HOROWHENUA RUGBY UNION.

Otaki Mail, 30 May 1930, Page 3

HOROWHENUA RUGBY UNION.

MEETING OF DISTRICT COUNCIL. The wucklv meeting of the Horo-' wkonua Rugby District Council took place on Tuesday evening, when there were present: Messrs J.-McGill (President) 11. J. Jones, G. Mitchell, L. McCarthy, -M. McLean, W. Childs, S. Elliott, S. Hooper, J. \V. Rimmer, > H. Richards,, R. Watts, J.-Casey and M. Winiata. ' ® ORDERED OFF FOR TRIPPING.. Mr Ec 'Smith, referee in tho Para-paraumu-Wandcrcrs junior match at Paraparaumu reported Having ordered a Paraparaumu player, G. Ropata, off the field for tripping a Wanderer player, which he considered was done intentionally. He also reported there was every possibility of Paraparaumu putting in a protest for a disallowed penalty kick, as ho over-ruled the touch judge ,who gave it as a goal. The referee said he was standing right behind tho kicker and the ball went about a foot or a little more outside and he accordingly gave it “no goal.’" | The touch judgo gave Ills decision that ■ it swerved , after it crossed the bar, | but the referee held that the ball was outside right from tlio kick. The Secretary of the Paraparaumu Club wrote stating that, recognising that tripping was illegal, they did not 'wish to 1 condone Ropata’s action, but as it did not.appear deliberate, they thought the referee was too severe and that a warning would have been sufficient as Ropata was a young player who iiad not been warned before for illegal tactics. Tho Club asked that the Council deal leniently with the offender. The letter criticised tin' referee as being incapable of keeping up -with the play and having no control over the game, which at times was in danger of degenerating into a melee. The Committee, of the Paryparnumu Club had decided that they would not take the field again under the referee. ~

The President said that according to the ruling they could not take evidence from onlookers. It had been decided that even a member of the Council could not bring in a complaint or protest. It had to go through the proper channel. It was not a right thing for the secretary of a Club to say whether the referee was Wrong. Mr McLean • thought a Club should have the right to approach the -Council through its -secretary. The President: But he is criticising the referee ( and says the game was degenerating into a melee. The referee is the sole judge of fact.

The reference to the referee was left to •'the Referees’ Association to deal. with.

In regard to Ropata, it was proposed to follow the usual course of suspending him till he appeared before the Union. Mr. Elliott pointed out that coming, to Levin from Paraparaumu involved heavy expense upon- a player, especially a junior. It was therefore. decided to ask for an explanation by letter, the player to be suspended till this was forthcoming. (At a later stage in tho meeting this decision was rescinded and Ropata was suspended for one playing Saturday). PROTEST AGAINST WANDERERS.

The Foxton Club entered a protest against the win registered by Wanderers Seniors last Saturday for playing Skelton; who was a member of the County team, for whom he played against Foxton. They understood no transfer had, been put through for him from County to Wanderers.

Mr Hooper said Skelton was a Wanderer and played for that Club in the first Cup match this season. The Secretary (Mr Casey) said the protest was not in order as it was not accompanied by the fee. Skelton belonged to the Wanderers Club, and when he played for County, if County had won, Foxton could have successfully- protested. The protest was not upheld. . CLAIM FOR EXPENSES.

Au account from au Otaki player living at Paekakariki for 18s 4d expenses said to have been incurred in travelling to Foxton to play in the Maori-Pakeha match was referred back for further details. ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

