RUGBY PROSPECTS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, 2 May 1941, Page 5

RUGBY PROSPECTS

HOME GUARD CALLED IN

HOPE FOU COMPETITION

The Rev. Mr Rangi and Mr Merritt, representing Ruatoki at last night's annual meeting of the Whakatane Rugby Union introduced a novel scheme whereby the game of Rugby could be .maintained in the district and at the same tiipe ba a benefit to Home Guard training Of., course;, the idea is yet in the air, but so keenly was their suggestion taken up that the chief resolution last night was one to meet officers of the Guard and put the propostion. before them. The Ruatoki speakers pointed 'out that chances were slim i-s far ;vs maintaining a competition in tt'o usual way, but pointed'- out that in thoir disrjet the Guard l was one hundred and. fifty strong and if the gam' 3 , could be taken as part of the. training then teams could take the' lield. The game would be kept alive until the boys returned from the front and the Guardsmen, would benefit by the sport. In addition it Avas, stated that the public would probably appreciate something of a military flavour in their sport Avhile management would be made more simple than otherwise in such difficult times as the. Guard, had! its organisation and would find in its ranks many keen Rugby -enthusiasts. The chairman, Mr W. S. Henderson and other members greeted the idea Avith enthusuasih, agreeing that such a scheme Avould; probably prove the only salvation of the sport. Many aspects Avouldi have to be investigated and it Avas decided that Commanders of the Home Guard be interviewed, the suggestions put before them and if possible a meeting called for next week to prepare for the season which it is hoped to otFicially open on May 17. APPOINTMENT OF REFEREES BAY OF PLENTY ASSOCIATION The association's delegate., Mr Richardson, reported as follows on the Bay of Plenty RefereeLs' Association meeting held last Saturday at Whakatane: —- "In a discussion "brought up by the Rotorua delegate, that' each resipective sub-association's; appointment board appoint the referee when games Averc played in the subassociation's district, this was not agreed; to on the grounds that Ro-' torua did not grade their referees (being the only sub-association in the district that did not do so), the result being that the Bay appointment board could not, select a satisfactory referee front a lisit 01 ten or a dozen names. • ''A further matter brought up by the Rotorua delegate* was That on every occasion possible the member or members of the Bay referees appointment board, visit the place Avliere a game is to be played so that the referee could* be seen and his qualities as a referee be proved. This Avas agreed to and the three members on the appointment board present promised they would \ 7 isit places; Avhen it Avas suitable and without expense,. "The Rotorua delegate also referred to members from each associsi- ' tion having an inter-change of .visits to association meetings in the district for the purpose! of discussing rulings and making the rulings of referees in the district uniform and giving assistance; to the game in general, Avas not, agreed upon OAving to the present Avar conditions prevailing regarding the petrol restrictions. Members, pointed out that they were, on committees in their home towns concerning the

Avar effort arul it was realised that it was a major effort !Vt the present time. , I "The secretary, Mir Woolliams, announced that no application for a grant of money from the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union, had been asked for as the Referees' Association was in a good financial position f .o start the 1941 season. If money wa~ required for the season it could easily be obtained as the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union secretary, Mr , Henderson, had given this understanding."