FOOTBALL

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 35, 16 May 1938, Page 3

FOOTBALL

SATURDAY’S RESULTS BRIGHTER PI. AY SEEN The weather conditions on Saturday were ideal for football and the grounds were dry, and fast. The attraction at the reserve was the game between City seniors and' Te Huia. The latter team was .a greatly improved team after their poor display on tlie previous Saturday and should mould into! quite a good club team. The backs attempted many passing bouts and only faulty passing kept their score down. The passing attunes on both sides was very poor and the backs-are far. too prone to run across the field instead ■ of running straight. Alany of the passes were thrown to the feet. the City half failing badly in this .respect. Scrum work so far this year lias been very poor and it is very rare for the ball to come out cleanly and when it does it usually beats tlie half/ From' a' spectator’s point of view the match was quite good to watch being full of incident with both sides showing enterprise for the beginning of the season and throwing the ball about well. The referee was not too severe with the whistle and this speeded up the game somewhat. 'City kicked off with a dull sun behind them. Play - was quite good from the start, with City looking as if they should come out on top. Te Huia worked down the field and. from near the line AI. Delamere scored. The kick missed. Te Huia '3. City 0.

City attacked and good passing resulted in Ale Donald getting over near the corner flag. The 'kick was disallowed. To Huia 3, City 3. Te Huia were prominent in a rusli and AlaUi Delamere secured and cut almost through tlie ojiposition before kicking. The ball went over the lino and City forced. The Te Huia backs then handled well in a passing bout. Fortunes quickly changed when AleQuinn secured and running nearly 50 yards broke right away to score under. the liar. Ashdown took the kick and converted.

City 8, Te Huia. 3. Even play followed and then Te Huia kept City penned in their own half. The City forwards finally broke away with the ball at toe but just missed souring. A free kick to Te Huia gained a good 25 yards. City were then given a free kick and Ashdown missed the posts from a handy position. A rush by Te: Huia saw the City men completely beaten and the ball went over the line for F. Hutt to touch down. The kick struck the post and rebounded 1 into the field. - City 8. To Huia G. After half time Te Huia had City badly bustled and a City player carried the ball behind the dead line to ,<avc. Play was very exciting at this stage and Te Huia again kicked over the line for City to force. The Reds (Te Huia) kept up the pressure and relief came to City when Te Huia were penalised. The City were tiring badly at this stage and: backing up was conspicuous by its absence. A penalty was awarded against Te Huia but* the Reds kept up the attack and from their own half went to the City line where a scrum took place, resulting in Te Huia scoring in the corner. The kick went wide. Te Huia 9. City 8. From play in the City half Starkev (City) put in a good solo effort and looked like scoring Imt was just touched by an opponent and thrown off balance finally falling over near the line. City rallied and tried hard to score keeping the Reds penned up in their own 25. At this stage M'ortenson (To Huia) received 1 a nasty kick on the head and the game was field up for a long period. Later the injured player came on the field again. The rest freshened up the City players who played with dash right to the end. City reached the Te Hui aline but a scrum was given. Ashdown had a shot at goal but the ball went wide. Play then went to midfield and a Te Huia man got offside. Ashdown decided nob to take a joiig kick at goal but put the baltr-well up and a scramble tpolc, place ,on the line. A series of scrums followed and from close- to the posts Starkey secured and cut through nicely and scored alongside the posts. The game ended with the final scores:'

•> City 11. Te Huia 9. The game was handled 1 very well by. Mr J. Parkinson. The junior game resulted: High School 17, Waioeka 5. O.M.P. met P.W.I). on the Showgrounds and had a fairly comfortable win by 12 points to 3. The junior game on this ground was between Te Huia and O.M.P. and resulted in a win for the former by 3 points to nil _

