LEAGUE TRANSFERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 June 1927, Page 5

LEAGUE TRANSFERS

PROTESTS TO ENGLAND CANTERBURY ACTION (Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, June 14. At last night’s meeting of the Canterbury Rugby League, Mr E. L. McKeon dealt with the action of the English League in doing away with the two years’ residential qualification. He said that was behind it which had not yet come to hand. Mr McKeon then moved the following motion: “That in the opinion of the Canterbury Rugby League, the action of the English Rugby League in breaking the contract existing between the controlling bodies in Australia and New Zealand and the English Rugby League, is inimical to the best interests of the code. This Centre calls upon the New z Zealand Council to get in touch at once with Australia' with a view to bringing about such regulations as will tend to defeat the object ol the English Rugby League, which appears to be an endeavour to get the best Colonial players, to the detriment of the code in Australasia.”

“The Australians taking action this week,” he said. He believed that representatives of the English >clubs in Australia to-day were attempting to induce players to accept engagements at Home. ’ No doubt, players like Gorman Aynsley would be approached. Overtures had been made to Brown and Davidson in Auckland. If rumour were correct, others in the South Island had been made offers. It would be no good to the game here, if the best players y were taken away by wealthy English clubs. Was New Zealand to be a breeding ground for star players for the Old Country? Canterbury had two great players this year in Mason and Wilson-Hall. There were others. If this province, among others, was to be drained of its best players, the improving public patronage would be lost.” “It’s going to be no good to New Zealand,” said the speaker. Mr W. Smith secondecLthe motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr G. R. Hunter said that the same thing was happening in Australian rules. Football men could not be blamed, especially if they were out zof work. If the Australian cricket authorities had not taken prompt action, the Commonwealth would have Jost Poirsford apd other first-class players to England.

AUSTRALIAN CO-OPERATION (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn.) SYDNEY, June 13. A meeting of the New South Wales Rugby League considered the breaking of the residential qualification by the English League, and decided to get into touch with the League authorities in Queensland and New Zealand, with a view to arriving at a common complaint, which could be forwarded to the English League as soon as possible in order to prevent further action by agents of English clubs with the object of securing Australian players. It was further decided that the English League be requested to defer lifting the ban until the English team is in Australia next season when it is hoped a. conference of managers of the team and representatives of New South Wales, Queensland and New Zealand will be able to reach a satisfactory agreement.

HIGH TERMS OFFERED. SYDNEY, June 14. It is reported that a member of the University League football team received an offer of £lOOO and a handsome weekly salary, to sign on with the Leeds Club. Several others were approached on behalf of other English clubs. Some players rejected the offers, while others are still considering the position. A warning is uttered that the Rugby Union is no less affected by the English residential qualification decision, and that there is a likelihood that efforts will be made to secure the best players among the team about to visit England, for English clubs.

MAWHERAITI v. REEFTON The Inangahua Rugby League competition was advanced a stage further on Sunday with a game between Reefton and Mawheraiti. The former gained the decision by the narrow margin of two points after a hardfought game, the final score being 8— 6, the margin of points being the same as on their previous meeting. Mawheraiti were without J. Banks and B. Hannah and played for a period of the first half with two men short, Reefton scoring five points during this time. On the whole the game was even, Reefton having the best of the first half and Mawheraiti having decidedly the best of the second half. Reefton fielded two new players both of whom played well and should be a big improvement to the side after a game or two. For Reefton McElwee, Wright, Allison and Gilroy played well in the backs. Skinner, Curtis, Archer and Costelloe being the best of the forwards. Mawheraiti were rather disorganised owing to absentees King and A. McElwee haying to play in the backs. Being well supported by his team mates Steele showd a big improvement on his previous games. Robinson played easily his best game this season. Cuff, Byime and McAlpine all played well. Michell, Perkins, Gough and Powell were the best of the forwards. The game was. well controlled by Mr. Watson, who made his first appearance as a referee.