RUGBY FOOTBALL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 31 March 1936, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

THE NELSON UNION MA N A CEMENT COM M ITT EE MEETING ANNUAL REFEREEo CONFERENCE The Nelson Rugby Union Management Committee held a meeting in Lock’s rooms lust evening when there were present Messrs J. I*'. Potter (President). H. M. Richardson and H. F. iriilcock (vice-presidents), D. D. Merritt (Old Boys), D. E. Johnson (Treasurer), R. H. Mctliven (College), N. S. Tankersley (Referees), 11. Williams (Regimental), IT. McPherson (Rover), E. .MacGregor (Waimea), T. Austin (Rival), A. Mcllwraitli (Nelson), L. Trotter (Schools), E. J. Lock (secretary). The president- extended a welcome to the, new and old members to the management committee and expressed the hope that the season would be a successful one.

A letter was received from the Nelson Referees’ Association requesting an increase in the sunt of £3 which was granted towards the expenses of a reteree attending the annual meeting of the New Zealand Association. Mr Tankerslev explained that it would cost- £8 to send a delegate to New Plymouth. No action was taken. Mr McPherson expressed dissatisfaction with the practice of the New Zealand Referees’ Association in moving the annual meeting each year to any place between Auckland and the Bluff. "He considered the venue ol the meeting should be fixed in Wellington. He moved that the Nelson Referees’ Association be recommended, to. move for the centralisation of the annual meeting. The president Sferiid the moving of the conference had the advantage of giving a number of centres direct interest in tile Association, but it resulted in heavy expenditure to some of the smaller unions. He seconded the motion. Mr Tankerslev said the Nelson Association was in favour of centralising the annual conference at Wellington. The motion was carried. NOMINATION OF TEAMS It, was decided that nominations of teams and classification lists be received up to next Monday. The following committees were elected : Classification : Whole committee. Finance: Messrs Merritt, McPherson, secretary and treasurer. Emergency committee: Messrs McPherson. Merritt and secretary. Fixtures: Mr Merritt. It was decided that the fixtures committee submit the draw for the matches and the grounds for the junior and lower grades, and the draw only for the seniors, the finance committee to allot the grounds for the senior competition. ■ Mr Silcock was appointed steward at Trafalgar Park. It was decided that the clubs be asked to notify the Union of their intended training nights so that hours of lighting at the Park can bo allotted. The recommendation of the annual meeting to grant the SI. John Ambulance £5 was referred to the finance committee for report. The Regimental Club was granted permission to change their colours to light blue jerseys. SCHOOL FOOTBALLS ,Mr Trotter pointed out that at Iho Seddon Shield Districts’ Primary Schools tournament the balls used were of a smaller size than the usual match size and tlie Nelson team found them hard to control. He therefore asked that (lie footballs provided this year-be of the smaller size.

A motion that the balls for school use be the same as those used at the tournament, was carried.

JUNIOR CUP It was decided that the new cup offered by Mrs Moller for one of the Rugby competitions be accepted and that it replace the present junior cup which has now been used for 50 years, and which is nearly covered with names and dates. “BANTAM" SEVEN-A-STD'ES Mr Richardson asked if there was any possibility of re-introducing (he school “bantam” seven-a-sides at half time in the senior matches again this year. It was decided to ask the schools’ delegate to arrange for those matches this season. Mr Tankcrsley pointed out that the seven-a-sides might further delay the return of teams to the field after half time, On the suggestion of Mr Richardson the delegates are to interest their clubs in seven-a side football with a view to reviving the seven-a-side tournaments which proved so successful in past years. THOSE MASQUERADING SENIORS Mr Tankersley said there were still doubts in the minds of many regarding the position of football in the country. He asked if it was not still possible to arrange for a,conference of the three clubs, with a view to coming to a more satisfactory arrangement. The president said it seemed little use taking any action in view of the decisions of" the annual meeting. The country clubs bad all given an assurance that they could field full and improved teams, and they had been given direct advice of what would happen in the case of a default. Mr Metliven asked if the committee. when considering classifications, would accept as seniors some of those who masqueraded as seniors last year. ANNUAL MEETING N.Z.R.U. Mr D. D. Merritt was appointed to represent the Nelson Union at the annual meeting of tho N.Z.R.U. in Wellington. Mr J. \V. Simpson, of Wellington, is to he asked to be the other delegate.