THE RUGBY SEASON

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 115, 12 April 1933, Page 9

THE RUGBY SEASON

OPENS ON A PHIL 20

44 TEAMS ENTERED,

Tn preparation for the entry upon the 1933 Rugby season n meeting of the Manawatu Rugby District Council was held last night, when entries from 44 teams in the six grades were received. Present at the meeting were Messrs A. \V. Thompson (in the chair), L. J. Plank, IC. Eglinton, T. Collins, E. Clevely, M. Murray, H. Crawford, F. D. Mackie, H. J. Hickey, R. E. Hatch, C. C. Yates, M. Bowler and L. G. Berry. 'l’iie Old Boys, United and Feilding Old Boys Clubs each lodged an objec- j tion to the season opening on April 22, ' owing to inability to muster their forces, j etc., in the time remaining. Mr Collins stated that he had sug- | gested the 22nd inst. at the annual] meeting, but he had since found that the representative programme was comparatively light. He would accordingly move that April 29 be set down for the opening day for the first four grades. Mr Crawford seconded the motion which, when put to the meeting, was carried unanimously. Mr H. F. Gibbons wrote accepting the position of patron for the incoming season, and Mr David Mitchell notified his acceptance of the position of union surgeon.—Received. Tlie Feilding Football Executive applied for an additional light at the practice ground at Johnston Park, Feilding. Provided the council, would find the lamp, the executive was prepared to find the tower and pay the cost of connection with the main supply, added the writer. Mr Collins explained that meantime a shadow was thrown on the j ground between the two existing lights, and a smaller lamp was required to obviate that inconvenience. On the motion of Mr Hatch, seconded by Mr Clevely, it was decided to accede to the request. The Kia Toa Club applied for permission to play a practice match with the Pirates Club (Wanganui) on Easter Saturday on the oval. Permission was sought to make a gate charge of sixpence to defray expenses.—Both requests were granted. The Manawatu Referees’ Association wrote making application for the usual annual grant.—An advance grant of £lO was authorised. The Linton Club made application for permsision to enter a junior team in the council’s competitions. The club’s colours would be green and white hooped jerseys.—The application was accepted as a town club, to obviate travelling to Linton. The club colours were granted.

An application from the Jac-keytown Club for permission to enter a third grade team was also accepted as a town team, although some opposition was voiced as to accepting new clubs without being under the direction of a club of senior status. All gold will be suggested to the club as its colours. TEAM NOMINATIONS.

The following nominations were received :

Senior.—Massey College, Feilding Old Boys, St. Patrick’s, Kia Toa, Old Boys, United, Feilding. Junior.—Massey College, Feilding Old Boys, Y.M.C.A., St. Patrick’s, Old Boys, Bunnythorpe, Woodville, United, Feilding, Batteries, High School, Kia Toa, Kelvin Springboks, Linton, i Third Grade. —Massey College, Feilding High School, St. Patrick’s, Old Boys, Woodville, United, Jackeytown, Kia Toa, Kelvin Springboks. Fourth Grade.—Feilding High School, Bunnythorpe, Woodville, United, High School, Kia Toa. ' Fifth Grade.—Technical School, High School. Sixth Grade.—Technical School A and B teams, High School (four teams). Mr Eglinton, in remarking that there would be a bye in the senior grade, asked whether it would be possible for Woodville to come up to senior grade. Mr Murray stated that he had tried to encourage the Woodville players to do so, but they had declined to entertain the suggestion. Meantime, they had plenty' of good forwards, but they would not be so happily placed in respect to the rearguard members, although some possessed the necessary qualifications. Mr Mackie stated that three of their best backs of last season were very doubtful players this year. One had stated that he would not play in other than senior grade, but he was at present on relieving duty away from Woodville. A newcomer whom they had been counting on had, unfortunately, been transferred to the South Island.

On Mr Yates suggesting that possibly Bunnythorpe might advance to the higher grade, Mr Clevely stated that he had endeavoured to bring that position about, but only three players had been prepared to do so, although there were other senior players in the district who were assisting senior teams in Palmerston North and Feilding. The chairman remarked that the solution promised to be difficult and the discussion lapsed.

With 14 teams nominated for the junior grade, the chairman remarked that playing the competition in two divisions appeared to be necessary. Mr Crawford thought it a pity that the Senior B competition had not been continued as it would have revealed the intentions of the clubs and .their probable strength. Some discussion ensued relative to the necessity for the teams beiiig divided into sections, and Mr Eglinton moved that this course be adopted. Mr Crawford seconded, and when put to the meeting the motion was carried. The following division was then decided upon.—A grade: Bunnythorpe, Woodville, Kia Toa, Old Boys, United, Kelvin Springboks, St. Patrick’s, Massey College. B. grade: Linton, Feilding Old Boys Y.M.C.A., Feilding, Bat. teries, and High School. On the motion of Mr Crawford, seconded by Mr Mackie, it was decided to run the competition as two distinct grades, the Offers Cup to be allocated to the B grade. On the motion of Mr Hatch, seconded by Mr Bowler, it was decided that the winning teams in the two divisions play off to determine the team to oppose the champion junior team of Horowhenua for the Rowland Cup (won last year by Woodville). Two rounds are to be played in A section and three in B.

Two rounds were decided upoli for the third grade and three for the fourth grade. Arrangements for the fiifth grade competition were left in the hands of the president, and the sixth grade was referred to the High School authorities to arrange. GENERAL.

The gate charges for the season were held over, a comiliittee composed of the president and Messrs Crawford, Yates and Hardie being- set up to bring down a report on the matter where local games were concerned, while Mr Collins was deputed to report on the Feilding grounds. The president and Mr Plank were appointed the grounds committee. Mr Thompson was again appointed sole selector for the senior representative team, Mr Clevely junior selector, and Mr Hatch selector for the third grade representatives. The customary annual seven-aside tourney was set down for Saturday, June 3, the admission charges being fixed at one shilling at the gate and sixpence at the stands.