FOOTBALL.

Grey River Argus, 29 April 1910, Page 1

FOOTBALL.

THE READING OF "A RULE

The Westport Times of Tuesday has the following, which will prove interesting to our local oTubs: — The Management Committee of the Bulter Rugby Union will 1 to-night consider a, protest lodged by the Rival Club against the Star dub, in connection with Nolan playing for the latter club last Saturday, the Rivals contending that the said*pl"ayer had not been a bona fide resident of the Buller district for the prescribed period. Nolan arrived in Westpbrt by the s.s Flora on Monday, April 1 18, anff- played for the ' Stars last Saturday, April 23. The Stars won the match by 24 points to 3. Nolan scored a try. The rule covering the point at issue reads as follows, being the B.R.U. rules for club contests, No 8: — That the secretaries of all competing clubs be required to furnish the secretary of the Union at the "commencement" of each season, with, a list of active members belonging to their clubs, the selection of players in all matches to be confined to those mem-

T bers, provided always that a club secretary may send in new names "during" the season ati least "seven" olear days before the dote of a match the player or pllayers are "66 take part, and that any club , playing any person whose name is' not on such list shall forfeit the match. Provided, however, that in such cases of breaches the Management Committee, on "satisfactory, explanation" being given td them iaay waive the penalty of forfeiture.

Should any club enter more than one teani in any contest, the secretary or such club must forward separate Ksts of players, from which teams wiill be sejlected, and no person shall be allowed to play for more than one team, uriess permission from the Management Committee is 'obtained. Any player arriving "during" the season may be allowed to play for such club as he may select, upon "satisfying" the Management Committee that he "intends" to become a bona fide resident; but "no application of this nature" will' be considered unless such s' ranger has resided in the Buller distrjot "at least seven days." Any application under this rule must be made in person, or in writing by the applicant to the committee.

The words in inverted comma* are purposely inserted, aB bearing directly on the point at issue. , At the annual meeting of the B.R.U a motion was passed to open the 1910 season on April 23. But prior to the totter date two "scratch." mart'phfef) we're authorised to be played under the auspices of the Union. Did" these matches open. the. season? Last year's Management Committee authorised the matches; but last year's balancesheet has been, read and adopted by the annual^ meeting of \lxq 8.R.U., and there is. no account of the two "matches. These items must appear on the 1910-11 balance sheet. Does it neces-._ sarily follow jthat the season opened prior to^Apjril 23? If so, Nolan arrived "during" the season. If not, Nolan arrived at the "commencement" of the season.

The Rivalb contend that Nolan arrived before the "commencement" of

the season, and not j"during'" the season; that he ban give a satisfactory explanation that he "is" a bona tide dassifieartioii last a a adopted by this, resident of ihe district, and that 'his name was included in the White Star's year's* Management Committee at its meeting last Tuesday night.

The 'result of the meeting to-night will be awaited with great interest by the football fraternity.

[The protest against Nolan In the Rival versus Star match was dismissed, the Management Committee hojding that" the season began on the -18th dust' at 8 p.m., when .the nominations closed, and it having been admitted that Nolan arrived at 3 p.m. that day.]