RUGBY FOOTBALL

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4810, 14 July 1939, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SUB-UNION MEETING. FORTHCOMING REP. FIXTURES. SENIOR A GAMES ON RUGBY PARK. The fortnightly meeting of the Maniapoto Rugby Sub-Union was held on Tuesday evening, the president, Mr. G. Cameron, being in the chair.

The Public Service Association was granted permission to use Rugby Park for a match, and was also granted the use of the Union's jereys. The High School team made application to travel to Te Awamutu on Saturday to play a school match. This was granted, and their match with United is to be played at a later date.

The Morrinsville Referees' Association forwarded the names of a number of referees willing to control Peace Cup matches.

The United Club are to be credited with 2 points for the match against Mahoenui which was given to Mahoenui in the referee's report. This was an error. The result was: United 9, Mahoenui 5.

The Mangaotaki and Aria Clubs are to be awarded 2 points each for matches which were to have been played with the Hangatiki Senior B team, seeing that Te Kuiti and Pio Pio had gained points by defaults from Hangatiki.

The Waitete Senior A team was granted permission to travel tc Tokaanu on July 22.

Matches with Otorohanga, Ohura and Taumarunui Sub-Unions are to be played in the near future, the matter of arranging dates being left to the delegate on the King Country Rugby Union.

Since the meeting word has been received from the Cambridge Union that they will play the elimination match for the Peace Cup with Maniapoto, as requested, at Te Kuiti. August 12th was submitted for the match and this day has been accepted by the local Union.

The Union is desirous of playing as many representative matches as possible before playing Peace Cup fixtures, in order to develop a good combination. At the same time the committee does not wish to interfere too much with Club matches, and is anxious to complete the competition in order to declare the champion team to defend the Hetet Shield against other Sub-Unions' teams. There is little likelihood of the contest being finalised before September. The advisability of having a Senior A match at Rugby Park every Saturday was stressed by the town Club's delegates, Messrs. Cotter and Black, when the fixtures were being arranged for July 22. It was stated that quite a lot of criticism had been levelled at the Union for failing to have a Senior fixture on the ground last Saturday, and such would be the case again on the 22nd instant.

The chairman said it was no fault of the Union that no match was played at Te Kuiti last Saturday, as everything possible was done to arrange for the playing of a game at headquarters.

When it was suggested that the Pio Pio-West Coast fixture be played at Rugby Park, the country club delegates took strong exception to it, contending that as the majority of spectators attending matches in Te Kuiti were country supporters, their Clubs should have home and home games. This matter was keenly debated, and the difficulty was solved when it was suggested that the Senior B seven-a-side tournament for the Snowdon Cup be played at Rugby Park. There will also be two Junior matches on No. 2 ground at 1.30 p.m. and 3 p.m., the tourney commencing at 2 p.m. The Hangatiki Senior B team was disqualified for the remainder of the season for failing to keep its engagement with the Te Kuiti team on Saturday. This is the third time this team has defaulted, and much inconvenience has been caused Clubs and referees alike through the non-appear-ance of the Hangatiki team, and their failure to advise the Club of their inability to field a team. Through the disqualification of Hangatiki, four teams remain in the Senior B competition, which will be brought to a close on Saturday, a week earlier than expected. Mr. Dyet asked the Union to allot v. date for the United Club to hold the Junior seven-a-side tournament for the Forrestall Memorial trophy at Mangapehi; also if the Union would consider allowing Senior B teams to enter. This latter request was discussed at some length on the advisability of allowing Senior B players contesting against some of the lighter Juniors. It was finally decided to permit Senior B teams to enter, providing they conform to the Junior weight limit, and also that they have not played representative football.

It was left to the Clubs' discretion to enter teams which will be in keeping with the Junior grade.