FOOTBALL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8798, 27 April 1907, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Suggested Team for EnglandPer Press Association. Wellington, April 26. With reference to a telegram from Wanganui that a team of Rugby footballers is likely to visit England next season to compete against the Northern Union Rugby clubs there, Mr E. Wylie, secretary of the N.Z. Rugby Union states: “ I have had no official communication from the Northern Unions on the subject of visiting them. As we subscribe to the English Rugby Union (strictly amateur) it is impossible for any Now Zealand players to play against the Northern Union men without coming under the ban of our professional laws (meaning life disqualification). Any tour arranged must bo purely on professional lines, and would not, I feel sure, have the sanction of the New Zealand Union.” Ho added that no if a team goes Homo it will be a private venture or a speculation.

Notes by “ Muddied Oaf.”

It is pleasing to note that Eaugitikei Sub-Union has decided to frame a set of tby-laws to govern cup contests. This lias been left to a management committee consisting of members who have no direct connection with any particular club. This is a’step in the right direction as it will remove many difficulties and prevent affiliated clubs from entertaining the slightest suspicion of corrupt practices. Troubles have arisen in the past simply because the management have had no bylaws of their own to direct them. Now that the Union is to ho established on a sound business basis there should he no occasion for future quarrelling. Mr J. A. Pawsou who lias been closely identified with football in Kangitikoi for a great number of years, attended the annual meeting of Raugitikei Union on Thursday evening. He was one of the speakers who urged the appointment of a controlling body of men who wore not playing members and who would not be partisans of any particular club. Ho quite understood the difficulties the former management had experienced in controlling the chairs cf the Union and ho would not say they had done their duty. He believed they had done their best under existing circumstances hut it was unfortunate that so much of the work had necessarily been left to a few of the officers. Ho advocated the appointment of a committee that could be depended on to attend meetings. The two requisites were by laws and a committee that would undertake to see they were strictly adhered to.

Mr S. J. Gibbons declined to seek re-election as president of the Union but when it was announced that the affairs, of the Union were likely to be conducted in a businesslike manner he allowed himself to be again nominated and was drily elected. Appreciation of Mr Gibbous’ past Services was recorded and his re-elec-tion as president was warmly received. Several important feconiniendations have been made to the newlyappointed management committee of the Rangitikei Union. It was suggested that the appointment of referees in all matches be made by the committee and that an ago limit bo fixed for third class players also that special efforts be made to secure the demarcation of the Union’s boundaries —say between the Wangaehu and Rangitikei rivers. It is expected that representative matches are likely to be arranged with Horowhenua and Bush Unions at Marton this season. In • connection with the Bush Union “reps.” Mr R. H. Ooltman, formerly of Hunterville, has written to the secretary of Rangitikei Union stating that he hopes to make satisfactory arrangements for Bush Union to visit Marton early in the season. L. Skelley, who played for Marton last season, has joined the Poneke, Wellington, team and is reported to have played a stealing game on Saturday last. If lie retains his form he should have no difficulty in getting in the team to visit Anstraia. Football matches in Marton this year will be played on the western side of the Park. It will bo necessary, however, to carry out several improvements to ensure the safety of players and the covering in of the large open drain will no doubt receive first attention.

At the annual meeting of Eangitikoi Rugby Union Mr H. H. Hunt consented to allow himself to be again nominated; as secretary, but declined to act oh the Management Committee. Mr Hunt has been secretary of the Union for seven successive years. He was accorded a vote of thanks for past services. The football season opened at Taihape on Wednesday when ‘ ‘ The HasBeens” played the present members. Tho Old Boys played a good game and if they got into condition they could give a good exhibition of Rugby, as there are some “hard doers” amongst them—men who have done worthy deeds on the football field. By all appearances Taibape will put a good team in the field this season, as the club has a lot of new members seemingly of good quality. A meeting of the Third Glass Football Club was held at Marten last evening. W. Molndoo was elected captain, W. Gibbons vice-captain; apd the captain, vice-captain and H. Wysocki were chosen as a selection committee.

The Rev. Father Molloy has kindly presented the Martou Football Club with a first class match ball for the use of the senior team during the coming season.