SPORTING NEWS.

Southland Times, Issue 19545, 8 May 1925, Page 8

SPORTING NEWS.

FOOTBALL AND ATHLETIC NEWS

RUGBY.

EASTERN DISTRICT SUB-UNION. WEEKLY MEETING. (Our Special Report er.) Hie meeting of the Management Committee of the Eastern District Rugby SubUnion at Gore last evening was attended by the President (Mr F. Wallis), Messrs F. Murray, J. McK. Miller. J. O’Sullivan, H. G. Wallis, G. W. Whittingham, H. C. MaeGibbon, C. D. McConnell, J. W. Aitken. R. Robertson and R. S. Green. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the Southland Union in reference to the injury received by L. Forde in a match af Wyndham on April 30 and suggesting that if statements made by the injured player were correct, the Sub-Union should hold an inquiry into the cause of the accident. The idea of the inquiry’ was not so much for the purpose of meting out any punishment, but for the purpose of impressing upon players the necessity of eliminating all rough and foul tactics during the course of a game. Dr O. Johnson, who had examined the player, had stated that it was only by a miracle that Forde was now alive.—lt was decided to inquire from th? S.R.F.U. in regard to the statements made by the injured player. W. McKeown, referee in the match Pioneer v Seaward Downs on Wednesday reported that he had to order off two players, Sim, of Pioneer, and Palmer, of Seaward Downs, for using threatening behaviour to each other. Apart from this incident the game was played in a friendly spirit. He would recommend that both players be placed on the caution list as he felt satisfied that both had acted on the spur of the moment and through a misunderstanding.—lt was decided to ask the two players concerned for an explanation. The secretary of the Seaward Downs Club wrote in reference to the default of its second grade team to Albion on Wednesday and stated that he had been unable to make arrangements for the conveyance of his team to Gore. The letter further stated that unless the Club could get more of last season’s players to turn out, its senior grade team would have to disband. The Club, however, would make an effort to keep going.—lt was decided to award the match to Albion by default.

A further letter from the Seaward Downs Club stated that the boundaries proposed by the Southern District Sub-Union at the request of the Gorge Road Club, would be the means of excluding about eight of the Seaward Downs players if adopted. The only boundaries acceptable to the Club would be Gorge Road to the township, running north. The limit of the boundary on this road should be Manson’s Road, which runs east to McMillan’s Road, thence down McMillan's road to the river and along the river to the bridge.—lt decided to endorse the Seaward Downs Club’s suggestions and to refer its letter to the Southern SubUnion.

The Northern District Sub-Union in reply to the Eastern District Sub-Union’s invitation to play a match on June 3, stated that if Country Day was not held at. Invercargill

on that date, it would probably comply with the request. —Received. The secretary of the Southland Rugby I’nion advised that both the primary and secondary schools in the Eastern District were eligible to receive balls at the reduced rate of 7s 6d.—lt was decided to purchase six balls, one for each team in the schools’ competition. A. T. Walker applied for a transfer from Edendale to Mat aura.—Granted.

L. N. McPhee applied for a transfer from the country Pirates, Lower Shotover, to the Mataura Club. —Granted.

J. L. Shrimpton applied for a transfer from the Waikaka White star Club to Mataura.—Granted.

W. Burgess applied for a transfer from Mataura to Pioneer.—Granted. A letter was received from the Wyndham Domain Trust stating that the Sub-Union had been granted the right to charge admission on four days during the season, provided that on days when hockey fixtures were played, 25 per cent, of the gate takings should go to the Hockey Club. It was decided to carry out next week’s fixture at Wyndham and to hold over further consideration of the letter until the next meeting. PROPOSED AMALGAMATION. A deputation from the Seaward Downs’ Club waited upon the Sub-Union in regard to the Club’s difficulty in securing a firstgrade team and suggested that it should be allowed to amalgamate with Edendale, the Wyndham Club to revert to its former position and to enter second and third grade teams. The Wyndham Club advised that it was agreeable to this change being made. It w r as decided to invite the three clubs to meet the Sub-Union at Edendale. REFEREES. A further deputation from the Eastern District Referees’ Association in regard to the difficulty of securing efficient referees. Mr R. F. Wallace, representing the Association, stated that it desired the Sub-Union |o realise the seriousness of the position, and while there had been a slight improvement since the Association first brought the matter under the notice of the Sub-Union, it was still extremely difficult to secure referees. It was suggested that the appointment of referees should be left to a Committee consisting of one representative of the Association, one from the Sub-Union and one player.

