RUGBY UNION

Grey River Argus, 19 August 1931, Page 3

RUGBY UNION

WEEKLY MEETING. The weekly meeting of the West Coast Rugby Union was held last evenng. Present: Messrs A. A. Adams (chairman), W. Williams, T. O’Donnell, A. White, S. Hayden, J. Kyle, F. Eggleton, C. Rodgers, T. Mclntosh, W Tlannam, J. Rothwell, J. Kay, T. P. Ryan, and the Secretary, Mr J. W. Bruce. Apologies were received from Messrs J. Guy and W. Bicheno. The Westland Sub-Union forwarded the names of D. Breeze, A. Cutbush, and D. Heenan as referees to be considered when appointing the referee for the Buller v. West Coast match on Saturday, and advising that they I would be holding another seven-a-side tournament on September 12th. They further conveyed the thanks of the Excelsior Club for the financial assistance given fhe club for last week’s final.—The letter was received and it was decided to notify the SubUnion that, in case they intended playing a senior seven-a-side competition on September 12th, the Seddon Shield match, Buller v. West Coast, would be played at Westport on that date. | The Lake Brunner Sub-Division wrote stating that arrangements had been made to transport the Greymouth junior representatives for the match against Lake Brupner representatives on Sunday next, from Mitchells to Te , Kinga, and back, by launch, and that Mr L. Dewe had been appointed referee. The Sub-Division requested that consideration be given Lake Brunner players in the selection of the Seddon Shield team. —Received. Mr F. W. Baillie forwarded his re

I signation as one of the junior selectors. He stated that his reason for doing so was that it had been decided to give permission for senior players to be selected in the junior representative team, of which decision he had not been advised. In view of this decision, he felt that he could not conscientiously carry out the duties of selector and do justice to junior players. He had two players 5n his club (Cobden), who had recently entered senior ranks, viz., Lindbom and Mahoney, who would worthily represent the Union in the team. However, ho felt that, on principle, he could not nominate those two players in fairness to other junior players. Mr Ryan moved that the resignation be accepted with regret, and that Mr Baillie be thanked for his past valu able services as selector. The motion was seconded by Mr White and carried. The Chairman said that all members realised the great work Mr Baillie had done for the juniors, and for football generally, and it was a pity that he had sent in his resignation. The Secretary said that he might have been at fault in not notifying Mr Baillie of the decision of the Union. However, at the time he thought that Mr Rothwell, who was a member of the Union, aiid also a selector, would have notified the other selectors. Mr Rothwell said that he told Mr Baillie before they commenced selecting the team. Referees’ reports were read and received.

The Buller Rugby Union wrote con- I firming ’Saturday, August 22, as the date for the return home-and-home ‘ match at Greymouth, and September 12th as the date for the Seddon Shield match, Buller v. West Coast.—Receiv- i ed. The Technical School advised that I as the term holidays would commence . on August 21st, their team would not be available for fixtures on August 29 and September 5. The School request-1 ed that the Technical School third . graders and United thirds be given, permission to play the curtain raiser. to the Buller v. West Coast match on i Saturday next. —The letter was receiv-! ed and it was decided to play the, 'third grade match as requested. Mr White was appointed manager of the representative team for Saturday, ! the team to assemble at the Park ! Hotel at 2.30 p.m. J. King was ap- } pointed captain and J. Bell vice-cap-i tain. ! Messrs Rothwell and Rodgers were | appointed joint-managers of the jun(ior team to play Lake Brunner on , Sunday next, the team to assemble at the Post Office at 9 a.m. It was decided that all Greymouth i members ofthe representative team be asked to assemble at the Cobden Gymi nasium on Thursday at 7 p.m. • for training under the supervision of the selector, and that the Hokitika momi bers be asked to train at Cass Square on Thursday evening. The Cobden Football Club requested i permission for the junior A team to travel to Westport on the day of the Seddon Shield match, West Coast v. Buller, for the purpose of playing’ a curtain raiser, if such could be ar- i ranged.—Received. j Mr White said that the Kumara jun- . ior team were desirous of obtaining a i match as a curtain raiser to the Shield 1 match. Being the winners of the junior competition, they were at least en- i titled to consideration. The Chairman stated that it was not for the Union 1 to arrange for a curtain raiser. The I I Buller Union could be informed that ! | two applications for a match had been i received.—lt was left to the Secretary 1 and the Chairman to discuss the matter with Buller officials on ‘Saturday ‘ next.

