CONTROL OF RUGBY

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 122, 18 May 1932, Page 3

CONTROL OF RUGBY

Central H.B. Sub-Union MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING LAST NIGHT A meeting of the management Committee of the Central Hawke’s Bay Rugby Sub-Union was held last night in Waipawa, when Mr. B. L. Wallace presided over Messrs. J. Bell, P. R. Smyrk, F. R. Logan, W. Adams, T. Dunn, A. Collett, W. Rust, R. S. Ricketts and R. Wynn. Coronation Park Rental The ’Waipawa Borough Council wrote stating that its terms for Coronation Park would be £l2 for the season if 50 per cent, of the representative games were played there, otherwise they would be £2O. The chairman reviewed the finances and stated that he did not see how the sub-union could possibly meet the terms, as indications were for a very lean year. After considerable discussion Mr. Collett moved and Mr. Dunn seconded that the terms be accepted. As an amendment, Mr. Logan moved and Mr. Ricketts seconded that the sub-union could not see its way to offer more than £l2, but would be prepared as an additional payment to give 25 per cent, of the stand takings. The amendment was carried. Mr. Wynn then moved and Mr. Dunn seconded that the whole financial position on Central Park, Waipukurau, be placed before the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union with a request for a decided reduction in interest charges, and that the finance committee of the Hawke's Bay union be asked to attend the next meeting of the sub-union. The motion was carried.

Senior Selector Resigns

Mr. J. Russell tendered his resignation as sole senior selector. —The resignation was accepted with regret.

The Representative Matches

In view of the forthcoming representative fixtures, Messrs. Collett and Smyrk were appointed to select a country team and Messrs Rust and Bell a town team for next Wednesday’s trial match, these four members to form a selection committee to choose the team to meet NapierHastings at Waipawa on May 28.

It was decided that the junior trial be a Possibles v. Probabl s match, and that this be a curtain-raiser to the senior representative fixture at Waipawa on May 28. FIXTURES AND REFEREES FOR SATURDAY Senior Division (3 p.m.) H. 5.0.8. v. Takapau at Waipukurau, No. 1 ground, Mr T Spencer. Waipawa v Onga Onga at Onga Onga Mr H. M. Carr To Auto a bye. Junior Grade Onga Onga v Tikokino, at Tikokino, 3 p.m., Mr R. Whitworth. Waipukurau v H. 5.0.8., at Waipukurau, No 1 ground, 1.30 p.m., Mr C. Woodward Takapau v Waipawa at Waipukurau, No. 2 ground, 3 p.m., Mr P. R. Smyrk. Third Class Waipawa High v Te Aute at Waipawa, 2.45 p.m., Mr P. Logan. Waipukurau H.S. v Waipawa at Waipawa, 1.30 p.m., Mr F. O’Halloran. Waipukurau a bye. SECOND ROUND FIXTURES The Central Hawke’s Bay Rugby Sub-Union confirmed the following second round fixtures at its meeting last night: — MAY 21 Senior H. 5.0.8. v. Takapau at Waipukurau, at 3 p.m., No. 1. Waipawa v. Onga Onga, at Onga Onga, 3 p.m. Te Aute, a bye. Junior

Onga Onga v. Tikokino, at Tikokino, at 3 p.m.

Waipukurau v. H. 5.0.8., at Waipukurau, No. 1., 1.30 p.m. Takapau v. Waipawa, at Waipukurau, No. 2., 3 p.m. Thirds, First Round

Waipawa High v. Te Aute, at Waipawa, at 2/45 p.m. Waipukurau High v. Waipawa, at Waipawa, 1.30 p.m. Waipukurau, a bye. MAY 28 j Representative - Fixture

Napier-Hastings versus Central

H.B. and East Coast. JUNE 4 Senior H. 5.0.8. v. Waipawa, at Waipawa, at 3 p.m. 3?akapau v. Te Ante, at Takapau, at 2.80 p.m. Onga Onga a bye. Junior H. 5.0.8. v. Onga Onga, at Onga Onga, at 3 p.m. Tikokino v. Takapau, at Tikokino, at 3 p.m. Waipukurau v. Waipawa, at Waipawa, 1.30 p.m. Thirds, First Round

Waipawa High v. Waipukurau, at Waipukurau, No. 2., at 2.30 p.m. Te Aute v. Waipawa, at Waipukurau, No. 1., at 2.30 p.m. Waipukurau High, a bye. JUNE 11 Senior

