Two Shield Matches To Be Played On Saturday

Northern Advocate, 22 August 1945, Page 5

Two Shield Matches To Be Played On Saturday

Matches for the Harding and Brake Shields, premier senior and junior Rugby trophies in Northland, will be played next Saturday.

The holders of the shields. Northern Wairca, protested against having to play for both trophies on the same day, and referred the matter to the controlling authority, the North Auckland Rugby Union. To consider this question, a meeting of the management committee of the union was held in Whangarei today, when it was decided that both games were to be played next Saturday, August 25.

At the meeting, Mr H. E. G. Smith was in the chair, in the absence of the president <Mr J. Finlavson), and. alter detailing the reason for the calling of the meeting, a dispute between the two sub-unions as to the date of the Brake Shield match, he said that it was for the management committee to settle this dispute under the rules governing the shield competitions. Mr Smith then called upon the two subunions concerned to stale the case. Northern Wairoa speaking first.

Wairoa’s Position.

For this sub-union', Mr R. Murdoch explained that his sub-union considered that junior football was just as important as senior football. The finances of the sub-union had suffered through the war, and it was only this season that these conditions had improved thro.ugh the loyal support of the public of the Wairoa area. It was this public support .that had enabled the sub-union to send teams after the Harding and Brake Shields, at a cost of ever £l5O. The sub-union owed a duty to the public and desired that the two matches be not played on the same day. Support for these views was given by Mr A. Mackie, chairman of the management committee of the Northern Wairoa sub-union. Whangarei Makes an Offer. Whangarei's position was explained by Mr E. Cumming, who stated that, with (he schedule of matches arranged for the season and dates allocated, it was difficult now to alter the programme, while a number of junior players were school boys who had been retained in Whangarei for the match, although they were on holiday from school. He then suggested that the games be played on Saturday, but that Northern Wairoa take the whole of the gate moneys, paying Whangarei only the expenses of its two teams, this amounting to £3B. In this connection it should be noted that under the rules governing the shield matches, the takings at Harding Shield matches are divided equally between the holders and challengers, while with the Brake Shield the holders take all. At the suggestion of the chairman, the delegates from both sub-unions then withdrew to discuss Whangarei's suggestion. On resumption of the meeting, however, it was explained that the Wairoa delegates were bound by the decision of the management committee of that sub-union, which was that the Brake Shield match should be played on September 1, and no agreement could be reached. Decision Made.

The chairman asked for a resolution, and then moved that both matches be played on Saturday. August 25, as originally set down and as carried by the emergency committee meeting on Monday. This was seconded by Mr W. F. Berry. An amendment was moved by Mr Murdoch, and seconded by Mr R. Morrison, that the Harding Shield match be played on Saturday, but that the Brake Shield match be not played till Saturday. September 1. The amendment was lost and the motion carried, the voting being five to two, Mr Murdoch asking that his vote be recorded against the motion.

He also gave notice of motion that at the next meeting of- the North Auckland Union's management committee he would move that the motion just passed by rescinded. Otamatea's position regarding the Brake Shield contest was also discussed. this sub-union not being able, through inability to secure a permit for transport, to travel on the date set down for its challenge match. The meeting decided to grant Otamaiea permission to play for the shield, the date for the match to be mutually arranged by the sub-unicns concerned and approved by the North Auckland Union.