RUGBY REVIVAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22317, 30 April 1947, Page 6

RUGBY REVIVAL

SEASON’S PROSPECT PLANS FOR P.B. TOUR VISIT BY OTAGO TEAM All delegates reported most encouraging prospects, and the indications were for a Dominionwide revival this season, restoring the game to its former eminence, said the chairman of the management committee of the Poverty Bay Rugby Union, Mr. M. 11. Beuth, in reporting to the weekly meeting on Monday night on the annual meeting of the New Zealand Union wh'ch lie attended in Wellington last week as the Poverty Bay delegate.

Mr. Beuth said that Ihe spirit of enthusiasm was particularly marked among tire representatives of the country unions. A big fillip had been given by the forthcoming All Black visit to Australia, the tour by a Maori team to Fiji, and by the projected visit, of the All Blacks to South Africa. The African tour was dependent upon transport arrangements. These were indefinite. but it was still hoped that they ccuid be completed. The methods of administration were traversed in a verbal summary by Mr. Beuth. who gave particular attention to steps taken for the arrangement among the delegates of exchanges of visits by representative teams. Plans had been made for a tour by the Poverty Bay representatives and visits by the Bay of Plenty and Otago representatives to the district. Poverty Bay combining with East Coast for the match against Otago. Representative Fixtures Including the previously-arranged games between the Wairoa sub-union and Gisborne representatives, the following list of fixtures was approved by the meeting, the date of the Bay of Plenty game being subject to alteration: June 2.—Gisborne clubs v. Wairoa sub-union, at Gisborne. June 2.—Gisborne juniors v. Wairoa juniors, at Wairoa, June 21. —Poverty Bay v. Bay of Plenty, at Gisborne. Aug. 2.—Poverty Bay v. Wairarapa, Wairarapa. Aug. (i. —Poverty Bay v. Bush, Bush. Aug. 9. —Poverty Bay v. Hawke's Bay, Hawke's Bay. Aug. 27.—Poverty Bay-East Coast v. Otago, at Gisborne. There were present at the meeting Messrs. M. H. Beuth (chairman), B. Dodge, B. G. Seeley, K. F. Jones, A. Dods, T. W. McGufiiie, J. O’Neill. E. Fulton, W. E. Bullivant, C. Mills and W. S. McKee (secretary). Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. F. R. Fiercy and F. McAnency. Mr. R. i: rancis was appointed as junior grade representative selector to officiate with Mr. A. Gardner in place of Mr. W. Morrison, who had been appointed previously but had indicated with regret that he would be unable to fulfil the duties this season. Case For Sub-unions A motion proposed by Air. Jones that it be a recommendation that in the season's fixtures special consideration be given to sub-unions was approved following discussion arising from a letter from the Waikohu sub-union. The Waikohu sub-union's letter stated that when the Waikohu representative team travelled to Gisborne last season to play the Gisborne senior A representatives. it was understood that a return match would be played at Te Karaka before the end of the season. As that match with a Gisborne A side did not eventuate, it was suggested that it be played this year, preferably on May 24, when it would assist the selectors in the choice of the Poverty Bay team. The chairman recalled that a _ Gisborne B representative side had visited Te Karaka last year on the day the Poverty Bay representatives met East Coast at Tokomaru Bay. Mr. Mills urged that the Gisborne A team should visit both the Waikohu and Ngatapa sub-unions. This was supported by Messrs. Jones and Dods and the principle was approved by the chairman, who agreed that at.’ possible efforts should be made to encourage the game in the sub-union areas and to ensure that adequate opportunity be given for the inclusion of worthy players in the union representative sides. Footballs For Schools

A letter received from the Wnikolnt sub-union stated that no allocation from the grant to schools for the purchase of footballs had been received for four years and requested that representations be made to the New Zealand union in an endeavour to obtain the grant this season The chairman explained that the administration of the grant from the N.Z. union rested with the Primary Schools Sports Association which distributed balls when available to schools in the union’s area. The grant had not recently been received from the N.Z. union. When it was available it would be transferred by the Poverty Bay union to the Primary Schools association in the routine manner. The main difficulty at present, however, was the supply of balls, size four and a half, for schools. Because of the shortage the association had been unable to expend funds already in hand, but as a result of inquiries made in Wellington last week, he hoped a number of balls would be available in the near future for purchase by the association and distribution among schools in the union's area. Reports of Injuries Reports of minor injuries suffered in games by dub players led to a discussion in which it was pointed out that .such should normally be reported to the referee at the time of the injury for formal recording on the team list, this being followed by a formal report from the club secretary to Hie union committee. The treasurer, Mr. McGuflie. explained that the regulation required that a report be made to the union from the club within three days of the occurrence of tile injury, failing which claims for assistance could be declined. As a result of a report concerning cases of failure by players to produce passes to the union grounds it was decided to enforce the ruling that payment be made for admission, the player

having the right of refund through his club on production of the pass. The congestion of traffic at the Roebuck road exit from the Gisborne Oval following Ihe conclusion of games was referred' to in a general discussion and it was decided that cars leaving 'the ground he required to use the Anzac street exit.