RUGBY FOOTBALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23759, 12 September 1940, Page 16

RUGBY FOOTBALL

VISITS TO COUNTRY transport difficulties GRAMMAR CLUB'S RECORD The recent pronouncement of the No. 1 Licensing Authority on tlie subject of country trips by football teams was referred to bv members <)1 the Auckland Rugby Union last evening, when applications were received, through the junior management board, for permission for lower-grade club teams to fulfil engagements in various country centres, including To Arpha, Tauranga, Waiuku and Whangarei. The chairman, Mr. A. Baker, said the union had been anxious all along to cooperate with the authorities in conserving benzine to the fullest extent, possible, and early in the season had requested clubs, when outside matches were being considered, to arrange to travel by train wherever possible. , . Mr. G. Orrell said that in many instances rail travel 'was out of the question. The chairman added that the matter was really oulsido the union's" sphere. All it was asked to do by the clubs was to grant them permission to play outside matches, and how they got there was their own affair. If they travelled by bus, and had a permit from the authorities, then there was nothing the union could do, other than reaffirm that it preferred clubs to travel by rail whenever possible. , ... Mr. ,U. Farrell said the decision as to whether or not teams travelled by bus rested on the responsible authorities, not on the Rugby Union. The applications for permission to travel were granted. ~ , . . Reference was made by the chairman to fatalities among Auckland footballers serving in tho Royal Air, Force. He said that L. Rasmussen and D. O. Rewii, whose deaths had been reported from overseas, were both members of the Grammar Old Boys fourth grade team last year, while G. de \ ero --J,'!? victim of a recent accident at the New l l>mouth aerodrome, had played this year for the successful North Shore intermediate team. A resolution of sympathy with the relatives of these players was carried.

It was stated that the Grammar Old Boys' Club, in winning the Southland Shield this season, had put up a record by gaining a | l>crccntage of Od.Ufi, the highest i/i the liistory (if the competition. The chairman said it was a very fine performance and reflected credit on the club. The North lAuckland Rugby Union wrote in reference to the case of K. Arinitsige, whose status as a bona fide resident of North Auckland, when he played for North Auckland against Auckland recently, had been called into question. The North Auckland Union stated that, before being selected, Arinitage had played four games for Ruawai seniors and one for the Northern Wairoa Sub-Union representatives. He had been appointed headmaster of the Maungaturoto High School and was now a permanent resident of that district. In playing him, the North Auckland Union had acted in good faith The letter was received. The Grammar C lub wrote offering to undertake the liability for the supply of photographs to the members of its winning teams this season, thus relieving the union of tlie I expense in a difficult year. The chairman said the offer was a very fine, one and should be accepted in the spirit of co-operation in which it had been made. A motion to this effect was carried. Mr. li. Meek reported that arrangements had been made for the staging of schoolboys' seven-a-side matches during the intervals at Eden Park on the next two Saturdays. GAMES IN THE PROVINCE Mangatawhlrl:—The Mangatawhiri senior representative team to play Taupiri on Saturday is as follows: —W.' Branch, .T. Walters, M. Taupo, T. Belcher, P. Kewish, N. Edwards, Kereopa. H. Peepi, W. Dean, Alan Ohipman. C. Mrßobbie, O. Nepia. R. Ewe. 0. Wilson, D. Whisky, V. Parker, Athol Chipman, .T. McKenzie, D. McKcnzie.