RUGBY FOOTBALL

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4816, 28 July 1939, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

FIXTURES IN VIEW. DEFENCE OP HETET SHIELD. A meeting of the Maniapoto Rugby Union's management committee was held on Tuesday evening. A circular letter was received from the King Country Rugby Union asking for a report on the difficulties clubs are faced with in regard to travelling, and the finance of same, also what the clubs are doing to encourage football in their districts. A comprehensive report on country football in the Hawkes Bay area was forwarded to the N.Z.R.U. by Mr. Maddison, and that body has requested the King Country Union to do likewise. Clubs are to compile their own reports, and forward same to the secretary next week. The following matches are to be played, commencing next * Saturday: July 29. —Club matches. Aug. s.—Maniapoto and Otorohanga, seniors and juniors, at Otorohanga.

Aug. 12.—Maniapoto Maoris v. Hamilton Maoris, and Senior B rep. match, both at Rugby Park. Aug. 19.—Peace Cup elimination match, Maniapoto v. Cambridge at Rugby Park. Aug. 26.—Club matches or play holders of Peace Cup. Sept. 2.—Club matches. i Sept. 9.—v. Taumarunui at Taumaruni.

As a number of players will be included in the King Country team on August 12th, the Union thought it advisable not to play club matches on that date.

The following managers were appointed for July sth: Senior A, Mr. Cameron; juniors, Mr. J. Rooney.

The Aria team was declared the winners of the senior B championship. When a challenge from the Otewa Club, the first for the Hetet Shield, which is competed for between the champion teams of each Sub-Union in the King Country, was received, the matter of finalising the senior A championship was discussed at some length. With so many representative fixtures intervening, the competition will not conclude until the end of September. The shield is at present held by the Te Kuiti team, and the Maniapoto Union receives challenges from other Unions in the King Country. The rule governing these matches states that the champion team of each Sub-Union must be declared not later than August Ist. The Union decided that this year's champion team would have to be declared after Saturday's matches, although the contest will not be concluded until practically the end of the season. At present it is likely that either Waitete or Pio Pio will be called upon to defend the shield. The latter is at present leading with 14 points, and Waitete 13,' but Pio Pio have played one more match than Waitete. Should one of the teams be defeated on Saturday—and they both meet strong teams—the position will be simplified. An emergency committee, or a special management committee meeting, is to be called next week to discuss the matter. The Te Kuiti senior B team was fined 5s for defaulting to Mangaotaki on July 15th. It was decided that in future players in a disqualified team are not permitted to play in their club's other grades. This also applies to the Hangatiki senior B team which was suspended at the previous meeting. The Union selectors are to be notified of this decision. The senior B knock-out competition is to commence on Saturday. The following is the draw: —Te Kuiti v. Aria, at Rugby Park; Pio Pio v. Mangaotaki at Pio Pio. In the junior grade the competition is completed with the exception of three matches owing to the West Coast team. Although these matches cannot possibly have any bearing on the result of the contest, the meeting held that as the West Coast team had travelled practically every Saturday they should have the home matches which were owing to them. It was decided to begin the junior knock-out competition on Saturday, and the United, Waitete and Te Kuiti teams are to play Coast at the end of the competition. The draw for the first Saturday is as follows: —West Coast v. Aria, at , Marakopa; United v. Te Kuiti, at Mangapehi; Waitete v. High School, at Rugby Park.

TO-MORROW'S SENIOR A GAME.

The fortunes of Waitete in their match with Hangatiki on Rugby Park on Saturday will be followed with interest, for the championship team has to be declared to defend the Hetet Shield, and Waitete and Pio Pio are the two teams in the runnng fojr that honour. Hangatiki will prove a formidable opponent, being

placed third in the points ladder. The Pio Pio team is set down to play the Te Kuiti team at Pio Pio, and are also likely to find stout opposition. REFEREES' DRAW. The following is the referees' draw for Saturday:— Senior A. Otorohanga v. Mahoenui at Mahoenui, 2.30—J. Tubman. Waitete v. Hangatiki at Te Kuiti, 2.45—W. Eketone. Pio Pio v. Te Kuiti at Pio Pio, S p.m.—L. Parlane. West Coast v. United at Marakopa, 3 p.m.—J. Evans. Senior B. Pio Pio v. Mangaotaki at Pio Pio, 1.30 p.m.—K. Taitoko. Aria v. Te Kuiti, 2 p.m.—G. Cameron, Jnr. Junior*. United v. Te Kuiti at Mangapehi, 3 p.m.—H. Hall. Waitete v. High School at Te Kuiti, 1.30 p.m.—O. Thorburn. MINOR UNIONS' ftIATCH. FIVE PLAYERS NOMINATED. The following players have been nominated by Mr. T. Craig, selector, to represent the King Country Rugby Union in the Minor Unions' match to be played a Christchurch on August 19:— Backs: C. A. Crossman and K. Cameron. Forwards: C. Coffin, W. J. Trusttum and C. C. Hancox.