WOODVILLE TO PLAY AS JUNIOR TEAM

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7199, 23 April 1930, Page 6

WOODVILLE TO PLAY AS JUNIOR TEAM

Rugby Council Meets JUNIOR COMPETITION IS DIVIDED INTO SECTIONS The management committee of tlio Manawatu Rugby Distx'ict Council met last evening, Mr. J. A. Colquhoun being in the chair. .Also present were Messrs Iv. W. Eglinton, P. 0. Skogr lund, H. R. Crawford, E. E. Hatch, F. D. Mackie, E. Bly, A. E. Joblin, E. Clevely and H. Hands. The Manawatu Referees’ Association forwarded the names of Messrs M. A. Gordon, A. E. McKegg, E. S. Hewitt, P. 0. Skoglund and H. Hands as referees who had been selected to control inter-provincial fixtures during tho' coming season. “I think that this matter should be referred back to tho association,” said Mr. H. Hands, who expressed the opinion that the list should be reclassified. Mr. Hands further stated that the names were submitted in order of merit and it was this order to which ho objected. He proposed bringing up the matter for further discussion by tho Referees’ Association. It "was finally decided to hold the letter over until next week, in order to give tho referees an opportunity of discussing in the interval. Feilding Agricultural High School forwarded entries for third and fourth grado teams and requested that more consideration in tho matter of travelling be accorded its teams this season. The entries were accepted and after Mr. Colquhoun had explained tho position in regard to the travelling, the opinion was expressed that the fixtures should bo regulated to help the school teams as far as possible. It was decided to pay £5 for the use of the Feilding High School grounds during the season. Re-Grading of Players. An application from the Bunnythorpe Club for the re-grading of J. Baker from senior to junior was discussed. This player last season was a member of the Athletic senior team. “This player was one of Athletic’s best forwards last 'year,” said Mr. Hands.

Mr. Clevely stated that Baker could probably play only for Bunnythorpe in home matches, as ho was unable to get away with travelling teams. “I think if these fellows can get a game senior, they should play senior. Wo have a senior team here that will probably want players before tho season is out ■ and wo want to keep the senior competition going,” said Mr. Hands,

“I could name 20 junior players who should be playing senior and if I was tho classification committee I would make sure they did so,” said Mr. Clevely. Mr. Colquhoun expressed the opinion that if Baker had been an Athletic senior last year and ho was wanted by a senior club this season, he should not be re-graded. It was decided to hold tho application over for a week, in order to ascertain the position. Woodville Re-Classified.

“On behalf of the Woodville Club, I wish to make application to be withdrawn from tho senior grade competition. My club regrets to be forced to take this step but finds that it cannot get a team of senior standard. I wish to ask that last year’s seniors be regraded as juniors,” read a letter received from tho secretary of the Woodvillo Club (MrijA. Harris). , It was decitH'd to re-classify the Woodville teatn as requested. The following members of last season’s Woodville seniors were re-graded: Burley, Charles, Jones, Hayes, Goodwin, Redwood, Deans, Morgan, McKinley, Lawrence, Smith, Burlase, Duthio and Brighouse.

The question of re-grading aroused some discussion, Mr. Mackie expressing the opinion that tho council was opening up a big question in carrying out a wholesale reclassification. The discussion centred round the question of re-grading Hutchison, a Woodville senior, who was last season selected for tho Manawatu representatives. “Hutchison is a man who would get a game in any senior team in the competition,” said Mr. Hands. Several members expressed the opinion that the player in question was of senior standard and should not bo re-graded. “I think that wo are all agreed that Hutchison is a senior player. The question is as to whether wo should consider Woodville and rc-grado him,” said Mr. Colquhoun.

Mr. Bly stated that Hutchison was tho only player of senior standard which Woodville had this season. On a show of hands, it was finally decided to refuse his reclassification. Junior Competition Divided.

It was pointed out that with 12 entries in the junior grade, this competition would be unweildy. Mr. Colquhoun moved that tho competition' be divided into A and B sections and this was carried.

Mr. Jdackie asked whether the junior A could- not be constituted a senior B grade but the chairman pointed out that the council had passed a motion not, to carry on with the senior B grade this season.,

It was decided to placo ■ United, Woodville, Massey College A, Kia Toa A, Old Boys A and Feilding in the junior A competition, and Kia Toa B, Bunnythorpe, High School, Feilding Old Boys, Massey College B and Old Boys Bin the junior B. It was resolved that thero be no. transfers between the sections without permission. Mr. Mackie then gave notice to move that the junior A section be played as a senior B competition. The duration of the senior competition was considered and it was decided io instruct the secretary to table a statement of Saturdays already engaged in order to act as a guide. Mr. J. Ryan was nominated as the Manawatu selector for the Combined Unipn.

’ The date of the annual match between the Kawau and Oroua sub-unions was fixed as May 7. The game will bp played at Feilding. Arrangements for a selector for tho North team to

play in the representative trials were left in tlie hands of Mr. T. Pagan. The North v. South representative trial will bo between Peilding and sub-union teams (North) and Palmerston North teams (South). Old Boys Club wrote entering a third grade team and applying for the re-grading of P. Greville from senior to junior. The entry of the team was accepted and Greville was re-graded. Saturday’s Games. The draw for Saturday’s games is as follows: —• Senior: Kia Toa v. Feilding, No. 1 Johnston park, 3 p.m., Mr. P. S. Hewitt; Old Boys v. Peilding, oval, Palmerston North Showgrounds, 3 p.m., Mr. A. Gordon. United a bye. Junior A: Feilding v. Kia Toa A. Palmors'ton North No. 4, 3 p.m., Mr. Dudson; Massey College A v. Woodville at Woodvillc, 2.45 p.m., Mr. H. Hands; Old Boys A v. United, oval, Palmerston North, 1.30 p.m., Mr. R. E. Hatch. Junior B: Old Boys B v. Kia Toa B, No. 4 Palmerston North, 1.30 p.m., Mr. L. G. Berry; High School v. Bunnyt’norpe at Bunnythorpe, 2 p.m., Mr. P. H. Garner; Massey College B v. Feilding Old Boys, Johnston park No. 2, 3 p.m., Mr. Robinson.