FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXII, Issue 2728, 25 May 1931, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

-PLAINS UNION. MEETING-‘AT ngatea. A meeting of the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union was held in Ngatea on Thursday evening last, Mr T. Evans presiding over Messrs A. Cleave, H. Elvin, G l . McCowatt, J. Falkner, W. Falkiner, S. Kendall, ■M. Caie, R. Rollings, C. Molloy, W. Williams. Several other interested persons were present, besides ordinary delegates, in order to attempt the formation of a referees’ association. •

The meeting opened with the usual business, immediately following which a lengthy discussion ensued on the possibilities ’of forming an active Referees’ Asscoiation. Mr Rollings, senior selector to the Union, spoke of the absolute necessity for a strong working body of capable referees, which if given every support and assistance by the Union •would considerably raise the standard of football on the Plains.

Such a body had been in action several years ago and had a membership of twenty, including sixteen capable referees. He was sure that such a body could be built up again, perhaps not quite so strong, but at least as active.

Mr Mahoney stated that he kne\ t of men at -Waitakaruru who woul join the Association. e It was -moved by Mr E. Molloy that Messrs Cleave, Rollings am ? Mahoney be a committee to convene ; e meeting in an attempt to form a Re ferees’ Association. s Rough Play. t • A report came to the Union thatther f had been somea very rough and vindic t tive play in the game between Ngate; e and- Turua juniors the previous Sat - urday, necessitating repeated warn ings by the referee, and finally endei in one man being asked to leave th I field. The matter had not restei g there, however, but a Ngatea playe: t on leaving the field had teen airackei by a Turua player, necessitating in tervention by spectators. ,■ y. The matter was discussed before •j the Union and the referee was askec t to report upon the matter. After considerable' discussion, dur j ing which it was decided that the re feree must be backed up if footbal was‘to retain the right spirit, it wai moved by Mr A. Cleave, seconded bj Mr J. Falkner— . • “That the men as reported to the f Union for rough and vindictive 1 play be summoned to appear before the management committee or , Thursday next, May 28th, at 8 pan. 5 and that until such time they be ordered to stand down for all Rug- [. by matches.” t It was moved as an amendment by Mr G. McCowatt, seconded by Mr H .E.h’in— ' . , “That as the players in question would . probably not play under this Union again this season, that the matter be dropped, the players ( to be "cautioned and requested to I send in a written apology.” i The amendment, however, was lost i on the vote, and the original motion carried. As a result, A. Brownies and F. Gray will appear before the management committee on Thursday next. Rule Books. Dealing with the matter of rule books, and the offer of the Thames Valley to supply each sub-union with six rule books free of charge, it was decided to order twelve extra books and distribute them where required. Preparing for Representative Games. Discussing the question of a ground for representative games it was decided that the Ngatea delegates, Messrs .Williams and Molloy,' wait on the school committee and request the use of the school football ground for representative' matches and discuss terms.. <> Mr R„ Shaw was appointed gatekeeper. > The charge made for admission will be decided by prices charged in other centres. Tenders are to be let for* transport of players and for feeding visiting teams on their visits to the Plains. The secretary, was instructed to book the ante .room of the Ngatea Hall as a changing room for representative teams. Junior Teams. On the motion of G. McGowatt, seconded by H. Elvin, the secretary was instructed to write to the Thames Valley Union requesting that a junior team from Turua be accepted into the Paeroa Rugby Union competition, as they understood the Paeroa Uunion was quite willing to accept them. Referees Encouraged. As an encouragement to referees to take an active part in the game it was decided that a benzine allowance according to distance be granted to referees when they were unable to travel with their teams.