MEETING OF BAY UNION TOUR. OF SOUTH ISLAND PRINCE OF WALES’ CUP MATCH. FOR OPOTIKI A meeting of delegates of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union was held at Matata during the week-end, the president, Mr W. T. Burretf presiding over a good attendance. • The main business- centred around the arrangements l'cr the coming tour of the representatives of the South. Island. A number of other matters were also dealt witn. Reporting on the recent New Zealand Rugby Union meeting at Wellington the secretary of the Bay Union, Mr W. S. -Henderson, said that the Bay of Plenty had supported MiMark Nicholls’ election rys sole selector, and Mr F. T. French and Mr F. W. Lucas as North Island selectors. However Mr Nicholls was definitely; offside with the Rugby Union. Mr Henderson said the Rugby Union was adopting a more liberal policy. The balance- sheet showed a lot of money invested in Government bonds, but the correct attitude would be- that the profits should be invested in the game itserf. Mr Burrett said that home representative matches this season would include the Prince of- Males’ Cup match at Opotiki. This would be played on June 25. Expenses would be borne by the New Zealand Rugby Union, and the Opotiki Union wouldget a share of 10 per cent, with a limit of £5 for running the match. The Bay of Plenty Union secretary would -attend to ’ the accommodation of teams. There was usually a substantial loss on this game, but it would be borne by the New Zealand Union. Mr Burrett said that- arrangements had been made to entertain the teams at a function at Omarumutu, eight miles from Opotiki. The chairman was perfectly satisfied that the Opotiki Maoris would run the affair well. They had assured him that they were confident of success. Mr Bird (Galatea) suggested that the game should .be played at Wliakatane, with the catering done from Poroporo where there were better facilities than at Omarumutu. Msr Burrett said he was quitch-sat-isfied with the Opotiki arrangements. He felt sure that the match would be largely attended by Maoris from the Galatea and Whakatane districts. It was to be hoped that it was successful, as it was the Bay of Plenty’s first game in this competition, and the Bay was part of the district that held the cup.

The match against Central Hawke’s Bay to be played at Tauranga came in for discussion. Mr Burrett said that the team would not he fully representative of the Bay, at the request of the visitors. It would he -picked from Te Puke and Tauranga, with perhaps one or twooutsicle men.

The T.e Puke delegates pointed out that it was a Wednesday fixture, and that the recent choice of Saturday as a half-day in Tauranga would probab--]y affect the gate. Te Puke had a half-holiday on Wednesday, and would like the match. The Tauranga sub-union agreed to this, and, it was decided to communicate with Central Hawke’s Bay. Suggested Match With Auckland. A match with Auckland was also discussed when Mr Henderson reported that lie had written to Auckland concerning a game at M hakatane. The executive was authorised to arrange the game, on a guarantee basis of £2O. Auckland had already made application to the New Zealand Rugby I’nion for a propaganda grant. (Authority was given the secretary to purchase a members gold life medallion to be presented to the widow of the late Mr C. A. Clarke, Rotorua, whose ddatli occurred before lie could he given the token.

First Shield Caine. l *p\. Because of the Bay of Plenty Representative team’s tour of the South Island, it has been decided that the opening of the Te Hurinui. ; Apanui Memorial Shield games should be delayed a week. The first challenge Rangitaiki will meet will be July 2. THE SOUTH ISLAND TOUR arrangements made Arrangements for the tour of the South Island by the Bay of Plenty ■representative Rugby team were made at a special meeting of the Union ( at Matata during the week-end, and a decision was taken in regard to the method of selection of the team which it was decided will consist of twenty players and a manager, oue more than the Ne>v Zealand Rugby Union 'had recommended. The position of manager went to All* T. Anderson, Rangitaiki, erne of the selectors, after a ballot in which Mr G. Peebles siild Mr MicE'wan, another selector, were the defeated nominees.

The question of the tour was opened by, the president,• Mr W. T. Barrett, who- detailed the financial arrangements made. He said that tlie Bay’s delegates to. the annual meeting of the parent Union in Wellington found intense enthusiasm shown by the representatives ..of the southern unions concerned. The guarantees would he £l2O each from Canterbury, Southland, Otago, and £lO from South Canterbury, the New Zealand Union naming the nominal sum oi £25 as its guarantee, hut giving the assurance that it won Id meet a loss up to £75. Mr Ryan said that he thought the arrangements'" had been rushed. He thought the New Zealand Union should give more notice in future. Mr Guinness, one of the Bay delegates to Wellington, said that when they arrived theyl were told that about £4OO would be guaranteed. Mr Parata had done all the .spade' work and the delegates only knew,, of tne terms of the tour On the morning ol the, meeting. “It was a question, more or less of take it or leave it, and it looked so good that we decided to take it,” he added. Mr Henderson said they liad tried to get the date set hack, but the South Island will lie visited by six teams during the season an 1 the Bay

had to'- takcx the date-or leave it. . MF .they must got behind the : tour.' Tduranga supported it to the utmost, and he seconded a motion by Mr H. (Anderson that the touigo forward. The proposal of the executive was that two series cf games should he. played, the first at Waakatane on May 21 to consist of matcTes between Tauranga-Te Puke combined, AYhaka-tane-Rangitaiki combined, ltotoruaGalatea combined and Opotiki-Apanui combined. This would be followed on the next Saturday by a Possibles v... Probables game, the teams being pick-1 ed by the Bay selectors from the men ' in tho inter-union games. The select-: ors had called for nominations from the unions of men . able to' tour and worthy of selection particulars of their ages, playing positions, etc. being supplied. ' . ••- , •' Mr Anderson skid the selectors ap-] proved of this . scheme, hut he was; opposed by. Mr Burt wild said that he-, would Tike, to see the first round .bib the Parata Cup games played instead, of the trials. The selectors could attend these games and there would lie more players seen in action. Mr Burrett said that wliat the selectors wanted was to see the best men in each union. It was confusing;, the issue if the selectors had'to watch'' players who wore unable to travel. Mr Henderson, in support, said that the* selectors could go outside the union’s choices if they wished, and Mr Burrett, continuing, said the time was very short, and unless the sub-unions were prepared to do a little bit of work the selectors would be in trouble. Mr Bird thought it would cost a lot to assemble the players at Whukatane.

