UNION TO MAKE MOVE TO CLEANUP LOCAL RUGBY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 48, 24 May 1950, Page 5

UNION TO MAKE MOVE TO CLEANUP LOCAL RUGBY

A strong move is to be taken by the Whakatane Sub-Union to eliminate illegal tactics and swearing on the field by players in all rugby matches the secretary. Mr R. L. Murphy, said yesterday. Although most referees had clamped down hard on any dirty play, as was shown by the number of players who had already been ordered off this season, there was still a number of players who continually played in an illegal manner. Mr Murphy said that most of the dirt seen so far had been employed by senior teams, by players who should have known better. He instanced the case last Saturday in the Wairaka-Paroa match when players stood toe to - toe and battled it out with fists.

He. warned that it would have to stop. The Union was going to take strong action and would back referees to the hilt in their efforts to clean up Whakatane Rugby and make it more attractive.

Mr Murphy also mentioned swearing on the Rugby field. He said that on Saturday he had heard players using filthy language in the hearing of women spectators. That would have to stop. The Union viewed such behaviour seriously and no player would be spared who continually lowered the game by swearing and using dirty tactics. Much of the cleaning up could be done by clubs themselves Mr Murphy said. He ‘thought that coaches and club officials should drum it into players to keep the game clean.

TRIAL GAMES TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY

A number of new faces will make an apearance in the senior and junior rugby trials to held at Rugby Field, Whakatane, on Sunday morning when teams will be selected to meet Rangitaiki at Te Teko on June 5 (King’s Birthday) for the Dunderdale Cup. Both senior and junior selectors have singled out the players they want present on Sunday but any who are ‘unable to be present are to contact the secretary of the Union, Mr R. L. Murphy. Both trial games, senior and junior, will commence at 9.45. The senior teams are: —

Probables: Fullback, E. Welch (Taneatua); three-quarters, C. Ingram (Paroa), M. Bluett (Wairaka), B McGougan (Taneatua); fiveeighths, D. McGarvey (Ruatoki), T. Riini (Wairaka); half back, K. Hurran (Taneatua); back row, H.'Nuku •'Ruatoki); side row, T. Crapp (Wairaka), J. Semmens (Taneatua); locks, H. Ranapia, P Ratahi (Paroa); front row, T. Taite (Ruatoki), O Anderson (Taneatua), D. Akuha tParoa).

Possibles: Fullback, A. Wilson (Paroa); three-quarters, W. Rutherford (United), M. Harawira (Paroa), K. Martin (Wairaka); fiveeighths, A. Fletcher (Taneatua), R. Carter (Wairaka); half back, M, Tiepa (Poroporo); back row, G. Foreman (Taneatua); side row, R. Hudson (Wairaka), W. Kopae (Poroporo); locks W. Uatuku (Pano.a), P. Gardiner (United); front row, Ngahuru (Ruatoki), T. Wahapango, P. Hona (Paroa). Emergencies: Forwards, K. Mer;to (Wairaka), S. Ruffles, D. Howat (Jnited). Backs, K. Wana, B. Ruru, B. Mokae (Paroa).

The following are the junior players selected. The teams will be arranged on the field:—

A. Taylor, B. Tunui, T. Moeke. Pryor, Hunia, Goodalk, Chadwick, Shapley, B. Hudson, Hohapata, Luxton, Stokes, Brown, K. Tawa. J. Wano, Cave, Littlejohn, Clarke, M. Tawa, Heta, Hansen, Edmondson, B. Fletcher, J. Tunui, Campbell, Stuart, Symans, Seebeck, Henderson, Woods, Wilson, Mason, James, Langdon, Simpson.

GAMES IN RANGITAIKI UNION

Senior rugby games will be played at Edgecumbe and Thornton on Saturday and junior matches at Otakiri and Te Teko when the Rangitaiki Union’s competitions will be continued.

Seniors: Edgecumbe v Matata at Edgecumbe, referee, A. Hegh; Thornton v Te Teko at Thornton, B. Smith.

Juniors: Otakiri v Edgecumbe at Otakiri, J. Hyland: Te Teko v Matata at Te Teko, A. Kinley.

TEAM FOR WEEK-END

United juniors to play High School at Whakatane on Saturday, Comiskey, Hall, Henderson, Seebeck, Brown, Luxton, Edmondson, Stewart, Cradwick, Shapley, Goodall, McGlashen, Butler, A. Taylor, Civil, Littlejohn. Reserves, Needham, Taylor, Pritchard, McKenzie,