RUGBY FOOTBALL SEASON

Bay of Plenty Beacon, 2 May 1941, Page 8

RUGBY FOOTBALL SEASON

PROSPECTS AND PREPARATIONS DISCUSSED MEETINGS HELD IN THE BAY In spite of the fact that the ranks of Rugby players are sadly depleted this year the Bay of Plenty will this season for the second time run a competition under wartime conditions. Prospects arc, considering the loss of enthusiasts suffered, not as poor as they might have been and those with their hearts in the game intend to "keep the flag flying" in the Bay until the boys return. Meetings have been held recently and the initial arrangements made. Reports of these follow, while an account of the Whakatane Union's meeting which took place last night will appear in our next issue. The local Star Club met on Wednesday. and Monday's issue will deal with that meeting also. BAY OF PLENTY UNION REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES ANNUAL MEETING DISCUSSIONS Arrangements for representative and trophy matches for the coming season were diiscussed at the annual meeting oi the Ray of Plenty Rugby Union, held in the Whakatane County Chambers 011 Saturday Sub-unions represented at the annual meeting were Opotiki, Whakatane, Rangitaiki, Rotorua, Te Puke, and: .Tauranga,, and also the Referees' Association. Mr W. Barrett, of Opotiki, was in the chair. Election of Officers. Officers elected were;.—Patron: Mr F. Burt; vice-patron: Mr Les. Clarke; president: Mr A. E. Spratt: vice-presidents: Messrs 11. Tai Mitchell (Rotorua), G. S. Moody (Opotiki), W. S. Henddrson (Whakatane). F. Burt (Rangitaiki.), G. Fisher (Tauranga); executive: Messrs Burrctt,, Clarke, Peebles (Whakatane), J. Guinness (Tauranga), F. Burt (Rangitaiki). T. Anderson (Maori representative); secretary: Mr W. S. Henderson: selectors': Messrs T. French (Rotorua), W. Barrett, G. Fisher: • delegates to the New Zealand. Rugby Union (if required): Messrs Spratt and Guinness. It decided to support the following nominations for position:! undeir the Ne.w Zealand' Rugby; Unkm the deletions to be conducted by postal ballot: New Zealand Council: Messrs L. Carmine (Auckland); A. St. Clair Belcher (Hamilton); G. Maddison (Hawke's Bay); North Island selector: Mr French. Hurunui Apanui Shield. For the Hurunui Apanui Shield it was agreed; to declare Opotiki the holders with the order of challenge as Whakatane, Rotorua, Tauranga, and Rangitaiki. The first match will be on July 5 with the. others following at fortnightly intervals. Weights , for the Shalfoon Shield Were discussed' at the suggestion of the Tauranga delegates, and it was decided l to leave these as in previous years Avith a 12-stone.,limit for players over 20, and no- weight limit for those under that age. Mr G. Fisher, of Tauranga, gave notice that at the next annual meeting he would, move that in future Hurunui Apanui Shield matches the Winners should receive 80 pen* cent, of the proceeds', the remainder going to the Bay of Plenty Union. j Representative Fixtures. Regarding matches with other unions it wasi announced: that Auckland, Poverty Bay and Thames Valley owed the Bay matches, and that the Baj' would re!urn a match to Waikato. Following the decision of the IV Puke Sub-Union to suspend operations, it was deeidod to amend the boundaries between Tauranga anil Te Puke, so that Te Puke players could play with the Tauranga SubUnion. It was expccted that thcr<would be two junior teams and one senior from Te Puke. Similarly. Galatea players would be permitted to play with Rangitaiki and Apanrd with Opotiki.

RANGITAIKI UNION ANNUAL MEETING HELD The Rangitaiki Rugby Union held its annual meeting at Ed gee umbo on April 2M when delegates from the different clubs ay ere. present. President's Report The president in his report for the past season said that nine matches had been played by the Reps, two friendly matches Rotorua (at Rotorua) and South Auckland (at Matata) one of which was lost (South Auckland), live Shield games were played l four of which were won after some close and interesting matches. In the, last challenge Opotiki lifted; the Shield from RangUaiki in a good match at To Teko by 8 points to 3. Opotiki on the day were decidedly the best team. The replaying for the Shield did not take place' 011 account of the Shield being handed back to the Bay Union through Rangitaiki accepting a final match for the Parata Cup against Tc Puke, at Te Puke, on the date pet down by the Opotiki Union for the replay, this Parata Cup final had been arranged for some time by the two Unions concerned, for the date, which after Opotiki won the Shield was chosen by them for the replay (allowing only four days notice to Rangitaiki) giving the season that a number of their players were going into camp.it was very disappointing to the players and. public that the match was not played,. Rangitaiki won the Parata Cup beating Te Puke in the lima I at Te Puke by G points to The juniors had several matches away and acquited themselves well, although not quite up to the standard of last year, The financial position, of the Union is satisfactory. In the. local competitions Te Teko seniors won the Smith Shield and! the Duff Cup. Western Drain won the junior Shield and the Lion Cud. Election of Officers. The following officers were elected for the coming season:—Patron: Mr J. Pattie: President: Mr F. J. Burt; Vice-presidents: Messrs, R. E. Blair, W. A. McCracken, H .L. Anderson, C. Eivers, A. Jamieson, (Continued in next column).

G. Thompson, A. HylancT, F. Linsell, J. Graham, A. Gobdcn. W. Marr, R. Jensen, R. Baskett., with Mrs O. Anderson and, Mrs Dunciertlalo as Honorary Vice-presidents; Secretary and. Treasure,r: Mr A.. Gummihgs; Executive President: H. T*. Anderson and Secretary; Delegates lo Hay- Union: Messrs E. Nalima nn and T. Anderson. A general discussion. took place in ferenec to the coming season and while it Avas fully recognised that owing to the number of players both Pakcha and Maori who have gone: overseas or are in camp, some clubs will be hard put to field a senior team, it was* unanimously decided to carry on, and' urge on old players to give every assistance the}' can to their different clubs, the president mentioned that the Home Guard training wouldi ix' very useful to players to keep themselves fit. , A meeting of delegates will be held in Matata on May 6 to receive nomination of. teams, senior and junior, appoint selectors and, arrange rounds and draw, the season w ill probably open on May 17.