RUGBY FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 22013, 12 May 1933, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

EASTERN SUB-UNION. WEEKLY MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. At the weekly meeting last evening of the Eastern Southland Rugby SubUnion Mr J. W. Aitken presided over an attendance of Messrs F. M. Murray, C. M. Wilson, F. Wallis jun., A. H. Davidson, B- Scott, J. M. Boyne, I. W. Martin, H. G. Wallis. It was stated that there would be five teams in the fourth grade competition, namely High School (2), Wyndham, Albion and Pioneer. Advice that the Gore Showgrounds would be available for football under the usual terms this season was received fro mthe Gore A. and P. Association. It was decided to donate £1 5/- to the Referees’ Association for expenses in connection with the annual meetPermission was granted to the Albion Club to play a match against the Invercargill Club at Invercargill to-mor-r°The Southland Union forwarded an inquiry whether a team would be sent to Invercargill on Country Day. It was decided to send a team. A regrade from first to second grade was granted to H. King (Pioneer/. The following transfers were approved :—J. Knight, from Heriot to Mataura; W. G. Duff, from Pirates to Mataura; G. Herron, from Pukerau to Albion; P. Robinson, from Hampstead (Ashburton) to Albion. It was decided that last Wednesdays fixtures which were postponed be played next Wednesday. The advisability of next week s match at Mataura being played at Gore if the ground were not in suitable order was discussed, it being suggested that the second round match be played at Mataura. Several members stated that if the ground were played on in wet weather it would be ruined for the season. It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the president and secretary. Mr F. Wallis jun, formally handed over to the president the shield presented by the Albion Club for the second grade competition. The shield was primarily designed to . perpetuate the memory of Alan Ritchie, he said. It was hoped that it would make the second grade players more keen. The president thanked the club for the donation of the shield which he declared was a very handsome one and would certainly awake interest in the second grade competition. Mr Scott said he had been asked to bring forward a suggestion that the age limit for the third grade players be raised to 19 and that a small allocation be made towards travelling expenses. Many of the boys were out of work and could not afford to travel at their own expense. It was stated that the age _ limit could be altered only by a meeting of delegates, but members suggested that if notice was forwarded to the clubs and no objection raised the executive could deal with it in a fortnight’s time. Mr F. Wallis jun., urged caution in amending the rules. There was a danger, he said, that young men would be encouraged to stand on the side-line instead of playing., The junior competition required stimulating and it was difficult to see how this could be done. Mr Scott gave notice of motion along the lines he had suggested.