VALLEY RUGBY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 59, Issue 4283, 24 May 1950, Page 7

VALLEY RUGBY

REPORT TO UNION WELLINGTON CONFERENCE REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES Mr H. L. Boughton of Waihi, president of the Thames Valley Rugby Union, who’ represented the union at the annual conference of the New Zealand Rugby Union, at Wellington, reported as follows to the last meeting of the Thames Valley union. “On Thursday night, April 27, ■representative matches were arranged. This meeting was strongly reminiscent of a wool sale. I discussed the proposed game against North Auckland. They wanted to play on Thursday, July 6 at Paeroa. The terms were that we lodged with the North Auckland Union the sum of £5O to be refunded when we returned the match within two years. I explained that a match with them was dependent on whether we arranged our touring fixtures. We are to advise North Auckland whether the fixture can be availed

of. I recommend that this fixture be

abandoned and the North Auckland union advised accordingly. (The match was abandoned.) “A definite fixture was arranged with the Bay of Plenty for August 5. The venue sugested is Waihi but the actual venue is left to the Thames Valley union. The Bay of Plenty Union should be advised of the venue and the match confirmed. “I experienced some difficulty in arranging a game with Auckland. It was pointed out that we owed them a game from last season. I agreed to a game being played against Auckland sub-unions at Kaipara on a date to be arranged. Auckland B will play Thames Valley at Paeroa on Septem16. This is late in the season but it was the only date offering. “I discussed with the respective delegates the suggested fixtures for our tour. They were all co-operative. Waikato preferred to play their match after July but finally agreed to June 17. I undertook that if it was possible to play them later on we would do so. Other tenative dates for the tour were fixed as follows: King ■Country at Taumarunui, on Wednesday, June 21; Taranaki at New Plymouth on Saturday, June 24; Wanganui sub-unions at Marton or Taihape on June 28. Neither the Wanganui nor King Country delegates were very concerned over dates. I would suggest that the tour be arranged as follows: v. Taranaki at New Plymouth on Saturday, June 24, v Wanganui sub-unions at Marton or Taihape on Wednesday June 28; v. King Country at Taumarunui on Saturday, July 1. This would leave the Waikato game in abeyance until after July and would be appreciated by Waikato. It would also materially reduce the cost of the tour. If this suggestion is adopted then’ the unions concerned should be notified as soon as possible and the dates confirmed. (This arrangement was finalised.) “It also agreed to the Thames Valley junior representatives playing a curtain-raiser to the British game at ' Hamilton on July 15. This should be confirmed. So much for representative fixtures. “Then followed a film taken in South Africa during the All Blacks tour. Comment was invited on the film and on its value as a coaching medium. * The photography was poor and the subject matter good and bad. Por- ’ tions of the film showing the South ‘ African scrum formation and the All ’ Blacks training and methods of tack- * ling and handling were good but the ! shots of the actual games were poor. It was decided to send to South Africa 1 to procure part of the film which was • not sent over. 1

“The meeting proper commenced at 9.30 a.m. on Friday morning. .The annual report and accounts were adopted with little discussion. The election of vice-presidents resulted in the defeat of Mr J. Moye of Wanganui. Two out of three candidates were required. I voted for Mr Botting and Mr Sutherland who were elected. The election for the council resulted in the surprise defeat of last year’s president, Mr Max. “Notices of motion were then dealt with. The first was a motion by Auckland that rule 23 relating to boundaries be amended by giving the council power to refer any dispute over boundaries or when a request to alter boundaries is made, to refer such matters to an independent commissioner. I supported this motion and instanced the case of Thames being in the Auckland union. The motion was carried. This leaves the way open for this union to negotiate with Thames with a view to coming back into Thames Valley. If no agreement can be reached we can then refer the matter to the New Zealand union. “The next motion dealt with the constitution and was to give the delegates

power to bind the council. The motion lead to a lot of discussion. T spoke twice in support and finally it was carried by one vote. “The prices for admisison to tests was considered and it was the general opinion that the charges were reasonable. The estimated cost of the tour of the British Isles team was given at £47,000. “A remit by the Southland union relating to replacement of players injured was carried. It was decided to recommend to the International Board that the rule be amended. “In the evening I attended a meeting of the council and was given the opportunity of supporting our request for a grant of £2OO for the proposed tour. This was granted. However I was asked whether in framing our estimates we had taken into account the possibility of obtaining a grant as the result of the British tour. I had to admit that we had not but that we would be happy for the council to consider any grant made now when making grants from the British tour. I feel that we should honour this promise. I mentioned the matter to several members of the council afterwards and their graditude was that it would be a nice gesture but that we would still receive a grant from the British tour. “From a personal view I enjoyed the meeting very much and found other delegates very friendly and cooperative.”