LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 June 1925, Page 7

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

— COAST-CANTERBURY DISPUTE (Special to -“Star.”) CHRISTCHURCH, June 25. This is the tale of woe of the Canterbury Rugby League, the New Zealand Rugby League Council, and the West Coast Rugby League. A great (hmi Of trouble was caused by the activities of Mr. C. J. Pearce of the New Zealand Council, and as a result hard words were said on all sides. , the pot of trouble was set a simmer way back on May 17, by a letter from Mr. Pearce to the West Coast delegate to the New Zealand Council (Mr. A. Webster) oh the subject of a Canterbury v. West Coast match. The brew boiled during the past three weeks alid, last evening bubbled gently again. The question Was the playing of South Island trial games as set down by the New Zealand Council. These, as regards'the West Coast, were to be a trial game between teams from West Coast Clubs on June 6, to be followed by a match between Canterbury and a combined West Coast and Otago team bn June 13. Then Mr. Pearce wrote his letter, and Canterbury and West Coast centres and the New Zealand Council all wrote letters of complaint to each other, and the final tangle was straightened out by letters from , the West'Coast Centre and New Zealand Council to the Canterbury Centre Inst evening* The New Zealand Council wrote advising that Mr. Pearce had emphatically denied interfering with the Council arrangements, and writing to the West Coast Centre advocating the playing of the West Coast v. Canterbury match, instead of the South Island trial oh June 13. The Council Was not satisfied to let tile matter- rest as it stood,, and. desired

the Canterbury Centre ,to obtain and forward the letter allegedly written by Mr. Pearce, and- about. Which-eX*. ception had been taken, or to advise the Council of its source of informa-, tion. It was as anxious as the Centre to see that all the Council’s business was done through official channels, and thus- have the matter cleared up. The West Coast Centre'' Wrote of the dissatisfaction with the Canterbury Centre’s staging of the South Island trial game, instead of the annual game between Canterbury and Coast representatives. The Centre was also dissatisfied with the unfair, percentage of Canterbury men in the South Island team. As for Mr Pearce’s denial, the West Coast Centre enclosed a dopy of his letter sent to A. W. Webster on May 17, and forwarded to the West Coast on the following day. The Centre was instructed to get into touch with Canterbury on the subject of the representative fixture on May 25, which was done. The Canterbury Centre had put no obstacles in the way but. on May 26, a request was made flor a West Coast A. and B. trial gamq\ on May 30 which was duly considered out of the question. The selector, after his visit had been cancelled, arrived in Greymouth on May 30, seeing a couple of scraggy games. A.dvice had been received of the Canterbury decision to

adhere to the New Zealand Council’s itinerary for trial matches. The West Coast had conferred for hours with the selector (Mr. C. Hardingham) on the playing of the West Coast v. Canterbury fixture. Mr. Hardingham had promised to place the West Coast plan before the Canterbury League stating that he would request the Canterbury Centre to communicate by wire with the Coast immediately. A Canterbury letter of protest at the action of Mr. C. Pearce, had been the only communication since then. What the Coast desired to know was why Mr. Hardingham had visited Greymouth, when his visit had been cancelled. The Coast was going to write to the Council asking -why Mr. Pearce was allowed to send unauthorised letters about the trial matches and also why the arrangements for these games were made at the Igst minute, when they could have been made months previously. The West Coast forwarded the following copy of Mr. Pearce’s letter to Mr. Webster, which had been forwarded to it: "May 17, 1925.—1 n view of the coming Australian tour, might I suggest that. you write to • the West Coast Centre and endeavour to get them to arrange a match with Canterbury as early as possible on a Saturday and if you can induce Mr. A. Ferguson (Otago delegate to the Council) to do likewise with Otago on the following Saturday, also to play in Christchurch so that the South Island Selector could select, say, 15 players to come to Auckland and play the North Island not later than June 6 or 13. The takings from the Christchurch fixture could easily pay the expenses of the Southern men to Auckland, and this would greatly assist the Council and Selectors in; their difficult job. (Signed)— C. J. Pearce.” It was decided to forward the West Coast a copy of Mr. Pearce’s letter to the New Zealand Council.

NOTES BY “SCRIBE.” Rugby League is not played in South Australia, and the cablegram from Australia chronicling the death of a player refers to an Australian rules match. Billy Gerraghty is coming back, and will of course play behind the Greymouth pack. Stewart Kerr is due back any time from Auckland, and Roa is claiming him. I wonder if that is true about Buff Cust joining a Christchurch Club. Jack Ilaisty has filled out a lot, and if he retains his dash of last season, may furnish into a top-notcher. The 10,000 spectators at the Pon-sor.by-Marist match at Auckland waited for the teams to come off the field, and cheered the players to the .echo. This is the spirit that helps League along. A suggested Vest Coast thirteen: l’inn, Ilaisty, Cust, C. McElwee, Clegg, Dodds, Brown, Mouat, Mears, O’Hallahan, Tailentire, Griffiths, McAlpine. I think this team would give Canterbury a headache. A number of players are temporarily out. of action,, Toohill (Athletic) and MatthQWS (Marist) may be spectators for some weeks. The North Island team for tomorrow’s match at Auckland is as follows.: Dufty, Brown, Kirwan, Delgrosso, Laing, Wetherall, Wilson-Hall, Herring, Townsend, Carroll (Wellington). Dixon, Avery, Bass. Arrangements have been made for progress reports, and the wiring of the New Zealand selection to Greymouth on Saturday night. Unglue Mears wired yesterday from Auckland that he was well again, and getting.,ready for the fray. . He. will ’ There was a persistent .rumour in

