SEASONABLE SPORTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 April 1937, Page 12

SEASONABLE SPORTS

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Owing to bad weather necessitating a postponement, the trial which was to have been given Saturday club football last week-end did: not materialise, but from the tone of last evening’s meeting .of the Management Committee, it would appear that a definite decision on the burning question. of the day for play has been reached at last, hfcu: that Saturday has' been adopted for all matches, except whei'e it is impracticable. The last phrase, which was incorporated in the motion carried at the meeting, will, give clubs a certain latitude, but it must not be abused if confusion is not to arise. It will soon become farcical if cluibs are to claim that they are unable to fill certain Saturday fixtures, on any slight pretext. Full co-opera-tion with tile Management Committee will be necessary to ensure'the smooth running of the new system. Already there, has been far too much bickering over the matter and it is up to the clubs to erase the impression of. a “shaky” start to the season., /' New Club:

A .new junior club .is? to enter thp competitions next tire Rapa r hoe Club having been re-formed. There was an attendance of 27 at a meeting at Rapahoe on Monday night, when Mr J. McTaggart presided. The names of twenty /prospective players' were before the meeting; and it -was decid-; ed to enter a junior team immediately. The election of officers resulted: Patron, Mr J. McTaggart; President, Mr J. Pender; Secretary, Mr J. Leach; Delegate to Centre, Mr J. McTaggart; Club Captain, Mr 11. Stagg; Selectors, Messrs E. Mundy, E. Finn, H. Stagg, and J. Dunn; Committee, Messrs J.' McTaggart, W. O’Grady, J.. Russell, T, Muiicaster, D. Forbes, W. Eljwood, F. Pith, b. Mu'ndy, W. James, G. Harris, and J. Qiiy; Vice-Presidents, Messrs F. O’Neill, T. King, J. Forest, B. Munson, E. Noble, R. McTaggart, R. Leech, W. Hillhouse, J. Dunn, R. SpierS, W. O’Grady, T. Phelan, T. Howard, R.. Parker, T. Dunn, S. Hewison, J. R. Redpathi E. Quy, and G. Noble. It (was decided to apply for the old Rapahoe colours, yellow and black, arid to procure a set of jerseys' and sox immediately. It was decided to apply for the transfer of F. Finn and D. Mundy from Runanga. A donation of £3/3/- from Mr J. McTaggart to assist in the establishment of the Club was received with thanks.

Insurance Scheme: A gesture that will be appreciated by all players was made by the Management Committee last evening, ini deciding to again subsidise insurance premiums to the extent of 2/-, leaving only 3/- to be contributed’ by players. Whether or not the scheme becomes operative, however, will depend upon the support accorded by players, and it Yyas surprising to hear the Secretary report that he had not received a reply from clubs to circular letters sent out last w r eek asking for lists and particulars of players insuring to be supplied immediately, especially in view of the requests made at the beginning of the season that the scheme, should be instituted as soon as possible. The scale of payments': for injuries will be the same as last year, namely, £l/1/- medical expenses and £l/10/- per week for four weeks for incapacity. The Centre’s subsidy is limited to 200 players and will be payable only on premiums received not latei’ than next Friday night.

No Broadcasting: The broadcasting of matches at Carlaw Park is being discontinued, according to a letter dealt with by the Auckland Rugby League Control Board last week; At a previous meeting the board’ rejected a proposal by the- National Broadcasting Service to utilise the football match periods at the Park for* the puirposes of advertising, no payment being offered the board in the matter. The acting-director of station IZB acknowledging a letter from the Auckland Rugby League, in noting the cancellation of permission to broad- t cast, regretted, that it was not possible for the station to broadcast, without payment to the board, and' with the proviso that the service should have the complete right to' sponsor the relays at their own discretion. Thanking the Rugby League for the opportunity given tp broadcast in the past, the director said it was quite realised that while giving publicity the station also had gained the favour of listeners by broadcasting the matches.

