SUNDAY FOOTBALL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 60, Issue 4306, 19 July 1950, Page 5

SUNDAY FOOTBALL

RUGBY UNION DECISION

NO ORGANISED GAMES

NETHERTON MEMBER RESIGNS

No more football matches will be organised this season on a Sunday by the Paeroa Rugby Football Union, was the decision made on Monday night last at a meeting, of the management committee of /the union.

Owing to the postponement of competition games on Saturday last on account of the match with the British Isles team at Hamilton two fixtures were arranged for Sunday last, the first, the senior match between Netherton and United seniors, which game was' actually played,, the second being*a junior match between Netherton and United.

Four players of the United’junior team objected to a Rugby union competition being played On Sunday last and as a result the United junior team decided not to take part in the fixture. The matter was brought before the metting as a decision had to be made as to whether the match should be awarded. the Netherton team’ which turned up and was ready to take the field or whether the match should be

ordered to be played at a future date. Mr E. Williams, delegate from"the Netherton club informed the meeting that he had arranged for his team to take part in the game, which had been fixed and his team had been ready to take the field.

The chairman,, Mr W. F. Faber, pointed out that it had been the policy of the union not to organise competition matches in a Sunday. It would appear that organised football had been played on a Sunday. Mr E. Meyer drew the attention of members to the fact that some members of a team objected to playing on a Sunday and, that being so, that club should not be called upon to play on a Sunday.

The question, said the chairman, was what was to be done as to awarding the, match. The union did not wish to organise matches on a Sunday.

Mr E. J. McKenzie moved that the match be awarded to. Netherton, the proposal being, seconded by Mr E. t

An amendment that the match be played at a future date w/s moved by Mr T. Richardson and carried, several members refraining' from voting. “What attitude is the union going to take as to Sunday football?” asked Mr E. Mfprgan, who expressed strong disapproval of fiootbairbeing played on the Sabbaitb. The uniofi was faced with la demand for Sunday games and it was the United delegate who had desired the Sunday 'fixture, said Mr Morgan. Mr McKenzie moved that the senior fixture, Netherton versus United, be replayed. He was most strongly against Sunday organised play, declared Mr H. R. Reward, and he was surprised at the backing given by the public and the . clubs.

“I am finished with football in Paeroa,” said Mr E. J. Williams, - “and I tender my resignation right now.”

-The motion that the senior match, Netherton v. United played last Sunday, be replayed was defeated on a show of hands. “There will be no more organised football on a (Sunday in Plaeiroa this season,” said the chairman.