RUGBY FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 July 1927, Page 12

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WEST COAST UNION. The weekly meeting of the West Coast Rugby Union’s executive was held last evening; present: Messrs A. A. Adams (chairman), J. Guy, T. McIntosh, H. Steel, F. McEnaney, O. Williams, D. M. Robertson, A. White, T. Scott, Ryan (2), J. Kyle. W. Ogilvie and N. W. Jones (secretary). Rerferees’ reports were read and received for last Saturday, and found satisfactory. A letter was received from the Canterbury Rugby Union, offering to play two Senior B. Grade representative matches at Hokitika and Greymouth respectively, but asking for Saturday and Monday matches. It was resolved to ask the Canterbury Union to extend the visit so as to arrange for Saturday and Wednesday matches. A school football grant of £25 was received from the New Zealand Union. The Star Club’s Hockey Club wrote suggesting the holding of a dance on the occasion of the Ashburton team’s visit. It was resolved to advise that the Union had no objection, but intimating that the United Club intended holding a dance on the evening of August 11. An application from the United Club fourth graders to tour Canterbury or. August 18 was received. It was resolved to grant the request, but to advise the United Club that they must arrange their own matches with the Canterbury Union. It was resolved that R. Hall be transferred from Technical to United fourth grade, and that A. Fitzgerald and W. Fitzgerald be reclassified from Magpie seniors to juniors. It was resolved that Mr. D. Dowell accompany the Seddon Shield team to Nelson in the official capacity of selector. The Westland Sub-Union wrote asking to have the intended return junior t representative match at Hokitika played next Saturday, in lieu of a curtainraiser to the Ashburton match at Hokitika. It was resolved to advise the Sub-Union that the Union is unable to alter the arrangement entered into previously, owing to a number of the team travelling to Nelson next Saturday. A request was received from the Ngakawau Club to play a match against Star juniors on August 6, as a curtain-raiser to the Maori match. The request was granted. It was resolved that the name of W. Henderson, a reverted League player, be posted to the New Zealand Rugby Union. Mr. Oweu Williams, Secretary of the Schools’ Football Committee, advised that all arrangements had been made for the West Coast School representatives to play two representative matches with the Canterbury schools. The team will leave Greymouth on August 25, and play on August 27 and 29, returning on August 30. The arrangements were approved. Mr. W. Reynolds was appointed captain of'the West Coast team for Nelson, and Mr. J. Bannister as vice-cap-tain. It was decided to notify the Westland Sub-Union that the Hokitika players should be in readiness to leave Hokitika from Toohey’s garage at 6 a.m. sharp on Thursday, picking up the Greymouth personnel at the Grey Post Office at 7 a.m. The Blaketown Club were declared the winners of the junior competition. It was decided to institute a further two-round junior competition, commencing on Saturday week. Mr. W. Hannam was appointed as a jjunior selector, vice Mr. F. Baillie (resigned). It. was resolved that Blaketown juniors play the Rest of Juniors next Saturday, selectors being asked to pick a team immediately from the Rest, Mr. I. Steel being appointed manager. It was decided that the senior cup final be played on Saturday week between Stars and Kanieri, on Victoria Park. Kumara juniofrs were given permission to play Ngakawau Club on August 7. FIXTURES. Fixtures for next Saturday were drawn up as follow: — Juniors.— Blaketown v. Rest, A ground, Park, 3 p.m (Mr Fass referee). Fourth Grade. —United A. v. Technical, A ground, 1.30 p.m. (Mr. A.. Walton referee). Fifth grade.—Technical v. Cobden, B. groiuid, 1.30 p.m. (Mr. T. Mclntosh referee).

INANGAHUA SUB-UNION. REEFTON, July 19. The weekly meeting of the Inangahua Rugby Sub-Union was held last evening the following members being present: Messrs Discaciati (Chairman) Rivers, Cutbush, Newton, Powley, Irvine, Barnett and Duffy. The Soccer Club wrote re match next Sunday. It was resolved to grant the Soccer Club half the gate proceeds. The Chairman reported on the Gymnasium, stating that the foundations were nearing completion, and that it would not be long before the carpenters would be started. It was hoped that it would be finished to enable the Union to hold its annual ball. The Secretary of the Referees’ Association wrote informing the Union that Mr F. Cutbush had been elected President and Mr Duffy, Secretary. Mi 1 Duffy reported that a schools match would be played on Saturday between Greymouth and Reefton schools. The following week-end fixtures ■were set down: —Saturday, two school matches. Secondary and Primary schools; referees Mr T. Irving and Mr F. Cutbush. Sunday, Shops v. Pirates at .1.30; referee Mr F. Cutbush. MR MCKENZIE’S RESIGNATION. MASTERTON, July 19. Mr H. J. McKenzie, who controlled the recent Ranfurly Shield match, stated to-night that he was tendering his resignation as Secretary of the Wairarapa Referees’ Association. Mr McKenzie also holds the position of the Appointment Board and intends to release: himself of this responsibility. He declined to make a statement until to-morrow night, when a special meeting of the Referees’ Association is calltad to appoint a new Secretary and Appointment Board. > It is believed that Mr McKenzie is withdrawing only from his Executive positions, but will continue refereeing, as he is drawn to control a competition game next Saturday. “THE BIGGEST WAR." (Special to "Star.") AUCKLAND, July 19. Auckland referees have fired the first actual shot in what is bound to

be the biggest Rugby war ever waged in New Zealand, over the whitewashing of Maurice Brownlie and Quentin Donald, ordered off in the Ranfurly Shield match at Masterton. It was pointed out in discussion on a motion that the referee, H. J. McKenzie, who had been twice mutually agreed upon for the last two Bay Wairarapa Shield challenges, suffered ignominy for fearlessly carrying out his duty, and it was further stressed that a referee at all times is the sole judge of fact, his decision therefore being final. Thus the two Unions greatly exceeded then - powers in open-* ly condemning him. As the New Zealand Union has more than once increased sentences inflicted by affiliated Unions in Club orderings off, it is surely much more necessary to review evidence in cases where international players “dispatched” in matches, directly under the New Zealand body’s jurisdiction, such as the Ranfurly Shield games, especially where such players are whitewashed in the face of a clear report from a referee and of general, (though not unanimous) support of facts by independent testimony. A special meeting of the United Football Club (Fourth Grade) will be held in the pavilion this evening at 7 o’clock. A full attendance of members is requested.