RUGBY FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 19899, 18 June 1926, Page 11

RUGBY FOOTBALL

EASTERN DISTRICT SUB-UNION. (From Our Correspondent.) Last night’s meeting of the Eastern District Sub-Union was attended by Messrs F. Wallis, Senr., M. Fitzgerald, G. Whittingham, H. Wallis, T. L. Pillar, J. McK. Miller, F. M. Murray, E. Christie, and I. W. Martin. CORRESPONDENCE. The secretary of the Northern District Sub-Union wrote, stating that his union would fall in with the Eastern Sub-Union’s ■uggestion and play the first game of the home-and-home matches on June 23. It had been decided to play this game at Waikaia, which, he honed would be a suitable .irrangement for the Eastern District SubUnion.—lt was agreed that the match should be played at Waikaia, subject to the Northern District playing a return ’natch at Gore this season. The secretary of the Edendale Club wrote, enclosing a letter from the secretary of the Southern Sub-Union, and inquiring whether clearances from the now defunct United Club had to be signed conjointly by the writer and by Mr Fraser, who was jointsecretary with him, of the United Club. The letter to the Edendale Club stated that ■learances had been signed by Fraser, and it was not known whether these were in order.—lt was decided to advise that clearances should be signed by both Weir and Fraser. The secretary of the Mataura Club applied for permission for the Mataura first grade team to play a friendly match against Clyde at Clyde on June 26. —Granted. The Gorge Road Club applied for permission for A. Christie to play in the Southern District. Clearance from the United Club was enclosed. —Clearance granted for present season. The secretary of the Edendale Town Board advised, in reply to a letter from the Eastern District Sub-Union, that the board had decided to adhere to its previous decision regarding charging admission to the Domain.—lt was decided that if satisfactory arrangements could not be made for the board’s ground at Edendale, the sub-union should take into consideration the question lof obtaining other grounds there. If unable l to do so, to consider the advisability of playing future games at Mataura. GENERAL. It was decided to continue with the third round of the competition fixtures, these matches to be set down for play between representative games. i It was decided to instruct referees that where the quarter of an hour allowed under the rules for the commencement of games after the specified time was availed of, that the time of play be curtailed accordingly. Mr M. Fitzgerald reported that at the senior grade fixture played at the showgrounds last Wednesday, small boys had made themselves a nuisance to the supporters of the visiting team and he thought the union should take some action to exercise control. The union decided to take action to ensure that the boys would not be allowed in the grandstand. Mr. T. W. Whittingham was appointed manager of the team to play at Waikaia on June 23. It was decided that the Wyndham Club be informed that unless satisfactory arrangements could be made for charging admission at the Wyndham Domain in accordance with the decision of the Town Board the Wyndham—Pukerau match would have to be played elsewhere. INTER SUB-UNION FIXTURES. A deputation from the Southland Rugby Union comprising Messrs A. Courtis, P. Shaw and C. Davis waited upon the sub-union in connection with the proposal to institute a series of tours by a combined sub-union team. Mr. Courtis stated that he did not know what expenditure the Eastern SubUnion was committed to by its arrangements with the North Otago Sub-Union, which was to play Eastern at Gore and to play a combined sub-unions’ team at Invercargill. The Southland Union was out to assist subunions as far as possible and if the deputation were given some idea of the arrangements and the financial commitments of the sub-union in connection with the tour they might have some suggestion to make which would be of mutual benefit. The chairman briefly retraced the history in regard to the introduction of inter subunion fixtures and stated that while several previous attempts had been unsuccessful the Eastern Sub-Union had arranged a match with North Otago on the basis that it would ‘ guarantee half of a £5O gate at Oamaru, I and that Eastern would guarantee half of a £6O gate at Gore. It was probable that the gate takings at. Gore on the North Otago match this season would not amount to more than £4O and the sub-union would therefore, have to find a sum of £2O to make up its guarantee. The sub-union was in favour of the Southland Union arranging fixtures provided it was intended to conduct them annually. If the union was prepared to do this and to assist the sub-unions by making good any deficiency on the North Otago match he thought the sub-union would agree to the proposal. Alternative suggestions were made on behalf of the deputation by Mr. Shaw and after discussion the following suggestions were provisionally approved:—(l) That games be played at Gore and at Invercargill this year, the Invercargill game to be played first; (2) that the Eastern Union visit North Otago next season as it was. desirable that the combined sub-unions’ teams should tour on alternate years to the Southland representative team; (3) that in 1928 the combined sub-unions’ team should proceed on tour. It was decided to write to the North i Otago Sub-Union with a combined request from the Southland Union and the Eastern Sub-Union that the match at Invercargill be played on August 7 and the match at Gore on August 11. Representations were made to the deputation that the date arranged for the Eastern District return match, namely September 15, was unsuitable and the delegates promised to reconsider their programme.