SEDDON SHIELD

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 July 1941, Page 3

SEDDON SHIELD

MATCHES TO EE PLAYED. WEST COAST UNION’S DECISION. Challenge matches for the Seddon Shield held by the West Coast Rugby Union will be played this season, with the first match against Marlborough on August 2, as a result of a decision made by the Union at its meeting last evening, when it was resolved that the challenges from the four Unions be accepted, “under protest. x.ai amendment “that the challenges be accepted,” was lost. The president oi the Union, Mr. A. A. Adams, intimated that he would not associate hunself with the Shield matches in any way. There were present at the meeting, Messrs. Adams (chairman), J. Guy, F. Eegleton, T. Mclntosh, T. O’Donnell, J. Steel, A. Dowgray, M. Olsen, A. M. Jamieson, T. P. Ryan, and O. McLean (secretary). The Marlborough Union wrote entering a challenge for the Shield, as its previous challenge was contrary to the rules in being entered prior to July 1. . , , ■ 4 , A telegram was received from me Marlborough Union asking if West Coast had accepted its challenge for the Seddon Shield. . The secretary said he had wired m reply that a letter setting out the Coast Union’s position was in transit, and that he had since received another telegram from Marlborough saying that the letter was indefinite. The Golden Bay Union forwarded a challenge for the Seddon Shield. The chairman explained the various proceedings that had taken place regarding the Shield. He said that at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Council it had been decided to recommend to the Unions concerned that they consider the abandonment of the challenge matches for the war period, and he thought that every member there felt that the Unions would decide not to play the games. However, a meeting was then held in Nelson without the West Coast being invited, and with all the other Seddon Shield Unions represented, it was decided that the matches should go on as usual. That decision was then ' communicated to the New Zealand Executive, who replied that, in view of the recommendation of the Council it thought the competition should be suspended during the war. In the last war, Buller held the Shield, and the challenge matches were abandoned, “so one would have thought that this time the lead for the suspension of the competition would have come from them.” “However,” added the chairman, “they could not get in their challenge quickly bnough, and since then the other Unions have been falling over each other with challenges, like a lot of Mussolinis looking for an easy ‘kill’ ”. Mr. Guy: Have we received any reply from the New Zealand Union?

The chairman said that no official reply had been received, but he made an unofficial statement in committee. After a brief discussion in committee, the chairman said that he would not accept the challenges, except under protest. The Council’s recommendation was unanimous, and as a result of that recommendation the West Coast Union had decided that they were not in favour of playing the matches. Personally, he was not going to take the slightest bit of interest in the Shield games if they were played. He would not associate himself with them in any way. Mr. Steel said he did not see why the Union should accept the challenges under protest. It was a matter of policy that the Union had decided against playing the matches during the war. The only protest the Union could now make was against the way it was treated in regard to the meeting at Nelson. They received no

official invitation—they were told only in a “back-door” manner, and he was definitely opposed to the way the Union had been treated in that matter. Mr. Mclntosh moved that the challenges be accepted under protest, and the motion was .seconded by Mr. Jamieson. Mr. Steel moved an amendment that the challenges be accepted, and this was seconded by Mr. Olsen. The amendment was lost on a show of hands, and the motion was then put and carried. It was later resolved that the Marlborough challenge match be played on August 2, as suggested by the Marlborough Union, and that the following dates be suggested for the other matches:—AiTgust 16 (Golden Bay), August 30 (Nelson), September 13 (Buller). It was also decided to suggest to the Buller Union that the home-and-home match between West Coast and Buller, set down for Westport on August 2, be played on August 9. OTHER BUSINESS. The Westland Sub-Union wrote suggesting that a Grey v. Westland third grade representative match be played as a curtain-raiser to the West Coast-Buller match. It was also stated that Ruatapu were the winners of the junior competition in the southern division and would play the winners of the northern division at a date to be arranged by the Union.— It was resolved that the third grade match be played as suggested; that Messrs. Saunders, Wicks, Bellamy and Olsen choose the Grey team; and that Mr. Saunders be manager of the team. It was also decided that the Fixtures Committee arrange a date for a match between Ruatapu and the Grr/ymouth winners. The secretary of the Star Club wrote, drawing the Union’s attention to a report from the Star junior captain, that Magpies in the match with the Star, last Saturday, played a League player whose name he believed to be Teen. —It was decided to ask the Magpies Club for an explanation. One application was received for readmission to the code, and it Was decided that on the completion of the form, the application be forwarded to the New Zealand Union with a favourable recommendation. On the recommendation of the selectors. R. R. King was appointed captain of the representative team and S. Hendry vice-captain. Mr. W. Williams was appointed manager of the West Coast team, who will assemble at the Park Hotel at 2 p.m. Mr. M. Olsen was appointed manager of the Buller team. On the recommendation of the Fixtures Committee, tlie senior competition, was declared closed, and United declared winners. The Marlborough Union wrote stating that it was prepared to conduct the schools’ tournament this season. FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY. The following fixtures were arranged for Saturday, next:— Senior representatives:— Rundle Cup, Buller v. West Coast, Rugby Park, 3 p.m. (Mr. J. R. Beu). Curtain-raiser:— Third Grade Representatives: Greymouth v. Hokitika, Park, No. 1, 1.30 p.m. (Mr. M. R. Bunt). Fourth Grade: Blaketown v. Technical A., Park, No. 2, 1.30 (Mr. R. , Ferguson).