RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 182, 5 July 1940, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL

WHAKATANE UNION MEETING PROBLEM OF SIDELINE OFFENDERS The Whakatane Rugby Sub-Union met on Tuesday night, with a fifty per cent attendance of delegates, when several matters affecting the game in the district were discussed. It was decided to write, expressing thanks to those who provided transport for the junior representatives for the match with Rangitaiki at Matata. The question of the regrading of players was brought up when the Whakatane Star delegate applied for jiermission to play D. Wilson in the junior tesfm. after he had played three games for the senior fifteen. There was some discussion on the precedent involved, the decision being that the player concerned be regraded, it being understood that should he play another game for the senior team, he will automatically be classed a senior player. A delegate introduced the suggestion that the Union's meetings' should be held once monthly instead of the present practice of meeting every fortnight. The need for economy in benzine consumption was stressed. The decision was to hold the next meeting .at Waimana on July 23rd„ three weeks being the interval, when the matter Avill be considered. Spectators' Objectionable Language. The referee's report on the ParoaWhakatane Star game stated that two of the Paroa supporters had used objectionable language. The Referees' Association delegate, in elaborating the complaint, said that some of the referee's rulings during ] the course of the game apparently i did not coincide with the offenders' knowledge of the game—and, of i course, the referee was wrong. ] The words used by the supporters, one of whom was a delegate to the Union, were quoted, and were certainly not of the type known as Parliamentary. For -that matter, the whole tenor of the remarks addressed to the referee were hard ly complimentary. "The Union had occasion to write to one of the offenders last year on . the same score," observed the presi- j dent of the Union, "and it is regrettable that the incident occurred." It was moved that the matter be left in abeyance until the next meeting, when it was hoped that the delegate would be in attendance. The motion met with the approval of the meeting. Regarding the other offender, it was decided to write, pointing out the gravity of the offence and asking for an apology. An Inquiry Asked For. Mr J. White opened the discussion on the question of a player residing in the Whakatane district, who was playing for Rangitaiki. He pointed out that the player concerned had no residential qualifications entitling him to play for the Rangitaiki Union. The opinion was expressed by members that the practice of nonqualified players turning out should be checked. It amounted, it was said, to poaching. The decsiion was that the Union ; should Avrite to the Bay of Plenty Union, asking the latter body to inquire into the case and requesting that the matter be cleared up, the position in this ease requiring definite clarification. PROMISING PLAYER INJURED ACCIDENT ON SATURDAY Korereko, Poroporo's fullback, was injured in the game against Waimana on Saturday, Heavijy charged when in possession, Korereko sus- ' tamecl a fractured ami and it is

likely that the injury will keep him out of the game for the rest of the season. The accident deprives Poroporo of a player who was likely to make a first-class fullback, Korereko having shown great promise in the two games he had played in this position. At a time when players are hard to get, the enforced absence of one is likely to seriously inconvenience the club concerned, and' that is liable to affect the football position as a whole.