- The Otaki School Committee, wrote thanking the Council for a donation 'of a football, which was greatly appreciated. The Mayor of Levin, Mr C. Blenlihorii, wroto thanking the Council for a complimentary season ticket and forwarded _a donation of one guinea “as some slight acknowledgment of yoiuCouncil’s work in the interests of Rugby,” which was gratefully accepted. - AN-INVITATION. The Otaki Maori Racing Club in-, vited the Council to send a representative as a guest of the Club on the occasion of the second day’s races, when it was expected some members of the visiting. British team would be present. The President was appointed as the Council’s representative. TIIE COUNTY CLUB. A member enquired as to the position of the County Club and the secretary said he understood the Club was endeavouring to improve its linanee3. The minute previously passed stated that the Club would be suspended unless it paid its affiliation fee by May 19th, v It was decided that unless the amount due be paid by mid-day on Thursday the Club would be ineligible to play on Saturday. - EARLIER START ON SATURDAY.' Mr Winiata asked that the senior games, Hui Mai yj. Wanderers, and Otaki v. County be started at 2.30 on Safurday, to enable Maori players, engaged in the South Island to catch that afternoon’s train. This was agreed to. :• USE OF GROUNDS AT OTAKI. The President asked whether there would be any objection by the Council to the hockey people at Otaki us-, ing the grounds there on Wednesday,' when there were two matches on one day. The. meeting considered this would be in order, as the, ground at-Levin was so used on. Wednesdays. REP. PLAYING JUNIOR. Mr Elliott drew attention to the fact that J. Ropata, an old senior player, was playing junior for Waikanac. When the .Paraparaumu Club was in difficulties permission had been given for this player to go back to junior to help them and act as a coach. But he was now playing for Waikanac, and as wing forward in the match against Otaki,-he was out of his class. It was' no encouragement to young half-backs if they were to be subject' to these tactics.

/Reference to the minutes showed that liopata was given permission to play junior “during the pleasure of the Council and provided he played for Paraparaumu. ” - On Mr• Jones’ motion' it was decided to draw .'the player’s and Waikanae Club’s attention to the .ruling of last year’s Council/ Mr Jones said he was pleased to hear the reference- to the killing tactics of wing forwards. , / d/ADIES ADMITTED FREE. ’Mr Bieliards moved his. notice/of; motion to the effect that iircfujurc' ladies 1 be charged sixpence for‘admission to matches. No lady would object to pay "sixpence,/ he said, as they were all ; jjooa‘sports. The President thought it would be a good thing. took tko gaU st Otaki

one day and eight out of ten ladies offered to pay. Mr McCarthy said it would be pretty awkward if ladies ‘ came along without any money and were turned away. Mr Elliott considered the presence of ladies helped to tone up the game. There were not a great many who came along and for that reason he thought they should be admitted free. Mr Procter said -that in years gone by a charge was made and lots of ladies who had not brought money with them were turned back. That was the reason the charge was abolished. The motion was lost. MATCH.TO BE REPLAYED. ‘ The Foxton Club protested in regard to the Foxton-Koputaroa junior match on the ground that the first spell took 35 minutes and tho second 20 minutes. The length of spells in the junior and senior competition games must be of 45 minutes’ duration. The Club therefore suggested that a replay be ordered if at the end of the season it was found that this -match affected the junior competition. The President said he was responsible' for the short spell. When ho went on the ground the other teams were -waiting to take the field and he suggested bringing this match to a Hose, not realising that it was a competition game He would have to take the responsibility of that. Mr McCarthy: If the. referee had been up to time, there would have been ample time for both games to have been played on that ground. Mr Hooper: The referee was. there to time because I was talking to him there.

The Secretary said the first match was supposed to have been played at Weraroa. On Mr Jones’s motion the match is to be replayed on a -day to be arranged at Koputaroa. STILL A JUNIOR. The Tokomaru Footfall Club wrote in regard to , the status of A. Rowlands, who was classified as a senior in the Horowhemia Union and later was reinstated to junior in tho Manawatu Union and played in that grade for the Linton Club. He had not played as a senior since then. The Club asked whether ho was eligible to play for them as a junior. It was stated that Rowlands was classified senior in .1922-23, and as a It was decided to reply that tho player’s status was still that of junior, junior in Manawatu in 1925.