RUGBY LEAGUE Delegates Adopt Senior Officers’ Recommendations

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 August 1949, Page 8

RUGBY LEAGUE Delegates Adopt Senior Officers’ Recommendations

Recommendations from the Senior Officers’ Association on matters pet - taining to dressing facilities at. the Cobden Domain, hotel accommodation arrangements for visiting teams, the standard of football being played by representative and local club teams, anql a function in honour of the coming visit of the Australian team next month,* were received at a meeting ol delegtd lh e West Coast Rugby league last night. Considerable discussion on the proposals tool; place, and, while those pertaining : to the hotel accommodation and standard of football questions were taken in committee, the league decided to adopt all the recommendations. • '— The Recommendations The recommendations were, inter alia:—(1) The Senior Officers’ Association is dissatisfied, with the dressing facilities at the Cobden Domain and suggested that some move be made by the league to improve the position; (2) when visiting teams to the West Coast made their own hotel accommodation arrangements, the league should have some jurisdiction over where Rugby League patronage should be given. It was stressed that the association wished to dissociate itself from any suggestion that the recommendation was connected with any recent occurrence; (3) the association was not satisfied with the type or standard of football being played at present. It was contended that tfie “tight” type of football was not appealing to the public and it was thought that a more “open, reckless” game, regardless of the number of wins, would have more appeal and would bring back the standard of football played on the West Coast three or four seasons ago; (4) that a function in honour of the coming visit of the Australian touring Rugby League team be arranged and that some effort be made for West Coast officials and players to meet the touring team and discuss matters of mutual interest. ' In reference to the first suggestion, the president, Mr J. Kidd, said he thought it was a matter for the Cobden delegate to take back to his club. He pointed out that all other clubs had proper dressing facilities at their grounds. At the present time there was a Rugby shed but the Rugby club was not prepared to allow the league to use it, stated the Cobden delegate, Mr L. Hahn. As far as the whippet shed was concerned, efforts to locate members of the whippet club had been unsuccessful. Mr Hahn suggested that the matter be referred back to the Senior Officers’ Association for suggestions on the matter. Who Owns Whippet Shed? “Who owns the whippet shed and is it possible for the league to obtain a lease of it for the next year or so?” asked Mr G. Williams (Brunner).

He understood that the shed was used every Saturday for card evenings and, as the shed was not. on the domain, he did not think there was any possibility of getting a lease, said Mr J. J. Haddock.

“The ground is a dead loss as far as league matches are concerned and .1 think that when the Dobson ground is ready, the league will not have to worry about the Cobden Domain at all,” said Mr Kidd. After further’ discussion, it was decided that the matter be referred to the fixtures statistician with the recommendation that as far as possible no competition matches be played at Cobden for the remainder of this season.

Arrangements For Australians Mr Haddock, on. behalf of the social committee, reported that arrangements had been made for a dinner to be tendered to the Australian party and members of the West Coast team on the night of the match. He pointed out, however, that there was accommodation for only 55' persons and as the Australian party contained 30 there would not be a great number of club officials present after the West Coast team and officials had been catered for. Mr Haddock said that arrangements had also been made for a ball to be held in the Sturge street hall following the dinner. Several suggestions were put forward and it was finally decided that a recommendation be forwarded to the social committee that, apart from the dinner and ball, the Senior officers’ Association executive committee hold a meeting on the night of September 20, at which representatives of the Referees’ Association, Schoolboy Board of Control and coaches be present, with a view to meeting the members of the Australian team. Representative Games A suggestion that representative matches between lower grade teams from the West Coast and Canterbury be played as curtain-raisers to the Aus-tralia-West Coast game at Greymouth on September 20 and to the AustraliaSouth Island match at .Christchurch on September 24, had been forwarded to the Canterbury League, said the secretary, Mr T. F. McKenzie. Mr McKenzie said that he had taken it on himself to forward the suggestion when he had received advice from Canterbury to the effect that the Blackball fourth grade team had been granted permission to play the curtainraiser to the match at Christchurch on September 24. Outlining his proposal, the secretary said that he had suggested to the Canterbury League that Canterbury third and fifth grade representative teams play similar West Coast teams at Greymouth on September 20 and that West Coast fourth and fifth grade teams travel to Christchurch . to play Canterbury teams as a curtain-raiser to the Australia-South Island match in Christchurch on September 24. The secretary’s action was endorsed. The Runanga Club was granted permission for its schoolboys’ team to travel to Christchurch to play a match on August 28. . Mr J. Kidd presided at the meeting and also present were- Messrs W. Meates, P. Sweetman, N. C. Messenger, J. Griffin, R. Lee, L. P. Coffey, and the secretary, Mr T. F. McKenzie. No Action To Be Taken On Club Protest The West Coast Rugby League is not to take any action in regard to a protest entered by the Kohinoor Club that, because of the late arrival of the Blackball fourth grade team for its match at Wingham Park on Sunday, it was necessary to play short time and that this had had an effect on the ultimate result of the game. This decision was made at a meeting of delegates to the league at Greymouth last night. Kohinoor stated in its protest that because of the late arrival of the Blackball club, the referee had played only 20-minute spells-. It was felt that if full time had been played the result of the game might easily have been reversed as there were only three points scored in the match. The Kohinoor team was prepared to travel to Blackball for a replay if the league saw fit. Mr J. Griffin pointed out that all

games at Wingham Park were under I the control of the league’s officials who were present at the park, but in matches at* country centres the referee was required to wait only 15 minutes i for “home” teams and‘3o minutes for : travelling teams before he was at. liberty to go home. j Replay Sought I

