RUGBY UNION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18354, 27 August 1929, Page 13

RUGBY UNION

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETS A meeting of the Management Committee of the South Canterbury Rugby Union was held last evening. Present —Messrs H. H. Fraser (chairman), A. B. Herdman, A. Tyson, J. Harley, D. O’Connor, J. Roseveare, A. Hunt, A. B. Rowlands, G. F. Doyle and the secretary (J. V. McKeague). Primary Schools’ Game. In referring to the CanterburySouth Canterbury representative primary schools’ game, which was played on Saturday, the chairman said he would like to take the opportunity of congratulating both teams on their fine display of Rugby. It was pleasing to see the inclusion of so many country players in the South Canterbury team. The game had been a very even one, and had been thoroughly enjoyed by the spectators. It was decided to write to the South Canterbury School Sports’ Association, congratulating that body on the splendid game provided, and on the manner in which they were fostering Rugby in South Canterbury. Southland Representative Match. Reporting on the South CanterburySouthland representative match, the president said that the game had been played under unpleasant weather conditions, but had been full of interest. The entertainment provided the visitors had been well arranged and genuinely appreciated. Those who had assisted were worthy of the thanks of the Union. Maori Matches. The secretary of the New Zealand Rugby Union wrote that it had come to the notice of his Union that a match between a prominent team and a Maori team had been played without the knowledge of the Maori Advisory Board or the New Zealand Union. In future, before such matches were arranged, the approval of the New Zealand Union should be obtained. The president: "There are other Unions that have got into trouble, as well as us, then.” Regrading of a Player. The Temuka Club advised that owing to the senior team being short of players for the past two Saturdays, they had been obliged to play a fourth-gracle player. They would like the player regraded from senior to fourth grade. Mr Rowlands: ‘‘What do the rules say?” Mr O’Connor: "The Beri Cup is not a competition game. The player played in only one competition game, and really does not need to make application for regrading.” Mr Rowlands said it was a bad principle, when Clubs played what players they liked at the end of the season and then asked to have them regraded. Mr O’Connor: "The player is young for senior football—he is only sixteen.” The president: “Age doesn’t count.” It was decided to refer the matter to the Permit Committee, the player to become immediately eligible if the Committee decided to regrade him. Beri Cup Match. Mrs F. Beri, Temuka, wrote acknowledging a letter from the Union. Up till last Monday, she had been treated with the utmost curtesy by the Union, but she failed to see why her letter of August 19 was not read and made public, also the letter from the Temuka Football Club. She wished to inquire the reason why both letters were suppressed. She felt that both letters should have been read at the meeting, and that if the match had been discussed in public, the Star Football Club, who were true sports, would not have objected to playing in Temuka. She hoped that they would give the letter, also the Temuka Club’s letter, the fullest publicity so that the public would know that it was not her fault that the match was not played on the Temuka ground. The chairman said -that Mrs Beri’s | letter had been taken in committee last week, as they thought it in the interest of Mrs Beri, who had been under a misapprehension, thinking that the runners-up of the Cup could have the match played on their own ground. The secretary had written her a letter and explained the matter. He thought that the conditions should be read and published. The conditions stated: "The Cup to be played on the ground of the winner of the Skinner Cup; provided that, if the game should be played outside of Timaru, the South Canterbury Rugby Union have sole, control over the gate and any other receipts.” "Those are the conditions, and I am certain that we had no option but to play the match in Timaru,” said the chairman. The Star Club were win--1 ners of the competition, nominally the I holders of the Skinner Cup, and the game had to be played on their I ground. Mrs Beri also referred to a letter from the Temuka Club. This had been received by the secretary on the Tuesday following the Union’s meeting. They were governed by the rules and should abide by them. ■ The secretary of the Temuka Footi ball Club wrote in reference to his » letter dated August 19 in regard to the . Beri Cup match. It had been said that the Temuka Football Club had made no effort to have the game played at Temuka. Rumour had it that his letter had not been received until the Tuesday following the meeting. It had been posted on the 2.15 p.m. slow train from Temuka, and he had been advised that it would be in Timaru for clearance by seven o’clock. The chairman said that the secretary had cleared his box at ten to seven, and if the letter had not been received, it was not the fault of the Union. If the secretary of the Temuka Club had ' thought that there was any uncertainty 5 about the letter being received, it was ■ his fault. He should have communii cated with the meeting and made sure [ the letter was received. He thought that they had been very thoughtful, as two years ago, they had taken two 1 town teams to Temuka for the match. Mr O’Connor: “This Cup .was don- : ated in 1924 when certain ’conditions . were laid down. Were these carried out?” ! The chairman: "Yes.” > Mr O’Connor: "That is all I wish to know.” ( Mr Tyson said he thought that the I chairman had covered the matter fully but it was a matter for regret that it had come into print. He thought that there were statements in the letter which had been published in that morning’s “Herald” which should be corrected. Mr O’Connor: “We are not discussing the letter in the paper. Mr Chairman, Mr Tyson is out of order.” Mr Tyson: "But in fairness to the Star Club ” Mr O’Connor: "He is not discussing the letter before the meeting.” Mr Herdman said that he thought that enough had been said about the l matter. i It was decided to write to Mrs Beri * informing her that the conditions had • been complied with. Ranfurly Shield Match. I In the event of Canterbury winning ; the Ranfurly Shield, it war. decided to l make application to have the match. Canterbury v. South Canterbury be

played on September 21, declared a Shield match. General. It was decided to draw up a short lease of Fraser Park with the South Canterbury Cricket Association. The secretary reported that Mr C. S. Fraser had made a donation of £l/1/towards the Union’s funds. —It was decided to write thanking Mr Fraser. Mr D. O’Connor was appointed manager of the South Canterbury representative team to visit Waimate on Thursday. Correspondence. The secretary of the Celtic Football Club advised that, owing to influenza, it was found necessary to forfeit a third-grade match. It had again been necessary to forfeit Saturday’s match to Old Boys, as sufficient players were not available.—The explanation was accepted.