An account for £3 10s was pashed for payment. The Rival Club (Hokitika) wrote , asking permission to play three Rimu < junior players in their senior team for ; the remainder of the season. They l stated that great difficulty was being experienced in fielding a full team, es- ; pecially in travelling, and the three ! players in question were willing to i play senior for the club. The letter pointed fut that two members of thel Cobden senior team were playing jun-• ior football under the Lake Brunner; Sub-Division.

I The Westland Sub-Union wrote stating the Rimu Club would allow the men to play for Rivals as long as they would be permitted to play in the Graham Wise Cup match between the winners of the Sub-Union’s junior competition and the winners of the Union's 1 competition.’ Their junior competition

was now concluded and the Graham Wise Cup match was the only junior match in which the Club would be able to participate during the rest of the season. The Chairman said that the question was ,what were the Rimu players going to do with regard to the Graham Wise Cup if they were to play senior for Rivals? Mr Mclntosh said he did not think the request should be entertained. The players would really be playing for two clubs, and this was contrary to the Union’s rules. Mr Kay: How about the Lake Brun-1 ner players? The Chairman explained that the Sub Division was a different case altogether. The Sub-Division had been formed and its rules ratified and an extra rule was made permitting play-1 ers resident within the Sub-Division’s I boundaries, to play for Greymouth teams.

Air Ryan said the position was' on “all fours” with the Lake Brunner one, and the request should be granted. The junior competition at Hokitika was run separate from the Union, and as it was now finished the players should be encouraged to play, in the ■ higher grade. The Chairman said the trouble was that the Graham Wise Cup game was still to be played, and it was a question as to whether those players, if granted permission, wore to be classified as seniors or juniors. Mr Mclntosh; We would be breaking our own rules to grant permission. The Chairman said that if the players played two senior games they ■would become senior players, and according to a recent resolution of the Union, could not be reclassified. Mr Williams said that everyone would be pleased to see them play for Rivals, if it meant that Rivals would be assured of a full team, but if they did play they could not possibly play in the junior grade again this season.

Mr Hayden moved that the Rivals Club be notified that the Union was unable to accede to the request. The motion was seconded by Mr McIntosh. Mr Ryan moved an amendment that the players be allowed to play for Rivals seniors, seeing that their junior competition was closed, but that they be notified that once they play tw’o senior games they will be regarded as senior players and cannot be reclassified this season. The amendment was lost on the casting vote of the Chairman, and the motion was then carried. Mr Williams (Star Alelegate) stated that the Secretary of the Star Club had informed him that the Star-Rivals match jft Hokitika last Saturday did not start until about 3.20 p.m. Consequently, it was alleged, the teams did not. play full time, owing to the Star team having to catch their train. Further, it was alleged that a Kumara player had played for Rivals. The Club desired this brought before the Union. The Chairman said that the referee in his report made no statement that the game started late, or that short time was played. Consequently no action could be taken in that direction, as the referee was the sole judge of time.

Air Mclntosh; We cannot do anything. We have nothing in writing from the Star Club. Mr Williams maintained that if a delegate brought a matter up on instruction from the Secretary of his Club, it should be regarded as official from the Club. He had been instructed by the Secretary of the Star Club. The Chairman said that the Union could do nothing regarding the time question. If the Club thought that ineligible • players were played, it was to their advantage to make enquiries. The Union could not be expected to enquire regardino- such a matter.

Mr Williams said that the members of the Rivals team were practically all strangers to the Star players, and they could not do anything. Regarding the time of starting, the Chairman said that instructions had been sent to the Sub-Union that where one team was not on the ground ready to play at the appointed time, the match was to he awarded to the other team.

Mr Williams said the Sub-Union had previously sent a notice to the Union to the same effect. Air Ryan said that clubs were finding it very difficult to get teams on the field at all, let alone punctually. He was not supporting late starting, but he thought the teams should be a little generous to each other in this respect. Mr Williams said the trouble at Hokitika was that if the match was late in starting, it had to be finished early to enable the. visiting team to catch their train.

FIXTURES. The following matches were arranged for Saturday next:— Representative Afatch: Buller v. West Coast, at 3 p.m. Curtain raiser: Third grade, Technical v. United, at 1.30 p.m.