FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9223, 27 May 1910, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

CLASSIFYING THE JUNIORS. DECISION REVERSED PRO TEM. I A special meeting of the Rugby Union : Management Committee was held-last. ' night to re-consider the decision arrived at at Monday's meeting, when it was decided to classify four Palmerston juniors. There were present: : —Messrs E. D. lioben (in tho chair), J. T. Pickett, J." Pawson, J. F. Manning, H. F. Gibbons, 11. Muller, G. McWilliams, and W. McKcnzie (secretary). Apologies were received, from Messrs F. Foote and F. Pirani. In accordance with notice of motion, Mr McWilliams moved to rescind the resolution of Monday's meeting, and in doing so said that the question of classification of players had been referred to the Referees' Association to report to the Management Committee. Mr McWilliams contended no such report had been received. Mr Pickett seconded the motion. Three Palmerston Club ■'members (Messrs Boon, Stubbs. and Torstonson) waited on tho committee on the matter. Mr Stubbs said that it was not in the interests of sport to classify the players in the manner that had been used. It probably meant the brcaking-up of tho junior and third-class Palmerston teams, and this was not fair, seeing that Palmerston Club had done so much towards keeping the sport together and building up a good club. None of the men classified were good enough for seniors—at least, so the Palmerston Club thought. And it seemed to be a funny thing that the Union should put them up. Some of the Palmerston players played at great inconvenience to themselves, and only for their own club's sake. If they were made to play for other clubs they would probably knock off football altogether. Messrs Boon and Torstonson also spoke. Mr Muller said he was the seconder of the resolution causing the trouble, and it might seem peculiar that he should take such action, seeing ho had seen no play this season. Ho did so because the Union had talked so long about classifying that he thought it was time they moved in the matter. They had asked the Referees' Association to report, and as four referees, Messrs Warden, Cleland. Stalker, and Hutton, had been mentioned as stating these players should be classified, he thought they should have taken their word.

Mr Manning said he had not mentioned Mr Clcland's name. Mr McMinn was tho fourth man.

Mr Muller (continuing) said the idea had got abroad that the Union were deliberately foisting tho Palmerston juniors on to" Old Boys. Mr Muller said he had seconded the resolution, solely on the recommendation of the referees.

Mr Manning said he had -seen no football this season, and he had made the recommendation on the, word of the chairman of t"he Referees' Association. Mr Warden was quite willing to substantiate his statements, if the Management Committee wanted to hear him. Mr Manning pointed out that the classifying of players had been a sore question for many years, and the Management Committee had consistently refused to do its duty in the matter. Mr Manning mentioned the case of the Ponoko Club, whose junior players had, refused to play senior, with the result that for a long time they could not get decent seniors, and the juniors swept the boards in their competition. The Management Committee had acted on tho advice of the referees. If the classifying of players had ,not fallen on one club alone there would have been no fuss and no special meeting. Mr Pickctt. said he believed in classification in its proper place, but not at such a time, when tho season was so far gone. Mr Hankins said the whole thing amounted to this: The Union had found it necessary to classify players; they had asked the Referees' Association to assist them, and they should carry out the Association's suggestion. The chairman of the Referees' Association was most emphatic on the question. He considered that, one of tho Palmerston juniors was far too superior to play junior ; all four were too good for junior, and it was unfair to bona-fido juniors that they should play against them.

Mr H. F. Gibbons said that if the referees were asked to report, and had given their report in writing, that would have ended the matter.

On looking up the minutes it was found that a motion was on the minutes asking the referees to watch players with a view to classification.

air Gibbons (continuing) said the matter was one that should be approached with great delicacy. The Management Committee was obviously not fit to do the j classifying, and the speaker believed that [ the Referees' Association was the proper body to do so. Mr Gibbons believed that there should be classifying, but he fe'.t it should be gone about much more carefully than had been done. He thought they should have reports from the Referees' Association at stated intervals. _ Mr Hankins agreed with the suggestion, and under the circumstances thought it advisable to support Mr McWilliams' motion. The Chairman pointed out that the Management Committee bv the rules were the sole judges on the matter. He thought, however, they had acted unwisely in classifying as they had done. Mr McWilliams' motion, rescinding the resolution, was carried, Mr K. Armstrong being the only dissentient, and Mr Manning declining to vote. After :: little further discussion it was decided, on the motion of Mr Hankins. ."-econdrd by Mr Midler: —"That the Referees' Association be asked to report to the Union before Monday evening next upon any player whom the referees consider to bo playing in a class below that in which he should be classified, and suggesting such cla>ss as in their opinion the player should be placed in. Also, that the Referees' Association be asked to supplement such reports by periodic reports as tho advancement of playing form would seem to suggest." The Referees' Association meets on Saturday night, when the matter will be discussed.

The following will represent Old Boys Juniors at Colyton : —Fitzgerald, Munro. Oiliver (2). Mihama. Perry. Sexton, Reardon. Tremaine' (2). McEwen, Martin, Watchorn, Todd, Tennant, Clark. ASSOCIATION. The following have been selected to play for Rangers against Jackeytown at Jackeytown on Saturday: —Burn a rd, Osborne, Young, Richards, Moxon. Sharp, Shoebridge, White, Casey, Neligan, El--gcr. Hookaway. THE PROFESSIONALS. (Br Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Per Press Association.) SYDNEY. May 26. The bulk of the English 1 ' Northern team of footballers have arrived, and were welcomed by the local league.