JUNIOR RUGBY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 28 April 1928, Page 3

JUNIOR RUGBY.

MEETING OF (SOUTHERN CLUB'S. A largely attended meeting of delegates of southern clubs affiliated with the Taranaki Rugby Union, was held last evening at the A. and P. rooms to arrange for the administration of the Seasons .junior grade competitions in /the district. Mr. A. Nielson, president, and Mr. A. .T. Goodwin acted as secretary to the meeting.

The following delegates represented the southern clubs: Messrs. (Harrigan and .'Wilson ‘(Opunake), J|. Gaiyj, E. Scott and Guthrie (Kaponga), W. Bad ley (Waimate), A. Birchall and Johnston (Okaiawa), H. Kendall and R. .Mortloek ((Hawera), F. Brown (Athletic), Rutherford and Gunn (Patea), iL. Hunt and Gush (Alton), A. Gray and W. Thomas (High School). ‘The Rugby Union was represented by Messrs A. Nielson, J. Paterson, A. Guy, W. B. Eearon, and «T. J. Goodwin.

There was considerable discussion re the position of the third and fourth grade teams and it was proposed by Mr. Rutherford that in order to keep the competition going, third grade players be allowed to drop into fourth grade.

Mr. Guy considered that a third team should be in the competition before a fourth could be nominated. The chairman, after considerable controversy over the position of several clubs re their junior teams, said it would be a pity to cut out the competitions as it would do a lot of harm to promising players, and it would be a recommendation to the union to revise the age limit. All*. Fearon: It would be a good thing to waive the age limit and introduce a weight limit. # A motion that the divisions be the same as last year, proposed by Air. E. Scott and seconded by Air. Hunt, was carried.

A proposal by Air. A. Gray that a recommendation 'bo sent to the union that no club be allowed to nominate a team unless they had one immediately above i: was vejected. It was unanimously decided that the third and fourth grades he played in cue group.

The following committees were set up to control the groups in the southern districts: Opunake, Elthain group, .Messrs. J. Paterson (chairman), Wilson, J. Guy, Johnston, and Radley; Hawera, Patea and Alton group, Messrs. J. J. Goodwin (chairman) t Rutherford, Brown, Kendal, and Hunt. It was also left to the union members to allocate the fixtures and draw for the third and fourth grade competition.