RUGBY CONTROL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 142, 18 May 1932, Page 9

RUGBY CONTROL

MANAWATU DISTRICT COUNCIL. SATURDAY’S GAMES. The weekly meeting of the management committee of the Manawatu Rugby District Council was held last night, when Mr J. A. Colquhoun presided. Others present were Messrs Thompson, Mackie, Bowler, Hands, Berry, Hardie, Yates, Penney, Clevely, Crawford, McHerron and Eglinton. The Massey College Club made an application to play a Victoria College senior team at Wellington on June 3. —Granted.

The Combined Banks Rugby team made an application to play the annual fixture versus the Wellington banks at Palmerston North on June 3. The uso of the High School grounds was asked for, the match being set down for 10.30 a.m. —Granted, subject to the ground being availablo. The Kia Toa Club lodged a complaint against the United Club having played R. DeCleenc, a junior, in their third grade team on Saturday. It was not desired that a forfeiture of the match be claimed, added the writer, but there appeared to be some misapprehension amongst players as to the operation of the reinstatement clause. Mr Crawford stated that his club was desirous of protecting the smaller players in the lower grades from being required to play against grown men. ~ , Mr McHerron mentioned that De Cleene had played fourth grade in Timaru and had only played one match in a higher grade since his return to Palmerston North. It was decided to circularise the clubs directing attention to the necessity for the regrading of players before participating in lower grade matches. The Te Hawaii Sub-Union forwarded an application on behalf of J. Nicholls for a transfer from League football to the Rugby code.—Sent forward to the New Zealand Rugby Union for its consideration. The Dannevirke Sub-Union made an application on behalf of D. G. MeKeen, who, although ho had been transferred to Woodville, was desirous of continuing to play in the Dannevirke competitions as he spent his week-ends there and ns there was no senior football in Woodville—Permission was granted in view of the circumstances.

VENUE OF GAMES. During a discussion of the allotment of tiro grounds for Saturday’s matches, Mr Penney voiced a protest at the absence of any rule governing local senior teams occupying No. 4 ground in turn. As tno position stood, the council appeared to be commercialising the oval- In his, opinion No. 4 ground was unfit for senior play, yet the Massey College team was again required to play on it on two successive Saturdays. . Mr McHerron, in agreeing with Mr Penney’s contention, stated that the United Club was prepared to take the field at 1.30 o’clock if the council so desired. . , Mr Crawford pointed out that the Kia Toa club was not desirous of occupying tiro oval on all occasions, but it was desirous of playing its matches at three o’clock, irrespective of the area allotted. • Mr Eglinton stated that the Feilding Old Boys-Massey College match last Saturday had been allotted, to the No. 4 ground owing to Mr Yates explaining that the College team would not bo at full strength, and the Old Boys-Kia Toa game was considered the greater drawing card. The speaker said his club’s senior team was prepared to abide by the wishes or the council and take the field at 1.30 p.m. if necessary. However, the two local senior teams were allotted the oval at three o’clock on Saturday, with Feilding-Massey College on No. 4 ground at the same time. _ , ‘ At the request of Mr Eglinton the following week’s fixtures were tabled, when Kia Toa and Massey College were the two local clubs drawn to oppose one another. A considerable discussion surrounded a proposal to hold the Kia Toa-Massev College game on the oval at 1.30 o’clock as b curtain-raiser to the Feilding Did Boys-United game. Mr Crawford moved an amendment, and was seconded by Mr Hardie, that the Kia ToaMassey College game be played on No. 4 ground or Park Road at 3 o’clock. The motion, however, was carried.

GENERAL. The attention of the Old Boys Club is to ho directed to the necessity for it to supply a ball, it being mentioned that the club’s 6enior team had not

supplied a ball at the Showgrounds on Saturday last. On the suggestion or Mr McHerron it was decided that the council supply a third ball for games on tire oval. On the application of Mr McHerron, A. Langstone was regraded front junior to third grade and T. Shields from senior to junior, both players being members of the United Club. The chairman commented on the state of the oval at tho Showgrounds, it being his opinion that the grass should be cut and tho posts painted. —The chairman, Mr Yates and the secretary were authorised to go into the matter, being given power to act. A further suggestion, advanced by Mr Bowler, that flags lie placed on the goal posts on the oval was also adopted. Mr McHerron spoke eulogistically of the condition of the Johnston Park area at Feilding and the general excellence of the arrangements, Mr Berry supporting him, the latter stating that tile ground was a credit to tho Feilding executive. FIXTURES. Following are the fixtures, grounds and referees for next Saturday: SENIOR GRADE. Feilding v. Massey College, No. 4, Showgrounds, 3 p.m. (Mr G. Hancock). Kia Toa v. Feilding Old Boys, No. 1, Johnston Park, Feilding, 3 p.m. (Mr W. Wilson). Palmerston North Old Boys v. United. Oval, Showgrounds, 3 p.m. (Mr H. Hands). JUNIOR GRADE. Feilding v. Y.M.C.A., No. 5, Showgrounds, 3 p.m. (Mr W. Rowland). Woodville v. Feilding Old Boys, No. 2, Johnston Parity Feilding, 3 p.m. (Mr H. Hughes). Kia Toa v. St. Patrick’s, No. 4, Showgrounds, 1.30 p.m. (Mr D. Heggie). Batteries v. Palmerston North High School, No. 5, Showgrounds, 1.30 p.m. (Mr G. Cooksley). United v. Palmerston North Old Boys A, Oval, 1.30 p.m. (Mr R. McCulloch). Bunnythorpc v. Massey College, Uunnytliorpe, 2.15 p.m. (Mr L. G. Berry). Palmerston North Old Boys B, a bye. THIRD GRADE. ’

