N.R.U. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13510, 2 July 1914, Page 2

N.R.U. MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

The usual weekly meeting of the management committee was held on Tuesday evening last- in Stallard's rooms. Mr. R. W. Stiles (president) occupied the chair, and the following members were also present: Messrs. Nelson, Logan, Papps, Hurley, Baigent, Oldershaw, and the secretary (Mr N. A. Vercoe).

The schools grant for the present season was received from the New Zealand Union, and it was decided to expend the grant for the benefit of the primary schools in the district in the same manner as last year.

The Inangahua Union wrote offering a substantial guarantee for a match at Reefton during the tour to the Coast of the local representatives.

The Hope Pirate Club wrote protesting regarding its match with the Rover Club on the grounds that that club had violated the district rule in playing two members resident in town. It- was resolved that the match be re-played at Wakefield, and that the Rover Club be informed that the two players in question are> not eligible to play for that club.

On the request of the Rover Club it was decided to play their match with Old Boys at 2 o'clock on Saturday next.

The French Pass Football Club wrote asking permission to enter a team for the seven-a-side tournament on the first Monday in August, and it was decided to grant their application.

Old Boys meet Waimeas at Richmond on Saturday, and the game promises to be well contested. Old Boys have improved since the teams last met, and it is stated that Waimeas will be without the services of Bilderdeck, who is the mainstay of the Waimea back division. 'If this is correct, it will be most unfortunate for the country team.

It is to be hoped that some arrangements will be made to keep spectators from encroaching on the field of play, and that there will not be the same trouble as in the Rival-Waimea match, played last Saturday week.

The Rival v. College senior match fixed for the Park should provide an interesting game.

As predicted, the Old Boys-Rival match played at the' Park last Saturday provided a keen contest. Old Boys by superior back play gained the day by 11 points to 5. The absence of Henley and Chapman from the Rivals' back division necessitated several changes, and this no doubt accounted for the u-ant of combination. The team has now played six matches, and on each occasion the positions of the players have been changed with a view to improvement, but the result has not always been satisfactory. King has found his place at full-back, and he again gave a good display. BTuse evidently did not place too much reliance on his wing three-quarters, and showed a tendency to hang on to the ball too long. Hale played disappointingly, his coolness amounting to slowness, and he was frequently tackled ; before he had done anything with the ball.

The forwards were a real good lot, and held the advantage both in the scrum and in the loose. Perry (wing) was opposed to Nelson (Old Boys), and the play of these two was most interesting. On the day Nelson held the honours.

, The Old Boys have a very hot back division, but frequently passing rushes were spoiled by throwing forward. B.oyes played a good game, but several times failed to get rid of the ball soon enough. Harley and Saxon are two splendid wing three-quarters, but much or their work was spoiled through their being pressed to the .touch lines before receiving the ball. Baigent, who has been a consistent battler for Old Boys for some years, played as well a.s ever on Saturday, and set a good example to the younger players, of whom Littlejohn is the most promising. The Waimea-College match was won by the country team after a really good gauiQ, although there was a difference of 17points iv the scoi'gft. In the'opening stages of the second spell the College boys' put plenty of vim into their play, and kept Waimeas very busy defending their line. However-, weight told -in the end, and Waimeas were then hav•ing matters pretty much their- own way. v _ / Place-kicking is a weak feature of all the teams engaged in the senior cup competitions this season, and the proportion of misses,.in "kicks at £oal from comparatively easy positions has been very large. Apparently place-kicking is becoming a lost art. The Nelson Union was looking forward to.^a, visit from the Wairarapa Union tins season, but in the list of fixtures arranged by the latter union no provision is made for a match against Nelson, so that evidently the expected visit is not going to eventuate. The positions of the teams in the senior cup competition are as follows: Pts. Pts. P. W. L. D For. Ag. WaimeaV 5 4 0 1 51 24 Rival '6311 84 31 Old Boys 6 4 2 0 95 37 College 4 .1" 3 o,>. 39 90 Nelson ■ 5 0. 5. 0 11 84

The ranks! o.f local footballers will be sadly depleted shortly ' (says the Motueka "Star") by the departure of sev-' e'ral well-known -/players from tho dis-i trict. among whom are Messrs O. Cederman, A. LuUiam, R. Fowler, B. McNamaraj J. G. McCallum, B. Lynch', and probably D. McLeod and J. Madigan. As they have taken a prominent part in club football and several have gained representative honours the local sub-union will be considerably weakened by. their departure, and their places will be difficult to fill.