RUGBY LEAGUE Further Extension Of Season: Board’s Decision

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 October 1949, Page 7

RUGBY LEAGUE Further Extension Of Season: Board’s Decision

As a result of the wet-weather postponement of last Sunday’s games and thd decision of the Board of Control last night to play them this week, the West Coast Rugby League’s season is to be further extended. The final game is now scheduled to be played on Sunday October 23. “We have got to the stage where we are seriously encroaching on the cricket season and we _ have to be careful what we do,” said the chairman (Mr J. Kidd) at last night’s meeting, in referring to the fixtures for the coming week-end. Actually, he added, it would take three more Sundays to wind un the season. Mr J. Griffin pointed out that the board had already arranged a fixture for' October 16 and td : maintain interest until then, .they would have to play next Sunday. Some "Complications”

“That’s where the complications come in,” said Mr Kidd. “Next Sunday would be the semi-final of the Hopkins Cup and Runanga would be required for the final the following Sunday, the day on which they have already been set down to play Prebbleton.”

“We will have to play the final on Labour Day,” remarked the secretary, Mr T. McKenzie. Mr Griffin moved that the fixtures postponed from last- Sunday be played this week.

Mr R. Lee said that there was some comment at the annual meeting of the West Coast Association on Monday night regarding the length of the football season, and Mr L. P. Coffey said that the president of the Cricket Association (Mr W. A. Meates) had referred to an agreement drawn up some years ago, under which the sports bodies agreed that the winter sports season should end on October 1.

“Actually, it was a gentlemen’s agreement and we have got to work in with other sports bodies,” said Mr Kidd.

The secretary: We try to. Mr Griffin pointed out that the league would ‘not play any games on grounds other than its own, but the chairman said that many footballers were also members of cricket teams and he understood the cricket season would open on October 16. Mr Coffey: Only for friendly games. The competitions are not to open until October 29. Two years ago, said Mr McKenzie, the same sort of thing occurred and the Cricket Association “took on” the league over it. He had then been able to prove that the cricketers had broken into the football season one week more than the league ha’d infringed on the cricket season.

“We are certainly on the wrong side this time,” commented Mr Kidd. Mr Griffin said-that the league had had an unfortunate season in regard to postponements and was not carrying on for any ulterior motive. Cricketers “Quite Happy”

“Carry on,” said Mi’ Coffey. “The cricketers were quite happy last night when it was explained.” The motion that the postponed fixtures be played next Sunday was seconded by Mr McKenzie and was carried, without dissent. The president of the New Zealand League (Mr J. Redwood) wrote thanking the West Coast League for the hospitality extended to his official party on their recent visit to the district and also congratulating the board on the way in which it handled the arrangements for the reception of the Australian and also on the “very fine effort of the West Coast players in the match.” A quotation was received from an Auckland firm for the manufacture of permanent badges for referees, officials and life members of the League and it was decided to place an order for a quantity of each class of badge. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Coffey for his efforts in obtaining the quotations. Reports on the meeting of the Referee’s Association last Saturday night were given by Messrs Griffin and Kidd. A tribute to the work of the association members during the season was paid by Mr Kidd, who said that the relations between the board and the association had been most harmonious throughout the season. Present at the meeting were: — Messrs J. Kidd (chairman), R. Lee, N. C. Messenger, P. E. Sweetman, J. Griffin, L. P. Coffey and T. F. McKenzie (secretary). Fixtures For Sunday The West Coast Rugby League’s fixtures for Sunday are as follows: — Senior (semi-final Hopkins Cup).— Marist v Blackball, at Wingham Park, 2.45 p.m. (J. Mathews). Senior Reserve (knock-out final). — Nelson Creek v Runanga, at Wingham Park, 1.15 p.m. (S. Knapp). AUSTRALIANS WIN EASILY AT WHANGAREI WHANGAREI, October 4 (P.A.) .— Marked superiority in every department gave the Australian Rugby League team an easy win by 39 points to 9 over a Northern Provinces side at Whangarei today. The Australians scored nine tries (four converted) and two penalty goals, to a converted try and two penalty goals. They led 18-2 at half-time, and, except for brief periods, were always on top. The Australian backs thrilled the crowd with their dazzling speed, perfect handling, and thrust. The forwards backed up well, handled like backs, and covered well on defence. Bulgin, Stanmore, Graves, and Johnson in the Australian backs, were the stars of the game. Bulgin’s swerves made him a difficult man to stop. Schubert, Mulligan, and Cowie were always prominent among the Australian forwards. The full-back, Churchill, showed speed worthy of a threequarter, and two or three times nearly scored. Roberts was frequently in the picture in the first quarter, but did not see much of the play-afterwards In the Northern Provinces team, Laird was the star. His experience was apparent in his attacking play and fine cover defence. Hambleton was another fine forward. Kay was the best attacking back. SpringfelTow left the field early in the game with a broken collarbone. , , For Australia, tries were scored by Bulgin (2), Johnson (2), Graves, Mulligan, A. Thompson, T.' Stanmore, and Cowie. Graves kicked a penalty goal and converted two tries, Bulgin kicked a penalty goal, and Johnson converted two tries. For Northern Provinces Kay scored a try. Latham converted the try and kicked two penalty goals.

Rugby League Matches The semi-finals of the Lancashire Cup Rugby League football competition resulted: Leigh 10, Warrington 7; Wigan 30, Workington Town 17. —London, October 3.