Kia Toa v. Massey College, No. 2, Park Road, 1.30 p.m. (Mr J. O’Keefe). United v. Palmerston North Old Boys, No. 3, Park Road, 1.30 p.m. (Mr J. Dalton). St. Patrick’s v. Folding Old Boys. No. 4 Park Road, 3 p.m. (Mr R. Akuira.) , FOURTH GRADE.

Kia Toa v. Feilding High School, No. 3, Park Road, 3 p.m. (Mr G. Duthie). United win from St. 1 atrick’s (withdrawn) by default. Bunnythorpe v .Woodville, Recreation Grounds, Woodville, 2.15 p.m (Mr H. Dorrington). Palmerston North High School, a bye.

THE GAME AND ITS PLAYERS

(By “Cross Bar”.)

Last season the third grade team of the United Club emerged runners-up to Kia Toa and this year finds quite a number of those thirds representing the whites in the higher grade, ihe promotions have certainly proved justified for they have won their three games to date, whereas last year s junior combination proved capable of winning only two games although they gained another two through defaults. Lack of knowledge of the rules is apt to be expensive on occasion, and players in all grades should study the rules as soon as the new handbook comes to hand. In the junior curtainraiser at the Showgrounds, Y.M.C.A. were frequent offenders and they must, have given away 15 free kicks, whereas they only received two in return. A map in front at the kick cost the red and blues their anticipated advantage on one of the two occasions. However, senior players are almost equally guilty of committing many of the breaches which occurred. Burcliall, who has on occasion turned out for United seniors, is assisting the junior combination this year and against Y.M.C.A. he gave the white rearguard valuable assistance. The inners were apt to go too far and it was only on those odd occasions when the leather reached Burchall that any real progress was made. Thompson, on the right wing, has a good turn of speed and the pair should develop into a good scoring combination. ThompI son, unfortunately, suffered an injury j and he did not resume after the inIterval. Burchall was moved out to j fill the gap, but he was wasted there. I Although Y.M.C.A. did not manage j to head the table in the third grade 'competition last season, they elected to seek promotion to the higher grade this year. The red and blues appear to have the material to develop a well balanced combination, but they lack finish meantime. The rearguard mem-

bers are inclined to kick too much instead of retaining possession and essaying to handle, while the packing of tho forwards can be improved on. One feature of the scrummagers’ play was when they went off .in a concerted rush with the ball at their toes for they then took a lot of stopping.

A REMARKABLE SEQUENCE. biiokenTt LAST. The inability on the part of the senior combination of the Old Boys Club to halt the winning way of Kia Toa had, prior to Saturday, become a veritable “hoodoo’ and the breaking of the long sequence of reverses was very enthusiastically received by supporters of the blacks. Going back to the 1920 season “Cross Bar” found that in that year the two town clubs met on four occasions during the course of th& season’s activities, Kia Toa winning on three occasions and Old Boys once. The record of the matches in 1926 and since that year are as follows :

1926 Season. May 22.—Kia Toa 9 —3. July 3.—Kia Toa 20 —6. July 31. —Old 'Boys 9 —B. September 18.—Kia Toa 20—6. 1927 Season. May 29 —Kia Toa 9—B. July 9.—Kia Toa 9—6. September 17 —Drawn 12—'12. September 24. —Kia Toa 11 —3. 1928 Season. May 19.—Kia Toa B—s. June 30. —Kia Toa 13 —3. . August 11. —Kia Toa 13—3. 1929 Season. May 11. —Kia Toa 11 —3. June 15. —Kia Toa 13 —3. September 21.—Kia Toa 11 —6. 1930 Season. May 31.—Kia Toa 17—6. July 12.—Kia Toa 11—8. August 30.—Kia Toa 11 —3. 1931 Season. May 30.—Kia Toa 12—11. July 11.—Kia Toa B—o. August 22.—Kia Toa 7—6. IN OTHER CENTRES. CULLED FROM OTHER SOURCES. Auckland have only three home matches this season. Pctone and Poneke continued their unbeaten records on Saturday. The Merivalo Club celebrated its jubilee in Christchurch last week. Its senior fifteen played a drawn game with Sydenham on Saturday and both clubs now share the top rung of tho ladder.'

Irish Rugby enthusiasts recently discovered a new method of noise-making at international matches. They beat tin frying-pans. One suggestion was that they hoped to take home the bacon.

Leading Rugby men in Canterbury agree that under the new rules the breakaway packmen are proving every bit as bad in the off-side department as the old wing-forward.