Wellington Activity: Although little has been heard from the Wellington League so far this; season, it-is far from' being defunct, and will have at least one new team for the competitions which open 'next Saturday. On an average, the backs in the senior teams will be heavier this season and the forwards lighter. Central have again the services of two good forwards in Berry and Coutts.

Victoria Park Secured: The West Coast League have secured the use of Victoria Park for the season, and it will now be available for practice by any League players, although the A ground is to he reserved for matches only. The success of the negotiations to secure the Park undoubtedly had an effect on the decision to reverse the previous decision and play Saturday football.

Rumours Only: . It has been freely stated during the past few days that two of the representative forwards had decided to transfer their allegiance to the fifteen a-side code, but. as in many previous cases, rumour has so far proved the usual lying jade, and the players concerned will probably be seen out on Victoria Park next Saturday.

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

With only one series of matches played, the West Coast Rugby Union s fixtures set down for last Saturday, had to be postponed, on account of the boisterous weather. In view of the number of teams in the senior competition, there was a. proposal at one stage.of the morning to play all senior fixtures, and later, the Westland SubUnion advised that all fixtures could be played in their district. lhe Union’s Postponement Committee, however, decided that to play only some of the senior matches would seriously upset the competition, and it was wisely decided to postpone all fixtures, and they will now be played on Saturday next. The postponement was unfortunate, particularly for the senior competition, with so many teams competing, but it was unavoidable. “ A Question of Ethics:

. Wilfred Woolier, the extremely brilliant Welsh centre-three-quarter, has been in trouble at Home recently because of an incident in a club game between Cardiff and Newport. Cardiff, Woollen's side, was awarded a penalty in a bandy position, and Woolier, taking the kick, mentioned the touch judges to go behind goal for a placekick. Apparently, he abruptly changed his mind, short-punted the ball ahead, and almost scored a try. The suggestion was .made that the practice is frequent in Welsh Rugby, but D. R. Gent, who played for England against Gallagher’s 1905 All Blacks, and who is nowadays an acknowledged critics of the game, refused to believe it. In the “Sunday Times” he said: “I cannot help thinking Woolier forgot his intention to take a penalty shot . . .

‘But. I feel so strongly about it that I think attention should be drawn to the statement that it is sometimes done deliberately. If that is so it is sheer trickery, is not even clever, and is absolutely foreign to the spirit of Rugby football. If I were the referee and a player did this, I should blow the whistle at once and order a scrummage, not even allowing the kicker to have his shot at goal.” ' . An anonymous correspondent writing in the ‘Sunday Tinies” says that the extension of the idea adopted by Woolier was first tried about six or seven years ago by W. C. Powell in a match in which he was playing for London Welsh. Since then many, other players have tried it, and in Wales it is not regarded any differently from the giving of a “dummy” in the course of the passing movement.”

Scrummage Laws Changed: Advice has been received from England of the result of the International Rugby Football Board’s deliberations on. proposed alterations to the laws of Rugby. The changes affecting the scrummage rules dre set out as follow: —“The player putting in the ball shall stand not less than three feet from the scrummage, and, with both hands below the knee, shall put the ball fairly in at a moderate speed so that it touches the ground beyond one foot of the nearest player of each front row.” In its present form the scrummage law states that the ball is fairly in when it has passed along a line midway between and parallel to the lines of feet of the players formingeach front row of the scrummage, and has touched the ground. It is illegal for any player in either front row to raise or advance his foot until the ball is fairly in. Another important alteration affects a section of a rule which has been a, matter of some concern in New Zealand. The words “unless he is stooping to pick up the ball” have been deleted from law 19, which deals with charging and obstruction. The altered section of the law reads: “A player overtaking an opponent also running for the ball must not push him from behind.

Penalty Try Law: The- law regarding a penalty try, now reads: “If a penalty try is awarded it must be awarded between the posts.” Formerly a penalty try was awarded where the infringement occurred, or, rather, at the spot on the goal-line corresponding with the point in play at which the infringement occurred. Tire referee in the Sydenham—Albian match at Christchurch on Saturday awarded such a try, under the posts to Sydenham, and the try was converted.

