the Taita Club was granted W. Arnold. The University Club advised that it had agreed to accept the offer of a game with a team from H.M.S. Diomede, • when the vessel was in port. ■ PETONE PLAYING FIELDS. - Notification was received from the Petone Borough Council with regard to the terms on which the, sports grounds in the borough are to be made available to the various codes. It was proposed that the Eugby Union, Football Association, and Hockey Association should be granted two playing "grounds on North Park for this season for £10 10s in addition to the amount prescribed in the leases; the playing grounds on both the Eecroation Ground and North Park to be offered for five years at £.300 per season, and the Kugby League offered the use of McEwan Park for this season at a fee of £10 10s, subject to the Eugby Union 'a foregoing its three years' lease from the Ist April. 1930, in view of the above sugges tions. It was decided to confer with the other codes and advise the Petone Council subsequently of the decision reached.