After a lengthy discussion the Sub-Union decided that Mr F. Murray and Mr R. S. Green be constituted a Referees’ Appointment Board.

It was decided to hold a special meeting of the Management Committee on Saturday evening to receive the report of the deputation to the Conference of the Southern Clubs. Accounts amounting to £l5 5s were passed for payment. SOUTHLAND REFEREES’ ASSOCIATION, ORDINARY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Southland Referees’ Association was held last night, Mr W. Baird presiding over a good attendance. A referee reported an unusual occurrence in a match controlled by him at the weekend. Two Green men, in dribbling the ball, kicked it over the line, and a race to touch down ensued between the two Green men and a Southern man. It depended on the bounce who would get there first. A dog intervened, however, and the ball hit him. He gave a five yards’ scrum. Mr Stott said that in his opinion the referee should have given his decbion either one way or another—either a try or a touch down.

It was stated in answer to a question that a Green man had scored. The occurrence could not have affected the result. The match was played on a neutral ground. Mr Dey said that at the recent Dominion Conference the deplorable lack of knowledge of in-goal offences as disclosed by examinations had been referred to. In his opinion in the present case the referee should have given a decision. He did not think he would have been far wrong in awarding « try. The Chairman expressed a similar view. Mr Stott moved in accontence with notice of motion that the previous motion dealing with the grading of referees be rescinded, and that it be a recommendation to the Appointment Board that the referees be classified into two divisions, qualified and probationary. In doing so, Mr Stott said that when the previous recommendation on the subject was placed before the Appointment Board, it found that there were several obstacles in the way of acting as requested, and to clear the way for the Appointment

LUMSDEN V. MOSSBURN

CRICKET.

Board, he had much pleasure in moving that the previous motion be rescinded. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr Kennard, Secretary of the Central SubUmon, attended the meeting in support of his Sub-Union’s request to the Association to provide referees for matches in that district. as in previous years. The work of Town referees in the past had been greatly i-pprec.atcd in his distr.ct, where they found it impossible to secure local men to control their games. The Chairman and Mr Dey, a member of the Appointment. Board, emphasised the difficulty the Association had in providing referees for their own matches owing to the divided half-holiday, but stated that every ehon would be made to help the Central Sub-Union.

The following query was submitted: “A player kicks the ball and follows up. Before getting there, the kick Is returned. While the retiring player is getting back on-side, the ball is again kicked to a player to whom the retiring player is within closer proximity than the 10 yards’ limit. This nlayer mulls the ball, though he touches it. Does the event of the opponent having touched the ball put the off-side player onside, or must he wait until the last kicker has put him on-side, or retire himself to the ten yards’ limit?” The following ruling was given:— "His proximity to the receiver may have been the cause-of the receiver mullldg the catch. No act, of his own side can put him on-side. His duty is to retire beyond the ten yards’ limit.”

FIXTURES AND APPOINTMENTS.

SECOND SERIES OF GAMES. The following are the fixtures and appointments for Saturday and Wednesday next: — FIRST GRADE. Pirates v. Marist, Rugby Park No. 1 area, 2.30 p.m.. Referee, Mr J. Darragh, linesmen, Messrs T. McCarroll, and T. Baird. Star v. Invercargill, Rugby Park, No. 2 area, 2.30 p.m. Referee, Mr J. E. Winsloe; linesmen, Messrs W. Stott and D. K. Torrance. SECOND GRADE. Bluff v. Makarewa, Biggar Street, No. 2 area, 3 p.m. Referee, Mr J. Durham. High School v. Waikiwi, High School No. 1 area, 2.15 p.m. Referee W. Pay. Star v. Southern. Southern Reserve, 2.15 p.m. Referee Mr W. F. Sutton. Pirates v. Marist, Tweed Street Reserve, (opp. Rugby Park). Referee Mr B. Hay les. Invercargill a bye. THIRD GRADE. Star v. Makarewa. Makarewa, 2.45 p.m. Referee Mr W. Baird. Pirates v. Bluff, Bluff, 3 p.m. Referee Mr F. Daubney. Southern v. Invercargill, Queen's Park, No. 1 area, 2.15 p.m. Referee Mr A. Bull. Waikiwi v. Technical, Queen’s Park No. 2 area, 2.15 p.m. Referee Mr W. Stott. High School v. Marist (Marist have notified their withdrawal.) FOURTH GRADE. Marist v. Invercargill, Biggar Street No. 2 area, 1.30 p.m. Referee Mr H. A. Wilcox. Star v. Technical, Biggar Street. No. 1 area, 1.45 p.m. Referee Mr Geo. Withers. WEDNESDAY, MAY 13.

