RUGBY LEAGUE Board Concerned At Lack Of Interest In Schoolboy Teams

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 August 1949, Page 10

RUGBY LEAGUE Board Concerned At Lack Of Interest In Schoolboy Teams

Concern at the lack of interest being shown by clubs in their schoolboy teams was expressed by members at the weekly meeting last night of the Board of Control of the West Coast Rugby League when the advisability of cancelling all schoolboy competition fixtures during • the school holidays was questioned. While it was pointed out that it was almost impossible for clubs to field schoolboy teams during the holidays, the league is to approach the Senior Officers Association.in the matter in an endeavour To get clubs to take a greater interest in the lower grades. The matter was raised by Mr V. Meates when, it was stated that no schoolboy fixtures had been set down for Saturday because of the school holidays commencing on Friday. “I would • suggest that efforts be made to arrange games for these boys even if they are only seven-a-side matches,” he said. “If the boys can’t get football from the league, they will soon go somewhere else to get it.” Difficulties Outlined

Mr N. C. Messenger outlined the difficulties being faced by the Schoolboy Board of Control in arranging matches for the schoolboy teams during the holidays, adding that it was even difficult to get boys to travel with the representative teams. J #>( “The situation is ‘pretty grim, said Mr J. Griffin,” and it is time that something was done about it. The Nelson Creek team has travelled to Greymouth on two occasions now and had not had a game. I think it is time that this board made a move to provide games for these boys during the holidays.” Too much was being left to the Schoolboy Board, said Mr Meates, adding that the board should not accept the position as it stood. Mr Messenger said that the mam difficulty was that clubs were not taking sufficient interest in the boys teams and were leaving all the work to school-teachers. Contribution To Expenses In reply to Mr J. J. Haddock, the secretary, Mr T. F. McKenzie, said that the league paid two-third of the schoolboys’ travelling expenses and that teams travelled to Nelson Creek to play games. After considerable discussion on ways of overcoming the difficulty, the board decided that the matter be taken up with the Senior Officers’ Association and that a strong appeal be made to clubs to take a greater interest in the schoolboys. Mr Messenger said that there were only two clubs at fault and they were Elackball and Runanga. “These clubs have plenty of supporters on Sundays for their higher grades but they do not seem able to interest their supporters in the lower grades,” he said. When the Senior Officers’ Association had been formed, the position had been explained to them and promises had been made to rectify the position but apparently the clubs had fallen down on their job, commented the secretary. Mr P. Sweetman said that if the position did not improve, the board should send representatives to. the Blackball and Runanga clubs to discuss the matter with them. Effects On Game “We are going to feel the effects of this lack of interest for the next 10 years,” Mr Meates stated, after which the discussion lapsed. Permission was granted the Westland Football Association for the use of Victoria Park on Saturday for theEmms Shield match with. Buller.. Runanga was declared winner ot the senior competition, Brunner the senior reserve competition . and Marist the fifth grade competition. On the motion of the secretary, it yas decided to advise the Canterbury League and the Addington Club that arrangements had been made for the Addington third grade team to playa match at Greymouth on September 10. English Tour in 1950 The league’s representative on the New Zealand Council, Mr. W. Swift, wrote advising that an English team was expected to arrive in this country on July 23, 1950, and would play three Saturday matches as well as mid-week fixtures. While an itinerary had not been drafted it was definite that, a game would be played at Greymouth. Mr Swift also advised that the Australian touring team would arrive at Greymouth on September 20 by express from Christchurch and would leave again on September 22. It was stated that the Australian party would consist of 30 players and it was understood that all would travel to the <West COB,St , %/r««r.v,r« Present at the meeting were Messrs J. Kidd. (chaiiman), P. Sweetman, W. Meates, N. C. Messenger L P. Coffey, R Lee, J. Griffen and J. J. Haddock and T. F. McKenzie (secretary). Also present was Mr A. J. Pratt, who at the board’s request, is to take up a position as physical training instructor in connection with the proposal by the New Zealand council for the establishment of a summer training school.

WEEK-END FIXTURES

The West Coast Rugby League’s fixtures for the week-end are as follows: Senior —Marist v Blackball, at Wingham Park, 2.45 p.m. (R. Baird); Ngahere v Runanga at Ngahere, at 2.45 pm. (L. Kinsella); Brunner a bye. ■ Reserve.— Runanga v Marist at Wingham Park, No. 2 at 2.45 p.m. (B. McGirr); Lake Brunner v Blackball at Blackball, at 2.45 p.m. (S. Knapp); Nelson Creek v Rapahoe at Nelson Creek, 2.45 p.m. (J. Mathews). Third Grade.—Marist v Runanga at Wingham Park, No. 1 at 1.15 (B. Casey); Ngahere v Lake Brunner at Ngahere at 1.15 (W. Bullimore); Cobden thirds v Cobden fourths at Cobden at 115 (J. Knowles); Brunner a bye. Fourth Grade.—Kohinoor v Blackball at Wingham Park No. 2, at 1.15 (L. Darby). , . 1 Fifth Grade.—Kohinoor v Runanga at Rapahoe at 1.15 (P. Griffen); Blackball and Marist byes. * Schoolboy representative match, Innes Memorial Cup.—West Coast v Canterbury, at Victoria Park, at 2 p.m. on Monday <B. McGirr). Ninth grade (Sunday)—Cobden v Kohinoor, at Wingham Park, at 2.35 p.m.