RUGBY FOOTBALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 64, 17 April 1946, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

ANNUAL MEETING WHAKATANE _ UNION PROSPECTS FOR COMING SEASON Over sixty members of Football Clubs throughout the Whakatane district met on Tuesday evening in the County Council Chambers, where the annual meeting of the Whakatane SubBranch of the Rugby Union took place.

Opening the meeting the President, Mr W. S. Henderson, expressed his pleasure at seeing such a large number present. It was, he said, indicative of a good forthcoming season.

The President’s report, which was then presented, gave a brief outline of activities over the past year and in particular requested clubs to locate all trophies in their possession in readiness for the coming season. The balance sheet showed a credit balance of £66 4s sd. A vote of thanks to Mr W. Rixon, of Taneatua, was recorded for his action in auditing the books of the sub-branch. Mr T. E. Hamerton being unavailable.

Election of Officers

The election of officers took place as under:—

Patron: Mr W. Sullivan, M.P. (reelected).

Vice-Patron: Mr R. Boon (reelected). President Mr W. S. Henderson (re-elected). Vice-Presidents: Messrs. N. Bremner, G. Lodge, H. C. Alexander, J. D. Rivett, R. Morton, T. Grant, T. Takarua and T. A. Gee.

Secretary: Mr Peter Wairua. Senior Selectors: Messrs. A. Harawira, P. Anderson and G. Oswald.

Junior Selectors: Messrs. C. Wells, L. Green and K. Hotene.

It was decided that opening day be May 4, the President pointing out that on that date, although two referees would be absent at the annual meeting as delegates, it should not inconvenience play to a very great extent.

Management

The following delegates from clubs were appointed to the Management Committee of the Sub-Un-ion:—Paroa: J. Hohapata and C. Pile; Whakatane United: D. Wilson arid B. Norman; Poroporo: J. Tunui and S. Hotene; Taneatua: P. Anderson and C. Moore; Waimana: R. Boynton and G. Mitchell; Ruatoki: G. Crawford and T. Whetu; Wairaka: J. Lawson and J. Mcßoberts.

Competition Entries

The following entries were received from clubs for the 1946 Senior and Junior competitions:— Paroa: 1 Senior, 1 Junior team Wairaka: 1 Senior, 1 Junior. Whakatane United: 1 Senior, 1 Junior.

Poroporo:**l Senior, 1 Junior. Taneatua: 1 Senior, 1 Junior. Waimana: 1 Senior, 2 Juniors. Ruatoki: 2 Senior, 1 Junior. Some discussion took place on the weight and age limit with regard to Junior football. Mr B. Norman pointed out that in many instances players were over the age limit of 23 years yet were too light to play Senior. The President stated that the age and weight limit had been set by the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union, and therefore the Sub-Union could not alter the ruling.

Third Grade Team Introducing the subject of a third grade competition, the President said that even.if only a few teams were available it would be well worth while and would cater for the High School boy who was usually too light to play second grade. Some discussion ensued the meeting deciding that a third grade competition be held and that a weight limit of lOst. 71bs. and an age limit of under 17 years apply except in the case of bona fide school boys where no weight or age limits be set.

Grounds

Raising the question of goal posts on the Domain, Mr A. Breward pointed out that at present there was only one goal post on each ground. The President stated that the posts were ready but at the request of those organising the forthcoming Bay of Plenty v Poverty Bay cricket match which was to take place during Easter, these would not be erected until after the match.

Saying that the annual Bay of

Plenty v Sacred Heart School rep. match had been washed out owing to the fact that the majority of players were selected from Tauranga, and therefore the team could not be properly termed a Bay of Plenty representative one, Mr Breward stated in reply to a question from the President, that this season an Eastern Bay v Western Bay High School match would be played on July 27. New Memorial Cup

A suggestion from Mr S. Hotene embodied the proposal that the Whakatane Sub-Union should inaugurate a Challenge Memorial Cup in memory of those men who had fallen overseas. The suggestion was endorsed by the meeting and a resolution passed that the trophy be called the “1939-45 Services Memorial Cup.” The meeting concluded with the decision that the first meeting of the Management Committee take place at Whakatane on April 24, and thereafter alternately at Taneatua and Whakatane. The affiliation fees were fixed at £2 2s senior teams and £1 Is junior teams.