town yesterday that we should have players shortly from Hokitika. A Hurunui representative forward will join the Marist pack shortly. We have played 108 matches to date this season—and there has been one forfeit. Nelson Creek Club sent in £5 during the week for Inangahua’s travelling expenses. Mouat, Thomas and Mears harassed the opposing side from the start in the combined match at Monica Park. Mouat was cheered time after time, and it was a great sight to see the tireless giant going through with the ball. Stand patrons cheered him lustily when he kicked a great goal from the touchline at half-way. Cust also gave a fine display. Nelson Creek Juniors beat Runanga 24—7 at Creek last Sunday. The New Zealand team will play eleven matches in Australia, finishing August 15th. The story that the Queensland portion of the tour had been cancelled was a myth, and a denial has. gone through the Australian Press that the Queensland League ever stated that it did not want the team to visit that State. Six candidates contested the managership of the team, and Mr. Wingham was elected on the third ballot. The players going to Australia will all be insured. This is commendable forethought on the part of the Council. A League match between South Auckland and Wellington was staged for June 20th. at Palmerston North, but was cancelled owing to the big counter-attractions. Four enthusiasts have asked the Council for leave to travel with the team to Australia. Any person vouched for by the Council may join the party. . ■ Mr. Hopkins gave , a first class exhibition with the whistle at Omoto on Sunday, and the players and spectators were in very g?ood humour.

Mr. Vaughan kindly forwards a report of the Blackball-Rovers junior match at Blackball on Sunday. Croft was first to cross for Blackball, after receiving from Smith, Clarke converted. Blackball were superior in all departments, and the home backs were nippy and resourceful. The tackling bj r both sides was distinctly good. McDonald added another try before the interval. Croft went over again after the ball had travelled through the hands of most of the rearguard, but he lost possession and McDonald scored the try. Oliver converted. Nuttall and Kerr also crossed the Blue and White line before time was called. Laurie O’Neill scored a good try for Christian Brothers A. at Dunedin on Saturday, but his team went down to the City. Prescott of Kaitangata, who plays in the inter-island match to-morrow, has been a Rugby Union, Soccer amt League representative. It will be advisable to confine players in the third grade knock-out cup to lads under 19 years and lOst. Roa are in third with their challenge for the Irvine Shield. Secretary McAlpine advises that the Waiuta ground is unfit for football, but a game might be staged at Blackwater. The secretary of the Wast Coast League has received a letter from the Canterbury Junior Advisory Board (P. Greenlees, secretary), advising that a sixth grade school boys team will visit Greymouth. Inquiries are made regarding the billeting ot the boys, and whether it is the intention of the League to send representative junior . and third grade teams to Christchurch. If . they have anything over there to stand up to a pick of our third grade, their future is bright. The New Zealand rep. team will not I

arrive oacK ironi Australia ueiuie August 25, and we : may not get a return visit from Canterbury until after this date. Inangahua Club appears to be doing well for players, and will be close up when the Challenge Shield and Knock-out Cups are being decided. ( Mr. Wingham will leave for Auckland on Tuesday. More players have signed up for Greymouth, and Blackball will find themselves up against a hefty third grade team on Sunday. WEEK-END MATCHES. Thirteen games will be played at the week-end, Athletic third grade being tlie only team with a bye. Three important senior matches are to be decided. If Marists defeat Blackball on Sunday at Blackball, ■ their prospects in the senior cup will be as bright as ever, but supporters of the Red and Black aver that their colours will be on top. When these teams played in the first round, Marist won 9 —5, and the score in the coming match should be closer than that. Inangahua lost the toss for their third round match with Runanga, but what is Mawher aiti’s loss is Dunollie’s gain, and several cardoads are certain to make the State Collieries ground their.objective on Sunday. Roa were also unlucky and they meet Greymouth at Omoto. Grey were the "wooden spoon” teams earlier in the year, but they are prac. tically as good as the best of them now. Junior matches will be played at Dunollie, Nelson Creek, .Blackball and -Mawheraiti. and in the third grade, Greymouth, and Blackball play at Blackball at 12.15, ..while games have also been staged at Omoto and Brunner. A fourth grade match 'will be played at Rapahoe, and school games will be played to-morrow at Blackball and Brunner. Teams in this grade arrange the time of commencing matches, and referees, by mutual agreement. Tlie following will represent Ru-

nanga on Sunday: — Seniors: v. Inangahua at Dunollie <at 3 p.m.: —Pinn, Harrison, Oust, Manderson, Hall, Hunter, Purnell, Garvey, Tallcntyre. O’Brien, Hands, J. Armstrong, Griffiths. Emergency: Freeman. Juniors v. Marist at Dunollie, 1.30 p.m. : — I’age, MaJnderson, Cuft'rie, Bell, Gray, Griffiths, Ilougbjton, Barnes. V. I’attinson, 'McLaren, Bad. deley, Ileslin, Flood. Emergency: L. Pattinson.