LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Grey River Argus, 1 August 1934, Page 2

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

EXECUTIVE MEETING. A meeting of the Executive of the West Coast Rugby League was held last evening, there being present: Messrs A. 11. McKane (chairman), L. Hunter, J. Stokes, B. Ramsay, A. Anisy, and W. Barlow (Management Committee), P. Blanchfield and C. Hall (Marist), Campbell (Ngahere), P. Tobin (Pirates), T. Kiely (Northern Sub-Division) and R. J. Harrington (Sec retary).

Mr Redwood, West Coast delegate to the New Zealand Council, wrote regarding the proposed visit of the Richmond Rovers (Auckland) team, asking for a guarantee of £4O to make the trip to Grey mouth.

On the motion of Air A. Anisy and Mr Blanchfield, it was decided that the Richmond team be invited to make the trip, and that the required guar antee be given; also that the Secretary negotiate with them in the meantime to play a match in Inangahua. The Hornby Club (Canterbury) forwarded a challenge for the Thacker Shield, they being the winners of the Knock-out competition in Christchurch. The Coast defenders will be decided when Pirates and Ahaura meet, Pirates being the holders of the Shield at present.

It was decided that the Thacker Shield game between Pirates and Ahaura be put on as soon as possible and that the Secretary supply Hornby with particulars as to gate provisions, etc., and advise them that their challenge had been accepted. The Canterbury League advised fhnr August 18th had been definitely ar cepted for the Northern Union Cun game, and that a game with Inangahua would be played on the next day (Sunday). As suggested by Canterbury it was decided that the curtain-raiser to the Cup match be offered to the Warntah third grade team (Reefton) to play Whit combe and Tombs, subject to no expense being incurred by the League. The explanation from Inangahua regarding the gate for the rep. game at Reefton was accepted. An application by S. Carter (Black’s Point) for reinstatement to the code was granted and forwarded to the N.Z. League for its approval. W. Bourke’s explanation for his non-appearance at the Inangahua-West Coast rep. game was accepted. The Marist Club protested against the Runanga fourths playing three juniors on Sunday.

Mr Hunter said that his Club were aware of the breach, but had difficulty in getting a team, and therefore had played the juniors to give Marist a game. He moved that, the protest be upheld, ami the game awarded to Marist. The motion was seconded by Mr Stokes and carried. The report of Mr B. Ramsay, manager of the junior rep. team last Sunday, was accepted as satisfactory and Air Ramsay was thanked for the report. The Chairman said that the meeting was really called to get the ideas ot the Clubs regarding the proposed interIsland game. The question was that they had had instructions from the N.Z. League to nominate players, and after that the N.Z. League would appoint one selector, and secondly the question of finance, the tour entailing a good deal of expense; and it was for the meeting to say whether the match, as far as they were concerned, should be gone on with. He (the Chairman) expected that Inangfabua would get some men in, and naturally they should have to share the expense. Air Hunter said that it seemed that the N.Z. Council was half-hearted about the match, and if such was the case, then the League would be running a risk in sending their players up there. If the West Coast had £5O to spend, he considered that it could be better utilised between Inangahua and Canterbury, in giving the game a boost locally.

The Chairman, in reply to a question, said that the Tnter-Island game was always financial. Air Blanchfield said that he did not consider the match should be played at the present time, as the benefits did not outweigh the expenditure, and like Mr Hunter he believed the money available should be spent locally. Mr A. Anisy said that he considered that it would cost £lOO to send the men away, anil the game would not be worth it, ns the New Zealand League had not given adequate encouragement to country Leagues. Mr Hall said that the previous speakers had shown the gloomy side of the question. The North v. South game had never shown a loss and he did not think it would cost the AVest Const ♦ League anything. He considered that the game would be an attraction in Auckland, and that there would be no question of a debit. The encouragement given the players to get in the team would be beneficial to the code, unless the ideas of the Council were agreed tu, it would be a setback for the code when the arrangements had progressed so far. Air Blanchfield saTd that it would be better to bring down the Richmond and Australian teams, and play the North v. South game next year. Mr Stokes; It is scandalous for the N.Z. League to ask us to take a risk they will not take themselves. The Chairman; Tt is for the clubs to decide, for or against. If you are for it we have got your co-operation to raise the money. Mr Stokes moved that the Secretary advise the New Zealand League that owing to the state of this League’s finances, they find that they will have to withdraw from the North v. South Island match, unless the South Island Leagues participate in the profits of the match, or have their expenses guaranteed.

The motion was seconded by Mr A. Anisy atid carried. It was decided that failing the return of the wire to Wingham Park (the subject of a recent court action) that the Management Committee take the necessary action to have it returned.

The following nominees (selected by Mr Hall) were accepted for the South Island team: Forwards, J. Calder (West Coast), V. Smith (Inangahua), G. Scott (West Coast), H. Bailey (Inangahua), AV. Glynn (West Coast). Backs: T. O’Connor (West L Coast), AV.

Kino- (Diangahua), J. Dodds (W6st. Coast), P. Scott (Inangahua), J. Kennedy (West Coast), M. Morris (Inan gahun), T. MtTKenzie (Inangahua). FIXTURES. Bradshaw Cup : Marist v. Runanga, at Rapahoe, 2.3(1 (Mr .1. JO’Neill); Blackball v. Pirates, at Wingham Park, 2.15 (Mr Stan. Smith). Junior Knock-Out Cup: Runanga v. Brunner, at Brunner, 2.30 (Mr Sid. Smith); Pirates v. Ngahere, at Nga here, 2.30 (Mr D. Faris); Marist A a bye. Fourth Grade (Brown Shield): Marist v. Pirates, at Wingham Park, 1.15 (Mr A. Taylor); Runanga v. Brunner, at Brunner, 1.15 (Mr D. Bernard). Saturday Games. Sixth Grade (Hei|b. Moore Cup): Runanga v. Blackball, at Blac’kllall (time to be arranged) (Mr J. Dodds); Marist A v. Marist B, at Cobden, 10.30 (Mr J. Roberts); Cobden a bye. Fifth Grade: Runanga v. Blackball, at Blackball (time to be arranged) (Mr J. Neilson). SCHOOLBOYS REPS. The following have been selected to tram for the schoolboy rep. team to play for the Norman Cox Memorial Cup: Downes, Penman, Davis, Rogers, Coyle, Waters, Nuttall (Blackball), Maskell, McDonald, Pinn, Dalzell (Runanga), Willis, L. Beban, J. Beban, McGirr, Brown, J. Dwyer (Marist), Kearney (Cobden). The final selection will be made next week. J