SPORTING

Southland Times, Issue 17833, 12 July 1918, Page 6

SPORTING

FOOTBALL. The weekly meeting of the S.R.F.U. held last night was attended by Messrs A. J. Geddes (chair), R. M. Isaacs, T. Meredith, I. Jenkins, J. A. Doig, M. N. Hyndman, F. Morton, G. Sproat, and Dr A. F. li. Crawford. Owing to the fact that a large percentage of the boys in the fourth grade competinous are prevented by after school employment from flaying on Thursday, the fourth grade matches will of necessity be played on Wednesdays. The finding of sufficient grounds for the fulfilment of iHp-sa fixtures increases the difficulties, already large, of the Union. Wairio School wrote applying for a school football, which was granted. Ghas. W. Mathison wrote asking that, as his former team Athletic 11. had withdrawn from the competition, he be allowed to play for the I.F.C. juniors. Although the rules say that no transfers be granted after July 1, it was maintained that this represented an exceptional case, especially so as it would be through no fault of his own that he would be debarred from further football this season. It was decided that under the unusual circumstances surrounding the case the transfer be granted, provided that no valid objection be lodged by the Athletic Club prior to Tuesday next. T. D. Pearce wrote accepting the Union’s terms regarding gate receipts at the forthcoming secondary schools’ interprovincial tournament. The N.Z. Rugby Union wrote stating that the sum of £5 is available as a grant to this Union on behalf of school football for the season 1918-1919, upon the necessary statement of receipts and expenditure being forthcoming. It was decided that while accepting the grant, the Union express its keen disappointment that the amount is so amalL School football is now, one member pointed out, of even greater importance than senior football, due to the war and the necessity for preparing for post-war days. The Town Clerk wrote to the effect that the ground in Tweed street was now taken from the control of the Union and given to the Soccer Association. Several members testified to having visited the Tweed street ground and seen but a scanty knot-of players kicking a ball about. It was pointed out that as yet, the Association have not fulfilled any of their advertised fixtures. The Rugby Union are at present held up for lack of grounds, and the position distinctly endangers the existence of certain branches of football. The Reserves Committee of the Council suggested that an amicable arrangement might be come to between the two bodies concerned. A deputation was therefore appointed to confer with the president of the Association. H. McChesney (Bluff School) drew attention to the fact that the Bluff boys had to travel to Invercargill once each fortnight, and the cost was more than could reasonably be expected of the boys. He requested that the Union should grant some relief. It was decided that the SJEUF.U. grant the Bluff School £1 per match played at Invercargill to the extent of three. The Referees’ Association reported that Warehouse and I.F.C. had each defaulted its last Bluff fixture. It was decided to write to each club requesting an explanation. It was reported that on Wednesday last, when two of the committeemen were assisting at the gate at Rugby Park, they accosted four persons, three, of whom appeared to be players, with the usual query as to whether they were such. All four replied in the affirmative, but the, officials, being doubtful of the fourth questioned the players closely and one assured them that the man was quite bona fide and that his togs were in the grandstand. This proved upon investigation to be false and a chance was given one of the players (Athletic) to make good his friend’s gate money and avoid the exposure of what was described as a very mean and contemptible deception. The player, however, refused to do this, so the matter had been brought up at the meeting. It was decided to write asking the player concerned to appear before the Union at its next meeting, failing which he will be suspended. Following are the fixtures for Saturday, July 13: —Public Service v. Collegiate Park No. I. ground, 2 pan. (Mr J. T. Lilburne) ; Banks and Law v. Warehouse No. 11. ground, 3.15 (Mr J. McGrath) ; Bluff v. Foundries No. I. ground, 3.15 (Mr Marshall) .