RUGBY LEAGUE Kumara Withdraws Senior Team

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 April 1946, Page 9

RUGBY LEAGUE Kumara Withdraws Senior Team

The withdrawal of Kumara from the senior competition was accepted by the management committee of the West Coast Rugby League at its meeting last night, and the club’s senior and junior teams were reclassified to the junior and third grade. This will leave six senior teams in the competition (the same as last year) and removes the need for a bye in the series. The letter from the Kumara club stated that following the unofficial match with Marist the previous Sunday (Kumara was beaten223)1 —3) consideration had been given to the matter, and the club had reached the conclusion that it did not have the material available to field a team worthy of senioii’ class. In the interests of the code and the club, therefore, it had decided to request the League to alter the club’s nominations to junior and third grade. “It is very nice to think that they woke up before it was too late,” commented Mr. J. Kidd, a member of the fixtures committee. The withdrawal had resulted in the fixtures which had just been made out for all grades having to be re-drawn. Present at the meeting were Messrs W. Meates (chairman), N. Messenger, C. Stone, E. Pattinson, E. Longley, R. Armstrong, L. Coffey, J. Kidd, Rev. Bro. Clarent and the Secretary (M. T. F. McKenzie). Referees' Monograms.

The Referees’ Association wrote requesting that the committee select and supply an official monogram for referees’ jerseys, pointing out that at present there was no monogram at all. It was decided to ask the Referees Association to select its own design and submit it to the League for approval. Mr. R. Fordham was appointed official gate-keeper at Brunner, and Mr. W. Murray time-keeper at Wingham Park. Dangerous Studs. The Brunner Club wrote drawing the Centre’s attention to the poor condition of the studs on many football boots and asked that the referees be requested to make an inspection of all boots before a player left the dressing shed. It was decided to forward the letter to the Referees’ Association for action. A request from Mr. Stone, on behalf of the Brunner Domain Board, that as few schoolboys games as possible be played on the ground at Taylorville, in'view of its condition, was referred to the schoolboys’ committee. Competitions to Start on Sunday The first official matches of the 1946 Rugby League season will be played on Sunday next, when the championship series will be started. The following are the fixtures: Senior: Blackball v. Marist at Blackball, at 2.45 p.m. (J. P. Mathews); Kohinoor v. Runanga at Wingham Park, 2.45 (J. Griffin); Brunner v. Ngahere at Brunner at. 2.45 p.m. (W. Kerr). Junior: Blackball v. Kohinoor at Blackball, at 1.30 p.m. (L. Kinsella); Rapahoe v. Runanga at Rapahoe at 2.45 p.m. (C. K. Fisher); Ngahere y. Brunner at Ngahere at 2.45 p.m. (A. Kennedy); Marist v. Kumara at Kumara at 2.45 p.m. (W. Moore). Third grade: Kumara v. Kohinoor at Wingham Park, No. 2 at 2.45 p.m. (B. McGirr); Ngahere v. Blackball at Ngahere at 1.30 p.m. (J. Williams); Marist v. Brunner at Brunner at 1.30 pm (P. Sweetman). Runanga a bye. ' Fourth grade: Marist v. Kohinoor at Wingham Park No. 1 at 1.30 p.m. (H. Bassett); Runanga v. Brunner at Wingham Park, No. 2 at 1.30 p.m. (J. Knowles). A field day for schoolboy teams will be held at Victoria Park on Saturday at 2 p.m. West Coasters in Canterbury. Former West Coasters who have been stalwarts in the League code in Canterbury for many years, will be joined this year by several more players who learned their football on this side of the Alps. G. Newton who has represented Canterbury in the forwards for many years, is a brother to J. Newton, outstanding Runanga forward, and he will still be playing for his old club. L. O’Brien, of Brunner, was anotner West Coaster who made good in football in Canterbury last season, when he was selected as representative hooker. He will be playing foi the Christchurch Club, but probably will return to the Coast upon his discharge from the Air Force. A new comer to League in Canterbury is W. Massey, a solid forward who previously playe’d for Runanga. He will be played as lock and should be an asset in this position. J. Ward, formerly of Marist (Greymouth) will also be playing in Christchurch. His position will be full-back. Ward was a promising member of Marist lowergrade teams, but has been overseas for some considerable time.Uniformity Required. Senior League teams on the West Coast, with a few exceptions, usually maintained a good appearance on the field throughout the war. Jerseys are this year, however, even more difficult to obtain, but a decision at last week’s meeting of the West Coast Rugby League’s management committee was that clubs be requested to obtain their correct uniforms and proper numbers. This would be of assistance to referees, it was stated. The appearance of referees was also commented upon by the referees’ delegates who introduced the subject. The wearing of clean uniforms and boots is to be made compulsory.

Use in Summer. & suggestion made at last week s meeting of the management committee that Wingham Park could be used for summer sports appeared to have the support of members, no immediate decision was made. Mi C. Stone, raising the matter, pointed out that the West Coast Cricket Association was short of grounds, ana would probably be keen to o bt£ *i n use of Wingham Park. Its use dur ing summer, he pointed ou.,_ w °uld have the effect of keeping it in good order. A wicket would not necessarily interfere with football during the winter.

Transport Facilities. The general position of transport, both for players and spectators, was discussed by members of the executive of the league last evening with representatives of the ’bus services.

Satisfactory arrangements were made and to assist the bus proprietors it was decided that all matches be commenced at the advertised, time.