LEAGUE AT WHANGAREI

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 669, 22 May 1929, Page 14

LEAGUE AT WHANGAREI

NEW CODE’S DIFFICULTIES (From Our Own Correspondent) .WHANGAREI, Tuesday. The North Auckland Rugby League has, after a good deal of trouble, at last secured a ground on the Kensington Park. Last year the League applied to the Whangarei Borough Council for the use of a single ground on Kensington Park but were informed that the park had been given to the Rugby Union. There are four playing fields on the park and only on rare occasions are they all in commission. Until last Saturday the local team had been Torced to travel either to Hikurangi or Ivamo, where grounds were available. However, on Saturday, it was given the use of Horn Hora Park, where there is no grandstand and the field has the remainder of a cricket pitch in the middle, also a drain running through it, which has been filled in about six inches above the level of the ground. Almost impossible obstacles were placed in the controlling body’s way, a good example being the absurd rule that they give a month’s notice should they wish to stage a representative fixture. All these adversos have not tended to damp the spirits of the League supporters, but rather to attract the support of a large section of sympathisers. On Monday evening a deputation from the North Auckland Rugby League, headed by the president and secretary, Messrs. C. O’Callagban and W. E. Taylor respectively, waited upon the Whangarei Borough . Council. The president briefly mentioned the unfair treatment. He stated that regarding the collection of gate money when both codes were .being played at the same time there were two boxes at the gate and supporters of either code would be able to patronise whichever they preferred. For the past two Saturdays only two of the available four grounds were being used by the Rugby code, while the League team was compelled to travel to Plikurangi. Last season the League Union had brought seven visiting teams to Whangarei where they stayed, but had to leave the town to play as they could not get a ground. The secretary endorsed the remarks made by the first speaker and remarked, that in his opinion, one week was sufficient notice to obtain a playing field on the park and a month’s notice made it almost impossible to invite an Auckland team, as they could not guarantee to come at such a distant date. Cr. Brake asked if one ground on every third Saturday would be sufficient. The secretary said they would be only too pleased to accept it. A motion was then put to the meeting and carried that the North Auckland Rugby League Association be granted ■ a field one Saturday in every three. It now appears that this popular code has overcome its difficulties and it will no doubt be accorded the support it deserves, both by local residents and outside teams.