H. 5.0.8. v. Te Aute, at Waipukurau, No. 1., at 2.30 p.m. Takapau v. Onga Onga, at Takapau, 2.45 p.m. Waipawa, a bye. Junior Onga Onga v. Waipawa, at Onga Onga, at 2.45 p.m. Tikokino v. H. 5.0.8., at Waipawa, at 2.45 p.m. Waipukurau v. Takapau, at Waipukurau No. 2., 2.45 p.m. Thirds, First Round Waipukurau High v. Te Aute, at Waipukurau No. 3, at 2.30 p.m. Waipawa v. Waipukurau, at Waipawa, at 1.30 p.m. Waipawa High, a bye. JUNE 18 Senior Te Aute v. Waipawa, at Waipukurau No. 1., at 2.30 p.m. H. 5.0.8. v. Onga Onga, at Onga Onga, at 2.45 p.m. Takapau, a bye. Junior Onga Onga v. Takapau, at Takapau, at 2.30 p.m. Tikokino v. Waipukurau, at Waipukurau No. 2., at 2.45 p.m. H. 5.0.8. v. Waipawa, at Waipawa at 1.30 p.m. NOTES IN PASSING FROM VARIOUS SOURCES An innovation was tried out by the Rugby referees at Hikurangi recently says the Advocate. This is an idea of Mr D. McLeod’s. It consists of a bagpipe bladder, strapped on the referee’s back. The whistle is attached by means of a rubber tape and blown by the pressure of a finger on a valve. The bladder can be inflated in leisure moments, ensuring a plentiful supply of air for rush periods. The device proved most succesful.

The ordering-off of two players in the Rugby match between Hawera and Athletic recently appears to suggest that referees are going to be stricter this year than is sometimes the case in regard to matters which are sometimes referred to at “incidents’’ on the football field. If that is the case it is hoped the Rugby Union will act appropriately if breaches are considered serious, and surely no referee worth the name would order players off the field for a breach that was not considered serious. There is rather too much inclination on the part of some players, no doubt in the heat of excitement of the moment, to indulge in little “pleasantries” with opponents, which are in no sense a part of the game, and there were some in the game between Star and Old Boys at New Plymouth which came very near to be classed as foul play.

The information that twice recently after football matches in South Taranaki players have come to blows on the ground was conveyed to the management committee of the Taranaki Rugby Union on Thursday night by Mr J. Rowe. The committee took a serious view of the matter and the rule was read which makes' it clear that while the players are on the ground they are under the jurisdiction of the union. The game between Old Boys and Sydenham on Rugby Park, Christchurch, on Saturday was delayed for an unusual cause. The referee Mr C. M‘Lachlan, got into some tight play. When the Tuck was dispersed ho was lying on the ground apparently unconscious. With commendable presence of mind a player lifted the referee’s hand and blew his whistle. Mr M’Laehlan soon recovered, but, dazed from a knock on. the head, relinquished his position for the remainder of the spell. BAD TEMPERED PLAY Although the Rugby football season is scarcely into its stride several incidents in Taranaki have suggested that rough and bad-tempered play is marring the games. Visitors to the province have, for several seasons, commented upon the ease with which our

players’ tempers are frayed. This is a grave reflection on a province that has always taken its football seriously and critics are justified in asking does this feature coincide with an undoubted deterioration in the quality of play and with the loss of interest by onlookers? In a senior game' at Hawera last week two men were ordered off the field as tho result of “incidents” and at the Rugby Union committee meeting a few days later, it was disclosed by a member that twice recently after matches in South. Taranaki player had come to blows on the ground. In the senior matches at Pukekura Park on Saturday bad tempered play was very evident. These incidents should not be passed over lightly by those who have the good of the game at heart, and who has not? Rugby has too great a part in our national life for its popularity to be endangered. No sport is worth a jot to those who play it and those who watch it unless it is clean. If this tendency towards bad-tempered play is peculiar to Taranaki it is nign time an inquiry was made lutO its causes. The first thought to some would be to lay all tho blame on the players 'themselves. Others, including the players, might blame tho referees for, allowing too much latitude, while the referees might blame the Rugby Union for not standing by their decisions in past years. The Rugby Union if it concerned itself at all with the question, might reply that football is not a parlour game. But this vague argument does not justify foul and bad-tempered play. Taranaki has always bred hard, tough footballers who took pride in playing tho game hard and with no “ beg-pardons, ” but this reputation for bad-temper is something new. Has this -arisen because the present-day player cannot take his gruel like his father, or is it just a bad habit that has crept into Rugby? Whatever the cause the time has come for players to show more self-control and to get on with the game.