Improvement Plan For Rugby Park During Off-season

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 September 1949, Page 7

Improvement Plan For Rugby Park During Off-season

Plans to improve the playing area at Rugby Park during the off-season were carried a' step further at the weekly meeting of the Management Committee of the West Coast Rugby Union held last evening. It was reported that Mr R. Cooper, of Christchurch, had inspected the ground at the week-end and that he would present a detailed report for the next meeting. A scheme of work was out-t--imed by members of the committee who met Mr Cooper.

The immediate proposal was for a close mowing of the area, followed by extensive harrowing and then topdressing, after which selected grass seeds would be sown. The need for several more short drains was stressed. as well as the need for a spiked roller for the purpose of aerating the soil. It was decided to commence the scheme immediately the season concludes. Australian Match Reports

There was a repercussion of inci--1 dents in the Australia v Buller-West i Coast match played at Greymouth on I September 10 at the meeting when a letter was received from a former Nelson resident, Mr L. C. Livick, who now lives at Woolwich. New South Wales, 'enclosing a press report of the match published in Australia, and seeking verification of the details therein. The article stated, the combined teams’ best player to be the referee Mr R. Pratt, alleged that the two tries- scored • against Australia followed infringements, and referred to rough play in the match. It was decided to forward Mr Livick (who stated in his letter that he was unable to believe the accuracy of the report) copies of statements by Messrs A. A. Adams and R. R. King appearing in the local press, and also the full local press account of the match. . The Canterbury Rugby Union advised that 20 seats had been allocated the West Coast union for the North v South fixture at Christchurch on Sat- . urday. , ' i The manager of the representative team which played at Christchurch on Saturday. Mr O. Scott, reported that ' the team had arrived late, at 1.15 a.m„ 2* hours behind schedule. The team played one of its best matches of the season said Mr Scott. He refuted press reports which alleged off-side play by the West Coast five-eighths. The re- \ port was adopted. i Trophy Won By Celtic The Celtic Club with 61 points was awarded the Wilkinson Cup for highest aggregate points awarded in competitions in all grades for the season. Of Celtic’s total 30 points were scored by the sixth and eighth grade teams, the eighth grade gaining 18 points which was the greatest number won by any individual tegm. The runners-up were Cobden with 55 points and Blaketown with 46 points. The secretary, Mr O. Scott, apologised for an omission in not writing to Mr W. F. Ellis requesting him to apI pear before the committee meeting. .It 1 was decided to ask Mr Ellis to be present at the next meeting. 1 Present at the meeting were: i Messrs F. W. Baillie (chairman), H. I Clifford, J. Smith, E. W. Shannon, A. | King, J. Webster, S. McDonnell. E. M. . Todd, M. R. Bunt, and the secretary, | O. Scott. Fixtures For Saturday I The following fixtures were approved for Saturday:— ■ Senior (McLean Shield final). —Star v Excelsior, at Rugby Park No. 1, 2.45 p.m. South Island Railway Team Announced The South Island railway team which will play North Island at Christchurch on Saturday week, October 8, has been announced as follows:— R. Forde (Southland); R. Matchett (Otago), M. Mercer’ (O), J. Taylor (South Canterbury); L. Lawrence (O, captain), R. L. Healy (O); P. Collins (Canterbury); N. Munnings (S), H. Lennox (S), A. L. Murphy (O); B. Fitzgerald (S.C.), A. G. Stevens (O), H. Sturrock (C), H. G. Budd (S); R. Thompson (West Coast). Reserves: Backs: D. Sherret (C), M. I Farrington (S), G. H. Turner (S). Forwards: B. Coburn (C), R. Peat (O). Three Buller and five West Coast players took part in the final South Island trial, but only one, R. Thompson, was selected for the South Island team. Thompson played for the South Island railway team last year also, and represented the West Coast Rugby Union this year.

NORTH ISLAND TEAM

WELLINGTON, September 26 (P.A.). —,H. D. Harkness (Manawatu) will replace J. W. Kelly (Auckland) as fullback in the North Island Rugby team to play South Island at Christchurch on Saturday. Kelly was injured in the test against Australia last Saturday. B. Couch (Wairarapa), who played at first five-eighths in both tests against the Australians, but who ‘was not chosen in the North Island team,' is now named as an emergency.