Rugby Affairs in Manawatu District

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6838, 20 April 1932, Page 8

Rugby Affairs in Manawatu District

COUNCIL PREPARES FOR, COMING SEASON. Mr. J. A. Colquhouu (President) was in the chair at the meeting of the Manawatu Rugby district council, held last evening. There were also present Messrs. F. D. Mackie, Iv. Eglinton, T. Pagan, H. Crawford, E. Clevcly, T. MeHerron, H. Hands, J. R. Hardie, A. \V. Thompson, C. Yates, L. G. Berry, M. Bowler, N. Penny. Before commencing the business of tho meeting, tho president extended a welcome to tho now members ol' the council and expressed the hope that the season would be a successful one.

Correspondence. The Bunnytliorpo club wrote asking for two homo games at the beginning of the season.—Referred to the fixtures committee. The Eeilding executive wrote asking if the council would consider the erection of a shelter for the man in charge of the scoring board at Johnston park. The letter stated that the material required was estimated to cost £2/10/and that tho Eeilding executive would find the necessary labour.—lt was decided to make a donation (£2/10/-) towards the cost of material for the shelter.

The Y.M.C.A. club wrote applying to have A. Stopfort regraded from senior to junior status. —Tho request was granted but Mr. Mcllerron entered a protest against the regrading of a senior player, his contention being that if a senior had to bo regraded he should give the game up.

Advice was received to tho effect that Mr. Berry had been appointed to represent the primary schools on tho council.—Received.

The Batteries club wrote applying to be affiliated and entering a (cam in the junior competition, also stating that tho club’s colours would bo red ana blue jerseys, black shorts and red topped stockings. Tho letter also asked that J. P. Joyce (Alhambra, Dunedin, last played 3924) and G. V. B. Ensor (H. 5.0.8., Napier, jlast played, 3927) be regraded.—lt was resolved to grant the club affiliation and to approve of the proposed colours. Joyce and Ensor were regraded as requested. Gymnasium Nights. Nights for practice at the gymnasium were fixed for tho season as follows: Old Boys (Tuesday), United (Wednesday), Kia Toa (Thursday) and St. Patrick’s (Friday). Fixtures Committee, The following fixtures committee was appointed: Messrs Colquhoun and P. O. Slcoglund. The appointment of the selector was held over till tho next meeting. Seven-a-side Tourney.

The question of the seven-a-side tournament was raised and it was decided to go ahead with the arrangements for the annual fixture on tho King’s birthday (Juno 3). Show Football. Tho president stated that the subcommittee had discussed the matter ot show football with the A. and P. Association but apart from the To AutoP.N.B.H.S. game on tho Wednesday, no finality had been reached. He had noticed since, however, that tho A. and P. Association were going to ask for tho North v. South match on tho Saturday. Mr. Pagan suggested it would be a pity if the council did not make an effort to get one of tho ManawatuHorowhenua games during show week. Tho president ventured tho opinion that June was rather early for representative matches.

Mr. Hardie agreed and said that the council would lose one of tho big gates if tho game were played during the show. The president moved that the Oroua and Tc Kawau sub-unions be written to advising them that the council regretted that the A. and P. Association did not desire that tho annual game between the sub-unions should be played during show week.

Mr. Pagan suggested that the subunions should be asked to play the game before June IS in order to give the selectors a cbancc of seeing the players in action.

This was added to the motion, which was carried. Teams Entered. Tho following teams have been entered for tho various competitions: Senior Grade. P.N. Old Boys, Eeilding Old Boys, Kia Toa, Eeilding, Massey Collcgo and United. Junior Grade. Eeilding, Eeilding Old Boys, Kia Toa, Massey College, P.N. Old Boys (two teams), United, Bunnytliorpo, Batteries’ Football Club, St. Patrick’s, Y.M.C.A., Woodvillo and P.N. High School. Third Grade. Kia Toa, Massey - College, P.N. Old Boys, United, Kelvin Springboks, Eeilding Agricultural High School and St. Patrick’s. Fourth Grade. Kia Toa, United, Bunnytliorpo, St. Patrick’s, Woodvillo and P.N. High School. Fifth Grade. Technical School, P.N. High School (two teams). Sixth Grade. Technical School (two teams), P.N. High School (4 teams).

Number of Teams. Eeilding (2), Eeilding Old Boys(2), Kia Toa (4), Massey Collcgo (3), l’.N. Old Boys (4), United (4), Bunnythorpe (2) Batteries (1), Kelvin Springboks (1), Eeilding High School (2), St. Patrick’s (3), Y.M.C.A. (1), Technical (3) Woodvillo (2), P.N. High School (S). The secretary (Mr. C. W. White), who represented the Manawatu Rugby District Council, at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby -Union, gave a brief outline of the business of the meeting. Ho said that it had been decided to recommend to all unions in New Zealand that they should adopt the 3-men-in- tlie-front-of-the-serum- formation during tho season, though it was not absolutely necessary that the 3-2-3 scrum should bo enforced. Mr. Yvhito explained that there was not much business transacted at Hie meeting and that the bulk of tho time was taken up discussing tho relative moiits of the two scrum formations. Mr. White stated that the only date lie could get for tho Maori match was July 9 and that the Union would rcceivo 33 1-3 per cent, of tho gate. Other dates lixed were: Manawhcnua v Masterton, at Masterton, on August 27- v. Taranaki, at. Stratford, on September 1; v. Wanganui, at Wanganui, on September 3; v. Hawke’s Bay, at Palmerston North, on September i; v. Wellington, at Palmerston North, on September 17.

Scrum Formation. Tho president asked if tho council intended to make any recommendation to clubs in regard to the scrum formation. Mr. Eglinton moved that it be a recommendation from the council that clubs be asked to play threo men in the front row of tlio scrum. Mr. Hardie seconded the motion and it was carried.

Junior Competition. Mr. Clevcly observed that there were 13 teams in the junior competition and suggested that tho council should consider tho advisability of dividing the competition into two sections, and added that the question should be threshed out before the competition started. Mr. Mackie stated it would take three months to play one round.

Mr. Crawford asked what wouid be v/rong with one round followed by the sudden-death, competition. Mr. Yates moved that tho competition bo divided into two sections, tlio six strongest teams to compriso tlio A section, the teams to bo Old Boys, Kia Toa, High School, Bunnythorpe, Woodvillc and St. Patrick’s. Mr. Crawford moved as an amendment that the competition be played in one round, the advisability of carrying on with a second round to be considered at the end of tho first round. The amendment was carried on the voices. A further amendment that, the competitions be reviewed after six playing Saturdays was lost and Mr Crawford’s amendment carried as the motion. In regard to a proposal put forward by Mr. McHcrron, Mr. Hardie was asked to submit an estimate of the cost of installing flood lights at Park road ground, providing sufficient light for one team to train.