It was moved by Mr G. Williams (Brunner) and seconded by Mr R. Lee that, in the circumstances, the match be replayed and as the Kohinoor team was prepared to travel, tjre match be played at Blackball at an early date. It was pointed out that the Blackball fourth grade team had been ready to travel at 12.30 on Sunday but had been delayed because senior players were not ready and the bus had been held up waiting for them. The match had not started until about 2 *p.m„ almost 45 minutes late. Mr W. Meat.es said that on being approached by the referee in charge of the game, he had told the referee that as there was a senior game following, the fourth grade match would have to be played in short spells. “What would have been the position if the result of the match had been reversed and Blackball lost?” asked Mr Griffin. The question was whether the protest was in order, stated the chairman, Mr J. Kidd. Under the rules of the league, all protests were required to be lodged within 24 hours of the match. No Reason For Alteration

“The result of the. match has stood in previous cases where short time has been played,” commented Mr Meates, adding that be could see no reason why an alteration should be made in this Cciss The rules provided that all senior games would be of at least 40-minute spells for senior games, 35 minutes for third and fourth grade matches and 30 minutes for fifth grade games, said the secretary, Mr T. F. McKenzie; However, these rules did not apply to matches played at Wingham Park where the duration of games was controlled by officials at the park. It was moved that .the letter be ruled out of order but 4m amendment was also moved that the letter be received. The amendment was carried. The motion that the match be replayed at Blackball at a later date was defeated.

Match At Te Kinga? The Canterbury League wrote stating that it had granted permission for the Riccarton third grade team to travel to Greymouth to play a team from either Greymouth or Blackball on September 3. Mr J. Oakley suggested that the Lake Brunner club be given the match as “it may be something to lift them alono* a little.” He was of the opinion that° satisfactory accommodation arrangements could be made at Te Kinga. The secretary said that this was a good suggestion, as it was possible that if the team travelled to Greymouth it would still have to play its match in the country. The league was endeavouring as far as possible to keep matches off Wingham Park in view of its present condition. It was left to Mr Oakley to get in touch with the Lake Brunner club in the matter and report to the next meeting of the board. It was also decided that, if the team had to travel to Greymouth and was desirous of playing a match on the Saturday as well as its match against Lake Brunner, that it be sent to Brunner. Team For Trial Match The selectors, Messrs N. Griffiths, J. McNaughton and R. Clark, have chosen the following team to represent the West Coast Rugby League in a match with Canterbury, to be played at Christchurch on September 3, as a trial for the selection of the South Island team to play the North Island at Auckland on September 16:— Eacks: J. Soster; V. Meates, J. Pascoe, J. Curragh; M. Thomas (captain), G. Menzies; G. H. Ord. Forwards :R. Baxendale; C. Mcßride (vice-captain), R. Neilson; J. Newton, R. Aynsiey, A. McTaggart. Reserve forwards:* —P. Mulcare and R. O’Donnell; backs, W. Pascoe and M. Teen - • X , 1, R Mr J. Dodds was appointed coach of the team and training will be held at Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon. It was pointed out at last evening's meeting of the Board of Control that all players selected to travel to Christchurch would be given a run before the South Island selectors and any players not available should advise the league's secretary as soon as possible. WEEK-END MATCHES ■The West Coast Rugby League’s fixtures for the week-end are as follows:— j , tt . Senior—Marist v Brunner, at Wingham Park. 2.45 p.m. (J. Griffin) ; Blackball v Runanga, at Blackball, 2.45 p.m. (W. Mundy). Senior Reserve. —Blackball v Marist, at Blackball, 1.15 p.m. (L. Kinsella); Lake Brunner v Rapahoe, at Te Kinga, 2.45 p.m. (S. Knapp); Nelson Creek v Runanga, Wingham Park No. 2, 2.45 p.m. (R. Baird). Third Grade.—Ngahere v Cobden, at Wingham Park No. 2, 1.15 p.m. (K. Bullimore); Marist v Brunner, at Wingham Park No. 1, 1.15 p.m. (J. Mathews); Runanga v Lake Brunner, at Rapahoe, 2.45 p.m. (P. Griffin). Fourth Grade.—Blackball v Cobden, at Ngahere, 2.45 p.m. (W. Bullimore). Fifth Grade. —Blackball v Kohinoor, at Ngahere, 1.15 p.m. (J. Campbell); Marist and Runanga byes. Seventh Grade.—Runanga v Sydenham, at Rapahoe, 1.15 p.m. (L. Darby). Midgets.—Sydenham B v Runanga, at Wingham Park, 2.30 p.m. (J. Mathews); Sydenham A (Canterbury champions) v Brunner (West Coast champions), at Wingham Park, 3.15 p.m. (J. Mathews). Coast Schoolboys Beaten NEW PLYMOUTH, This Day (0.C.). —At the schoolboys Rugby League tournament yesterday the matches were played in light rain. Results: Canterbury 12, South Auckland 12; Taranaki 2, West Coast nil; Auckland 13, Wellington 2. * There was a much-improved display by Coast. It was a forward struggle in the first half and an open second half.