Football.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXII, Issue 3873, 14 May 1906, Page 2

Football.

—*— (by sceum half).

A meeting of the Manrgiment Committee of the Euabine Union was held on Friday evening, when the position of affairs as regards the refusal of affiliation by the New Zealand Union was discussed. The only way out of the difficulty seemed to be to affiliate with the Bush Union if that body would allow the clubs to play their matches on Wednesdays. A deputation was appointed to wait on the Bush Union at Hamua on Saturday evening to discuss the position with them.

Messrs Gotbard, Marryatt, Bee* kett, Mcßobie and Sfangar were a deputation to the Bash Rugby Union at Hamtza. After consider* able discussion amongst the members of the latter body, the teams under the jurisdiction of the Rua* bine Union were granted affiliation with the Bush Union. It was also agreed to allow the fixtures already at ranged to be proceeded with, the Bush Union continuing their fixtures on Saturday. The teams at this end were asked to appoint a member of the Management Com* mittee of the Union, also to appoint a sub-committee to manage the Wednesday competition, and also vice-presidents of the Bush Union.

i The Ruahine Rugby Union is dead. It came into existence with a flourish ’ of trumpets and the beating of many ’ drams. It bad a stormy career of not quite a month, and has died a some* 1 what ignominious death. We are face to face with the truth that what , would have been the fourth strong* est Union in New Zealand has had ’ to crawl under the tent of the weak- • est. The reason given by the New 1 Zealand Union for not affiliating the Ruahine Union seems to be that the * Bush Union was so weak that it | would go under if it did not get support from somewhere, and here was the opportunity offered. I cannot refrain from saying that there eeems to have been a deep-laid scheme right through to get the Bosh Union strengthened at the cost of the neigh* bouring districts. The position is altogether wrong, and I feel sore 1 that had matters been properly laid ' before the New Zealand Union that 1 body would have seen how ridiculous ! it was that the football affairs of towns like Dannevirke, Woodville and Pahiatua should be controlled from Hamua. They would have insisted on the whole district of both the Bush and Ruahine Unions being placed under the control of a central body. I suppose that is what wilt eventually happen, but in my opinion a bad start has been made. However, I hope for the best. The matches are to go on as originally arranged, and a start will be made on Wednesday. I understand that directly the boundaries of the Bush Union are adjusted by the New Zeaf land Union, a motion will be brought forward in the Bush Union altering | the bead-quarters.

The seniors play Excelsiors at J Woodville on Wednesday. Follow* ing is the team: —Henry, Monteith, \ Boyd, Lord, Walker, Wilson, Hutch* ins, Harding, Pritchard, Crawford, Dew, Giles, Ebbett, R. Palmer and i W. Palmer, The Juniors play Pahiatua at Pahiatua. Following is the team : Hallan, Bead, Qrinlinton, McDonald, Burlace, Lawrence, McCormick, Humbling, A. Hutchins, Pritchard,

Brightwell, MoTavish, O’Brien, Teesdale and Herlihy. Emergencies.— A. Oliver, Baloombe, McCormick and Bly.