WEST COAST RUGBY LEAGUE

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 August 1931, Page 6

WEST COAST RUGBY LEAGUE

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEET

At a meeting of the Management Committee of' the West Coast Rugoy League Centre last evening, Mr A. H. McKane presided, Messrs R. Hariington, W. Ryan, B. Culling, E. Smith, A. Kyle, W. Barlow, E. Hogg, A. Fielding, and J. Anderson, secretary, being also present. In connection with the failure to fulfill the fixture for last Sunday, at Waiuta, Waiuta B-Ngahere, the two clubs interested forwarded the lowing explanations. Waiuta Club stated that the time set down for the match by the Fixtures Committee was 2 p.m., but owing to there being a Rugby match at Waiuta and it was the League clubs’ turn to play ea y ly ’ the- Ngahere club was advised that Waiuta would have to play them at 1.30 p.m. It was 2.30 p.m before the Ngahere team arrived at Waiuta, and owing to several of the “B team bavino- gore home again, and the fact that the Rugby fixture was to commence at 3 pm., the Emergency Committee of the Waiuta Club decided that it was then too late to allow the Ngahere team to take, the field, as they had not stripped at 2.45 p.m. The i'oxeree advised Waiuta. that he would report the circumstances to the Centre, and also advise that the “B teem was willing to play the fixture at some future date. The letter added: “It is understood here that there is a rumour in Greymouth that the Ngahere team returned and played in a Rugby fixture at Ikamatua, and in fairness to the Ngahere team, I take this opportunity of acquainting your committee with the true facts. When it was decided that the League game should be abandoned, the Ngahere team decided to stop and see the Rugby game. As the Rugby team was unable to field a full team they forfeited to Ikamatua, and a friendly game resulted, in which three or four of the Ngahere team took part. This, in our opinion is of no material importance, and does not justify the rumour current in Grey. And the game, if it could he termed such, being played on a snow covered field was played in a friendly spirit as mentioned before.” “Quite a serious matter,” said the Chairman. Ngahere Club, in .explanation, stated the game was fixed for 1.30 p.m. and the bus did not arrive at Ngahere until 12.30 p.m, stopped thereabout five minutes, and then took two hours for the journey, a distance of 32 miles On arrival, Mr Reid, the referee, informed Ngahere that it was too late, and Waiuta could not field a team. Although the Rugby players consented to allow the League to play first, Waiuta would not then field a team. We look upon it that the bus was the downfall of the trip. We regret very much to say that, owing to this cluh having to pay Taylor’s fine we are unable to help the Centre. This money was to have been forwarded to you, but as the club took the risk of being caught with the bus, we had to pay it,” continued the letter. Then followed a .list of the unemployed players in the club, six being employed, and 12 unemployed. The Chairman remarked that neither team had entered a protest, and Waiuta had stated their willingness to play the fixture at a future date. Ngahere’s letter was quite clear, and he did not think it required a resolution, but the names of unemployed players should be filed for future reference. The matter of League players playing in another code was another question. They wept up to play League, and the Centre paid the expenses of unemployed players to play League, not any other code. He moved that Ngahere Club be asked for an explanation. This was seconded and carried.

The transfer of S. Lewis from Rapahoe to Blackball Club was granted, subject to the approval of the Rapahoe Club. Blackball Club advised that they wished to withdraw their fourth grade team from the competition. The players had had a dispute with the car' driver at Wingham Park, and as a result had decided not to play again. “The Club decided to let them go, and asks the backing of the Centre for our junior players. There were four or five of our players absent for our match against Waiuta, or we would have “whacked them handsomely” stated the letter. “The whole thing, hoiled down, is that they are asking us to travel their junior team in place of their fourth grade team. We can concur with that,” said the Chairman. Waiuta Club nominated Mr J. Reid as referee to replace Mr J. Rodden resigned.—Referred to the Referees’ Association. The reinstatement of a former Rugby player was approved. ft was decided to empower Mr C. Hall, manager of the South Island team, to again petition the New Zealand Council to lift the disqualification imposed upon N. Mount and J. Wright. A recommendation to the Fixtures Committee to arrange the Norman Cdx Memorial Cup match to be played between West Coast and Canterbury schoolboy teams, for August 22, subject to Canterbury’s approval, was carried. It was decided to hold a special meeting of the Junior Advisory Board next Tuesday,' to finalise arrangements for tho visit of the Canterbury schoolboy team. Accounts amounting to £l3/3/5 wore passed for payment. FIXTURES. Matches arranged for the weekend arc: — Senior: Marist v. Blackball at Blackball, Sunday, 2.45 p.m. (Mr W. Allen): Brunner v. Pirates at Wingham Park, Sunday, 2.45 p.m. (Mr L. Hunter); Runanga a bye. Juniors: Southern Division: Runanga A v. Rapahoe at Rapahoe, Sunday, 2.45 (Mr T. Purnell); Marist v. Pirates al Wingham Park, Sunday, 1.30 (Mr C. Dewar). O’Donnell Challenge Cup; Runanga. Bv. ■ Waiuta, at Waiuta, Sunday, 2.45 (Mr F. Beard). Northern Division (two round competition): Waiuta. B v. Ngahere, at Ngahere, Sunday at 2.45 (Mr J. Neilson); Blackball a bye. Schoolboys: Possibles v. Probables, at Wingham Park, Saturday, 1.30 (Mr W. Henderson). S. ISLAND CAPTAIN. , Mr A. Eckhoff (Otago) will captian tho South Island Rugby League team in their match with the North Island on August 15.