THE FOOTBALL DEADLOCK.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 144, 16 June 1909, Page 5

THE FOOTBALL DEADLOCK.

SEQUEL TO SATURDAY'S EPISODE. DISCUSSION BY RUGBY UNION. The application by the Awatere Football C^ub for £4 from the Rugby Union foFexpenses incurred in travelling to Blenheim last Saturday to play against the OpaAva Club, which match Avas not played, led to some very plain talking at the Rugby Union meeting last night. Mr Morrison moved that the amount be paid, giving as his reason that it was through no fault of the AAvatere team that the match Avas not played,.but the remissness of the Ground Committee.

Mr Griffiths seconded the motion pro forma. Mr Hylton, with the permission of the Chairman, asked Mr Morrison if the Awatere Club had been informed that the OpaAva-AAvatere match Avas to be played on No. 2 ground. Mr Morrison : "I am not the Secretary." The motion was put without any further discussion and negatived.

'The-Chairman then moved that the Opawa and Awatere senior teams be called .-.upon to show cause why a loss should not be recorded against each of them for their refusal to play on the- ground allotted to them on Saturday last. Mr Corry said he moved the motion with very great regret, owing to those clubs not upholding the action of their delegates, who unanimously came to an arrangement whereby the Union would benefit. He was very sorry indeed that the trouble had occurred, but he could not see that the clubs in question had one redeeming feature in support of their action. The matter was put clearly before them, and the arrangement was made clearly and tairly with a view to assisting the Union, and it seemed that they had felt it incumbent upon them to flout the Union altogether. ' The Awater^ Club had sent in a letter which stated that the ground was unfit to play on, which was mere twaddle. A member of the Ground Committee had stated that he looked over the ground, and had filled in any holes he saw. As fco the enormous holes complained of, he flatly denied that they existed, as a lot of money had been spent on the grounds by the A. and P. Association in having them levelled, in any case, he could not see why the match could not have been played on the Domain; but that was beside the question. Ho thought it only legitimate that those clubs should show satisfactory cause why they should not be punished for not carrying out the instructions of the Union. Mr Maclaine seconded the motion. Mr Morrison said the Chairman had put the question very nicely from one side. A member of the Grotmd Committee had come to the meeting and stated that there were no holes in the ground, and that he had filled them up. On the other hand, < another member' of the Ground Committee said that the ground was not fit "to play on. A spectator at the Show Grounds on Saturday last had informed him that he had commenced filling m some holes on No. 2 ground before the appointed hour of the match, b\xt after carrying a great deal of earth he realised that it would take a man with a wheel-barrow to fill them in. There were holes in No. 2 ground, and the Chairman's statement, that the A. and P. -Association had spent much money in filling them in did not carry mv.m weight, as they were still there, and he had inspected the ground on Sunday. He had agreed at the last meeting of the Union that the Central and Moutere teams should have preference of. grounds, and that Awatere and Opawa should play on No. 2 ground. • j The Chairman said it was a matter of agreement among the four delegates, and the Union never attempted to over-ride the rights of any of the clubs as to the ground originally drawn. The Awatere Club had no right to No. 1 ground, or to object to the second ground because it was unsafe $i play on. He did not know how the Union would stand if a member of any team was injured whilst playing on that ground. • Mr Thomson said he was not present when the agreement was arrived at, but speaking as a member of the Drawing Committee it was originally agreed that Awatere and Opawa should play on No. 1 ground. Mr Hylton said the teams in question had shown very poor spirit in the matter in not having more confidence in their delegates. Mr Chisholm, who was appointed, by the Referees' Association to take charge of the Awatere-Opawa match, had informed him that the Secretary of the Opawa Club had informed him (Mr Chisholm) that he had advisad the Awatere and Opawa teams •'o take No. 1 ground, and that he had been told by the' Secretary of the Union that they were entitled to it. He thought, however, that the Awatere team had made up their minds not to play on No. 2 ground before coming into town. Mr Morrison objected t-o the ;ast statement, as he considered it a direct insult to his club. The Chairman said that Mr Hylton had only said he thought so. Mr Morrison replied that Mr Hylton had no right to make such- contemptible statements, as they were an nisult to the Awatere Club. Mr Maclaine said he only read what he had recorded in the minutes' to the Secretary of the Opawa Club through the telephone. Mr ""Strickland did not think the clubs were so much to blame as their delegates, Messrs : Morrison and Griffiths. At the conclusion of the last Union meeting Mr" Griffiths had attended a meeting of the Opawa Club, and had told the members that !no ground was mentioned by the Union, and. advised them to be careful and get No. 1. He thought Mr Griffiths had acted very wroifgly in not informing his club that the [ grounds had been arranged, and he j Avas responsible for the Opawa Club acting as it did. As far as Mr Morrison Avas concerned; he did not know whether he had informed his club, but in any case it was his duty to do so, and not for the Secretary of i the Union, as it was a mutual arrangement. Mr Griffiths Avas,-iu b?s opinion, wholly to Blame for AA rbat had happened. He was-told by the Chairman if he had any objection to make to make it there and then at the meeting, and the match Avould be played at Spring Creek; but' he raised no objection, and agreed to the suggestion put forward. jMr Griffiths, in replying to Mr Strickland, said he thought they were there to do their utmost for football. What Mr Strickland had stated was purely and simply from hearsay, and it was most absurd that Mr StrickI land should rely oii and make use of what he had heard. With regard !to his position on the.Union, he had Ino desire to represent the Opawa

Club if they did not approve ofMiis actions, and they could read in ihet press what.lie did at meetings of the Union. He thought Mr" Strickland' had shown very little "nous" iu l bringing up the matter. The Opawa; Club could be guided by its president or secretary. He did not see that any remarks he; might make would have any effect on the motion, Mr. Strickland siiid he noticed that Mr Griffiths, had not denied his impeachment. Mr Griffiths said he denied absolutely everything Mr Strickland had said. | Mr Morrison moved as an amendment that the explanation of the? Awatere Club be accepted. Mr Griffiths seconded the amende ment, which, after furthpr discussion,' Avas negatived, and the motion carried. The Chairman, in referring to the action of the secretary of the Opawa Club, said that that official apparently had made himself busy in seeing the Awatere Club. He had no desire to bring that young man before the Union, and he would instruct' the OpaAva delegate to inform him1 that the Union would not permit a' recurrence of his action. Mr Morrison said it seemed from' Avhat had been said at the meeting that the secretary of the Opawa; Club had caused the whole of thetrouble in connection Avith the match, and yet the Union seemed afraid todeal with him. He did not .see why, he should not be penalised, as he vasaltogether •to blame. The Chairman advised. Mr Morri^ son not-to address the chair in thaii manner, as he would not permit it. He Avas not afraid of the secretary ofi the QpaAAra Club, and there were as1 great many other things he Avas nofcl afraid of. - Mr Morrison said the Union -.vas>. dealing with the effect, and he topic it that the cause should be also dealt with. .:■••. The Chairman asked Mr Morrison." if he kneAV the cause? Mr Hylton moved, and Mr Strickland seconded, that the secretary of the Opawa Club be requested to /ittend the next meeting of the Unionto • ansAver statements made againsD him in connection Avith the OpawaAwatere match, and that Mr Chisholm also be asked to attend.—Car* ried. ' ' The matter then closed. " \