RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 308, 21 May 1941, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SEASON OPENS ON SATURDAY SHORTAGE OF TEAMS Competition matches in the Whakatane Rugby sub-Union's district are to commence on Saturday next. So far only four teams have entered in both the senior and junior divisions and it is hoped that others will come forward. At present Whakatane, Taneatua, Waimaina and Ruatoki have be£n nominated and thus a match of either of the grades will take place, on each ground weekly. The Poroporo and Paroa Maoris have not yet intimated that they willl enter sides as they have, done in the past, and it is hoped that both (districts, will be able to field fifteens, if possible, in both grades. At present there will be no bye,, and if both the native districts could join in the game, then the position would be the same and a competition of greater interest provided.

FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY The. draw for Saturday is as foK lows: — Senior Waimana y Taneatua, at Waimana Whakatane v Ruatoki, at Ruatoki Junior Taneatua v Waimana, at Taneatua Whakatane Star v Ruatoki, at Whakatane. Home Guard's Assistance. The competition this year lias been made possible by the interest shown by the. Home Guard. On th? suggestion of the Ruatoki officials. Messrs Rangi and Merritt, the officers of the Guard were approached and a suggestion made that to keep the sport alive the district companies form their teams and thus provide the Union with organised material and also provide the Guardsmen with physical training. It was felt that unless the Guard joined in the chances of running a competition were slight. This would have been so, as with many companies of the Guard parading on Saturday, players would have been unavailable for Rugby, while with the arrangement arrived at the football game will in all likelihood be regarded as part of the Guard training. Must be Serving. The decision of the committee was also that to take part in Rugby players must lie members of one of ! the services, territorials, Home | Guard, E.P.S. or some such organisation. There lias been a suggestion that some young men, ldkely to be called for territorial training shortly, have felt that they would rather await that time without joining any service, yet still wished to play j Rugby. Although it had been stated that j this matter was to be brought before the meeting held last night at Taneatua, no discussion on the point took place and the rule stands. If young men wis 1 !! to tJay Rugby they must join one of the w r ar services.