Rugby in Manawatu

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 96, 26 April 1939, Page 2

Rugby in Manawatu

MEETING OF UNION EXECUTIVE Mr. A. M. Ongley presided at a meeting of the management committee of the Manawatu Rugby Union last evening. The Ashburton Rugby Union wrote suggesting a game with Manawatu as a part of a northern tour in July and August. The chairman stated that the inquiry raised tho whole question of representative matches as a policy. If ten or a dozen representative games were played all on a Saturday, there would be no days for club football. The matter was held over till after the Wellington conference. The New Zealand Union advised that tho following remit had been received for the annual meeting.—H.B. Union: That the selection of tho New Zealand side to tour South Africa in 1940, be deferred till May, 1940. The chairman thought the remit far reaching. The bout left early iu May. Mr. Skogluud: Hawke’s Bay contends there is no need to leave then.

The chairman: Yes, they think there are two many matches on the tour and that it could bo curtailed. It was left to the Manawatu delegates to the New Zealand annual conference to vote on the question as they think best when they hear all particulars, it being pointed out that the New Zealand Union may have already committed itself too far to make any altrera-

The New Zealand Union also advised that Auckland had forwarded the following remit: That for the purpose of selecting the New Zealand team for South Africa, district and regional trials be held. At least four such trials should bo held in tho North Island and three in the South Island, followed by a Possible v. Probable match in each Island, the final selection of the team to bo made in a New Zealand Possible v. Probable match to be played at the close of the present season or early in the 1940 season. The Manawatu delegates to the New Zealand conference were given a free hand in this matter also. The Railway Football Club wrote asking for the use of Rugby Park on Sundays and preparing to pay a rental of £s.—Granted, provided there is no objection from the City Council. United Club applied for the regrading of C. Collins and I. McEwen from junior to third grade.—Granted. Selectors were appointed as follows: Senior, Mr. J. A. Colquhoun; junior, Mr. E. Clevely; third grade, Mr. W. Mitchell. Saturday’s Games. Senior.—Feilding v. United, oval, 1.30 p.m., referee Mr. A. Weston; F. 0.8. v. P.N. 0.8., Johnston Park, Feilding, 3 p.m., Mr. A. Neville; Kia Toa v. St. Pats, oval, 3 p.m., Mr. C. Eglinton. Juniors.—Kia Toa v. Woodville, at Woodville, 3 p.m., Mr. J. Burgess; Bunnythorpe v. St. Pats at Bunnythorpe, 3 p.m., Mr. W. Bailey; F. 0.8. v. Old Boys, No. 2 Park Road, 3 p.m., Mr. A. Young; University default to United. Fixtures for the season as drawn up by Mr. P. O. Skoglund were adopted. The need for conserving the oval at the Showgrounds was urged by Mr. K. Eglinton on behalf of the grounds committee and the report was backed up by the chairman who said he had always been of opinion that the oval was given too much ■work -with the result that it cut up half way through the season and became dangerous. The time might come when the union would have to consider only one gamo there on a Saturday. The schools used the ground during the -week. After discussion it was decided to allow the use of the oval for school football only on special occasions. Improvements to the dressing accommodation at Rugby Park are to be undertaken. A grant of £2O was made the Primary Schools Association for football work. It was decided to send a lettter to the Te Ivawau sub-union regretting that it had to go into recess this year and expressing tho wish that it would be able to function again the following season.

Tho secretary was instructed to approach tho A. and P. Association with the view of getting the use of its broadcasting system in between matches.

The midget competition will start on May 27, the games being played in between oval matches.