Canterbury’s Selector: Mr. W. J. Whitham, of the Albion Club, was re-elected sole selector of the Canterbury representative Rugby teams this season on the casting vote of the chairman, Dr. W. S. Seed, at a meeting of the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Football Union last evening. There were six candidates for the position: Messrs. W. J. Whitham (Albion), A. E. Phillips (Linwood). H. O. Jef coate (University), R. H. North (High School Old Boys), T. F. Mullan (Christchurch), and N. Carnegie (Merivale). FIXTURES TO COME:— Representative fixtures and' senior fixtures yet to be played in the first round have been arranged by the West Coast Rugby Union as follow: —

May 1: Blaketown v. United, Star v. Celtic, at Greymouth; Cobden v. Excelsiors, at Hokitika; Kiwis v. Ross, at Ross; Pirates v. Kumara, at Kumar a.

May 8: Blaketown v. Excelsiors, Cobden v. Kiwis, at Greymouth; Star v. Ross, at Ross: United v. Kumara, at Kumara: Pirates v. Celtic, at Hokitika.

May 15: Blaketown v. Kumara. at Kumara; United v. Kiwis, at Hokitika; Star v. Excelsiors, at Greymouth; Cobden v. Celtic, at Greymouth; Pirates v. Ross, at Hokitika. May 22: Blaketown v. Kiwis, at Greymouth; United v. Celtic, at Greymouth; Star v. Pirates, at Hokitika; Cobden v. Ross, at Ross; Kumara v. Excelsiors, at Hokitika. May 29: Westland v. Greymouth, at Greymouth; South Westland v. Inuugahua, at Greymouth.

June 5: Blaketown v. Celtic, at Greymouth: United v. Ross, at Ross: Star v. Kumara? at Kumara; Cobden v. Pirates, at Greymouth; Kiwis v. Excelsiors, at Hokitika.

June 9 (King's Birthday): West Coast v. Canterbury, at Greymouth.

June 12: Blaketown v. Ross, at Ross: United v. Pirates, at Greymouth; Star v. Cobden, at Greymouth: Kiwis v. Kumara, at Hokitika; Celtic v. Excelsiors, at Hokitika. June 1!): Blaketown v. Pirates, at Hokitika; United v. Cobden, at Greymouth: Star v. Kiwis, at Greymouth; Ross' v. Excelsiors, at Hokitika: Kumara v. Celtic, at Greymouth. June 26: West Coast v. Buller, at Westport (Rundle Cup); Blaketown v.

Cobden, at Greymouth; United y. Star at Greymouth; Kiwis v. Celtic, at Hokitika; Excelsiors v. Pirates, at Hokitika.; Kumara v. Ross, at Kumara; Celtic v. Kiwis, at Hokitika. July 3: West Coast v. Buller, at Greymouth. July 24: West Coast v. Marlborough at Blenheim (Seddon Shield). August 25: West Coast-Buller v. South Africa, at Greymouth. September 18: West Coast v. Canterbury, at Christchurch. In the event of the West Coast winning the Seddon Shield from Marlborough, on July 24, the remaining Seddon Shield challenge matches would be played on August 7, August 28, and September 11, should, West Coast retain the trophy.

Junior Fixtures: Remaining fixtures in the junior competition in the livst round are: — .Second series:—Blaketown v. Te Kinga; United’ v. Star; Kumara v. Cobden; Celtic, a bye. Third series:—Te Kinga v. United; Cobden v. Celtic; Kumara. v. Star; Blaketown, a bye. Fourth series;—Celtic v. Star; Cobden v. Blaketown; Kumara v. United; Te Kinga7 a bye. Firth series:—Te Kinga v. Kumara; Star v. Blaketown; Celtic v. United; Cobden, a bye. Sixth series:—Te Kinga v. Cobden; Blaketown v. United; Celtic v. Kumara; Star, a. bye. Seventh series:—Te Kinga v. Celtii; Blaketown v. Kumara, Star v. Cobden; United, a bye.