Mr Burrett said the question was whether the suo-uuions would enter nominations. The unions would be combined, he 'said, and would play in ai central position such as "YVliakatane or M’atata. Under Mr Burt’s suggestion, said Air Burrett, the selectors would only; have the filial game to judge their mc|i on. Some of the PaPata Cup matches wouil not be seen bv the selectors. «\ Mr Guinness said the trials should be.flayed! as suggested, with the team provisionally picked alter May 21. The players should be assembled in Rotorua on June 3, and they would be in Christchurch on Sunday, playing their first game cm Monday, June 6.

Mr Wederell was also iu favour of the proposal. The team picked on Saturday could be tried out against another, team.

Mr Guinness said that Mr. AY. .7. Wallace was prepared to take the

tealh on Saturday morning when it arrived in Wellington and coach it, if fine, on one of the grounds, and it wet, intone of the training sheds. This was a very fine oiler. (Applause.) It was generally agreed that the proposal of the executive was a good one and . Air Browning moved that.it be carried out. To test the .feeling of the meeting Mr Ryan moved The amendment that the unions hold the first round of their Parata Cup games next Saturday, and that a trial match bo played on j Wednesday. , Mr T. Anderson thought it would be hard for the men to get off to play. Mhny of the players were working men, and they might miss the chance ■of a .trip if a Wednesday, trial was played. The executive’s proposal was agreed to. On Mr Henderson’s motion the proposal to play the trials at Whakatane was adopted. It was decided that- .one selector from each sub-union should be nominated to select each of the four trial amalgamated union teams. A draw for the order of play resulted: Rotorim•Galatea meets Whakatane-Rangitaiki at 1.30 and Opotiki-Apanui meets Tauranga-Te Puke at 3 p.nvl The subunions are to make their own arrangements about gear. Mr H. Anderson said that he thought the emergencies should get a trial at half-time, and that any outstanding men should be taken off then, but this was opposed by Air Burrett who said that the best men should play on as good men kept the team going.

It was decided that- the selection cf the teams for the Probables and Possibles match be left in the hands cf the Bay .selectors, and that the men, before they went on the field, be toll that they, all had a chance of selection in the touring team. Air T. Anderson said that. Alatata never got a representative match, and liis motion that_) the final trial be placed on the 28th at Alatata was adopted. IV charge of Is 6d was decided 0 n for all the games, and it was decided to start the Alatata game at--2.15 p.m. The discussion on the number of players to tour caused some division of opinion. Air Henderson said that the N.Z.R.U. suggested that .1.9 players and a manager should tour, and Air Oarke moved! to this effect. Air Henderson added that there were four Rotorua players in Dunedin, and Otago assured him that they would be available if:.-'the Bay team needed replacements. : The men were Steele. Berghan, Parker and Simpson.

Apa mil's delegate, Air ltiordan, said

- -- ■ ■ ■■ I 7, • v ■ /'• y, - it was the first time the Bay had '" sent a team to tour the South island, and a proper team sliQu.l<£jJ)e More liieh should go. men shotild go, but it was pointed that tho -Bay would have to find extra money, and that 19 players considered enough to send on tour ..to': • Fiji. An amendment that 20 pjayexs be Sent was carried by an overwlilbilling majority. Nominations for* manager were then called. They, included Air P. J. Burt (who Said he was too old)j‘ Alr Guinness (who said he was not .over keen, , and would only be available ;if in solo control), Air G. Peebles (nominated by . Air Short"), Air Burrett (who said lie was not available), Air Clark (who said he had. just come hack from Sydney and could not manage the trip), and. Air Browning. >.-<>•

All* Clarke said he thought the extra man in the team should be. a representative of the Native race..; It would be a nice gesture. Air T. Anderson was nominated by MY Clarke and then Air Mcifiwan another-select- , or, was brought forward by Air Ryan. A ballot was then taken, and Air Anderson headed the poll, closely followed by All* Peebles. The president asked whether this vote should he treated as ail, elimination contest, and another vote taken to decide between the two leaders, but tlie meeting thought tji.'.t the first past the post system -was fair enough.

It was decided: after discussion, that the team should assemble in Rotorua on Friday, June 3.