Winton A v. Marist, Rugby Park No. 2 area, 3 p.m. Referee Mr J. O’Donnell. Linesmen Messrs W. Duncan and—. Winton B v. Invercargill, Winton, 3 p.m. Referee Mr H. P. Fougere, 3 p.m. Pirates v. Southern, Rugby Park No. 1. area, 2.30 p.m. Referee Mr R. Barnett; Linesmen Messrs E. Kelly and J. Smith. ENGLAND’S RUGBY FULL-BACK LONDON, May 6. Brough, the English full-back against the All Blacks at Twickenham, has signed the amateur forms of the Liverpool First League Soccer Club as goalkeeper. NORTHERN DISTRICT RESULTS.

The second grade fixtures in the northern district commenced on Saturday. The Lumsden team travelled to Mossburn and were successful in defeating the home team by 18 points to nil. Lumsden played against a strong wind in the first spell and registered three points, L. Ogilvey scoring for Lumsden. In the second spell Lumsden took advantage of the wand and threw the ball about, and were successful in gaining fifteen points, three tries which were converted by U. Crosbie. Scores were tried by J. Clark, It. Smith and A. Reidy. The Mossburn team had difficulty in securing a team for the opening match, but they gave a good display and should develop into a strong combination as the season progresses. Mr D. Boreham controlled the game. The other matches played were Balfour 6, Dipton 3. The First Grade fixtures commence on Saturday, when Lumsden, winners of last season’s competition, meet Waikaia, the runners-up, and a keen game is anticipated. FIXTURES FOR THE SEASON. FIRST GRADE. May 9: Waikaia v. Lumsden at Lumsden ; Athol-Garston v. Balfour at Balfour. May 16: Lumsden v. Athol-Garston at Athol; Balfour v. Waikaia, at Waikaia. May 23: Balfour v. Lumsden at Lumsden; Athol-Garston v. Waikaia at Waikaia. The home matches with Athol-Garston are to be played at Athol and Garston alternatively. JUNIOR GRADE. May 9: Lumsden v. Dipton at Dipton; Balfour v. Riversdale at Riversdale; Waikaia v. Mossburn at Mossburn. May 16: Lumsden v. Riversdale at Lumsden; Balfour v. Waikaia at Balfour; Dipton v. Mossburn at Dipton. May 23: Lumsden v. Waikaia at Waikaia; Riversdale v. Dipton at Riversdale; Mossburn v. Balfour at Balfour. May 30: Lumsden v. Balfour at Lumsden; Riversdale v. Mossbui A Mossburn; Dipton v. Waikaia at Waikaia.

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

A NASTY MISHAP. LONDON, May 7. Abrahams, winner of events at the Olympic Games, sustained a serious accident in the long jump at the London Athletic Club’s meeting. After a jump of 22 feet, he missed the take off, turned over in the air and fell on his side. He was removed in great pain, being apparently injured in the biceps and right thigh.

ENGLISH COUNTY MATCHES. TYLDESLEY’S GREAT AVERAGE. LONDON, May 5. Middlesex in their first innings, made 312 (Hendren 84, North 80). Oxford in their first innings made 87 for five wickets. Playing for Lancashire against Warwickshire, R. Tyldesley took five wickets for 11 in six and a-half overs, including two maidens. McDonald took two wickets for 18. Playing for Leicester against Sussex, King made 114. Geary took five wickets for 55 for Sussex, and Tate five for 44.