RUGBY FOOTBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 June 1937, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEET

The West Coast Rugby Union's Managnient Committee met last evening, there being present: Messrs. J Guy (acting-chairman i, F. Eggleton, W. G. Scott, J. Corijish, T. O’Donnell, A. M. Jamieson, W. Williams, F. W. Baillie, T. P. Ryan, H. Silcock, J. Kyle and J. E. Joyce (secretary). An apology for absence was received from the President, Mr. A. A. Adams. One application for reinstatement to the code was received, and it was decided to forward the application to the New Zealand Union, with a favourable recommendation.

The Secretary was empowered to have a set of flags made for the Recreation Ground playing area. The New Zealand Union advised that the application of W. J. Hopkins for reinstatement to the code, a second time, had been refused, but asked if there were any special reasons why it was considered he should be grant-1 cd reinstatement again.—It was decid-| cd to refer the matter to the player concerned, asking him to submit any special reasons, as suggested by the N.Z. Union. On the motion of Messrs. Williams and Scott, it was decided to thank Mr. D. Jarvis for his services as President of the Referees’ Association, and an active referee.

Mr. Williams reported that a. letter had been received from Mr. F. J. Tempero, a former Greymouth referee, congratulating the West Coast on their victory over Canterbury, and expressing kind regards to the Union and the Referees’ Association.

A letter from the United Club asking for a bye for their junior team on Saturday, was referred to the Fixtures Committee. The Club stated that with defections from the junior and senior teams owing to the representative fixtures on Saturday, it would not bo possible to field a team, as the senior team would have to be built up with juniors. The Te Kinga Club made application for the reclassification from senior to junior grade of B. Birchfield. It was stated that the club had barely 15 players, and with three players chosen in the junior representative team they would have considerable difficulty in fielding a team. —It was decided, on the motion of Messrs. Baillie and Ryan, that the application be granted. Messrs. Scott and Cornish dissented.

A further application from the Te Kinga Club for the reclassification of J. McKenzie from senior to junior, was referred back to the club, for particulars of his senior football experience, on the motion of Messrs. Jamieson ami Cornish. The Canterbury Union wrote thanking tho West Coast Union for the hospitality extended the Canterbury team on its visit to Greymouth. A letter from tho'Kumara Club, explaining that they had great difficulty in fielding teams for matches away from home by 1.30 p.m., was referred to the Fixtures Committee. Mr. N. Eggleton;referee of the RossExcelsiors match at Hokitika, on Saturday, reported that the ground at Cass Square was very indistinctly marked out, and caused great incon. venience to the referee and the players. —The letter was referred to the Westland Sub-Union, with a request that the ground be put in order.

The Celtic Club wrote agreeing to the transfer of I. Culling and N. McGuire (third graders) to Cobden. — Granted. The Secretary said that last Friday a, telegram had been received from the Ross Club objecting to the appointment of Mr. H. Rutland as referee of tho Ross —Excelsior match at Hokitika, on Saturday. He (the secretary) was absent at the time, but the matter was handled by Mr. Baillie, who arranged that Mr. Eggleton should referee the match at Hokitika, and that Mr. Rutland should transfer to Greymouth-to referee the Kiwi —Star match.

Mr. Cornish: Who is running the competition, the Union, the Referees’ Association or the clubs? It is not right that clubs should be able to do this. Mr. Rutland was appointed by tho Westland Sub-Union’s Referees’ Appointment Committee, and 1 think it is wrong that the Union should alter it, on the application of a chib. The Ross Club should at least have approached the Sub-Union first. Mr. Baillie said it was realised that the Ross Club had been out of order in applying for a' change of referee to the Union, instead of to the Sub-Union, i but he had set that right by ringing! the President of the Sub-Union, and consulting him in the matter. The President of the Sub-Union ’phoned him (Mr. Baillie) some hours later, end said that he had been in touch with members of the Sub-Union, and that they were agreeable to the change of Mr. Eggleton for Mr. Rutland. Mr. Ryan said that what had been done had been all in the interests of amicable working, and he thought the rearrangeinent had worked well, and to the satisfaction of all concerned. Mr. Williams said he knew that Hokitika referees were not too happy about it.

On tho motion of Messrs. Jamieson and Eggleton, the action of Mr. Baillie in rearranging the referees of the Kiwi —Star and Excelsior —Ross matches on Saturday, was approved. Mr. Williams being the only dissentient.

It was decided to send a letter of thanks to the Grey Fire Brigade for their entertainment of the Canterbury team at tho Brigade’s ball, on Juno 9.

Several matters were discussed at some length in committee.

NO FIXTURES SATURDAY

Some discussion took place on the advisability of playing club fixtures on Saturday next, with senior and junior representative matches being played at West port. 'rhe Secretary said that there was a motion on the books tht all club matches bo played tho day West Coast played Buller at West port. Mr. Scott said it seemed that they could not play the junior fixtures, as junior players would be required to fill up vacancies in the senior teams, and as the junior representatives were also playing, the junior teams would bo doubly short. The clubs would be very hard put Io it to field reasonably representative teams. 'The public wanted a postponement of club fixtures.

Mr. Williams said the fact that representative matches were being placed at Westport, would give the Union a. chance to spell the grounds. Ho thought they should wash (he fixtures out for the day. Mr. Jamieson said that Stars, Uni-

ted and Blaketown all had vital matches to play on Saturday, and it was unfair to have them playing, with their best players out.

Mr. Williams moved that no senior club matches be played on Saturday. Tho motion was seconded by Mr. Kyle. Mr. Scott> Why discriminate between seniors and juniors? All the. matches should be put off. Mr. O’Donnell said there was always a deal of talk about representative matches interfering with club football. They had been given to understand that one player was not going to Westport, and he would probably be playing in his club team, preferring to assist his club before the representative team. If that was the case something should be done about the matter. He thought that, he and Mr. Scott had been responsible for the motion on the books that the club matches be played on the day of the West CoastBuller game. Mr. Williams said it was unfortunate that the two representative games were coining on successive Saturdays to interfere with club football. Mr. Scott said he had had a deputation from the Blaketown juniors saying that they could not field a team on Saturday, for the game against To Kinga. The motion moved by Messrs. Wil-j Hams and Kyle, that no senior club] fixtures be played on Saturday next, was carried, Messrs. Cornish, Baillie, O’Donnell, Jamieson and the Chairman dissenting. ! On the motion of Messrs Jamiesonj and Cornish, it was unanimously decided that no junior fixtures be played on Saturday. 1 The Chairman: 1 don't know why! we come here meeting after meeting, passing motions, only to rescind them later! Mr. Williams:' If anyone else came here, and criticised motions after they have been passed, he would be quickly pulled up, Mr. Chairman. Personally.! 1 have been pulled up for it, and I don't think you have any more right to puss remarks about motions that have been passed! The Chairman: 1 have heard you pulled up, Mr. Williams.

It was decided that the senior and junior representative teams travelling to Westport on Saturday comprise 15 players and two emergencies each; that Mr. F. Egglcton be, manager of the senior team, and Mr. 11. Silcock manager of the juniors; that R. R. King bo appointed captain of the senior team, and W. .Mann vice-cap-lain; that G. Millett bo appointed captain of the junior team, and R. Baird vice-captain: that, the teams leave the) Grcymouth Bust Oilice at 8.30 oil Saturday morning. ' FIXTURES. Tho following fixtures were arranged for Saturday next: 'Third Grade: Stars v. Celtic at. Rec..l 1.30 (Mr. R. Ferguson); United v.i Blakctown at Rec., 3 p.m. (Mr. W.| Ellis).