RUGBY IN THE SOUTH

Chronicle (Levin), 22 July 1948, Page 4

RUGBY IN THE SOUTH

Possible Formation Of New Senior Team. A suggestion that the Horowhenua Rug^y Union should now add to its strength by forming a senior team in the PaekakarikiParaparaumu end of its district was made by a life member of the union, l^lr.'A. ^ichards, at Tuesday night's hieeting of the management committee. Mr. Richards said that the growth 'in the south was becoming very rapid, and that there must in consequence be any number of senior piayers there. He suggested that the committee look into the possibility. Commenting, Mr. G. T. Clunie said that the domain at Paekaka-^ riki had been ruined for football by the spreading of gravel over much of the area by the military authorities during the war, and that many attempts to bring it back to playable condition had failed. Some very enthusiastic persons, however,

were arrangmg for deposits oi earth to be spread over the area," and it was anticipated that if it was successful a club would be formed 'there. He had been approached by five persons at Paraparaumu regarding the formation of a senior team. He believed that Waikanae would also join in, and that a good senior team could be formed at that end. In reply, Mr. Richards said that he would be very pleased to offer any assistance he could in forming such a team. There is a possibility that the game between the Horowhenua senior B team and Puketoi will be played at Shannon. The question arose following representations from the Shannon delegate for a representative fixture there, After some diseussion, it was decided. that it-be a recommendation to the fixtures committee that a representative game be played there. It was also decided that the game between Wellington thirds and Horowhenua juniors be played at Otaki.

A request came from the Shannon Cxub that in view of its jubilee celebrations next year the MaoriPakeha game be played there. It was decided to make this request a recommendation to the incoming committee. The Levin Convent School wrote thanking the union for its 'donation Of a ball. The committee decided to give full support to the playing' of midget games of five minutes each way, but it was thought advisabie to play them off between the two games on Saturdays, rather than at half-time during the main game. Mr. J. MacDonald was appointed manager of the junior team to play Bush at Levin on July 31 and *Mr. N. H. Kingi manager of the team to play at Wairoa. It was also decided to ask Mr. P. Rikihana, of Foxton, to accompariy the team as the representative of the Maori people. - ■The Rahui fourth grade team was fined 10s for not notifying the referee or secretary of its intention to default their game on Saturday, • July 17. Mr. C. E. Wiseley pointed out the difficulty of securing referees and the inconvenience caused when the association was not told of cancellations. The Shannon Club was also fined 10s for a similar offence on July 10. Arising out of the recent decision of the New Zealand Rugby 'Union, which reversed a previous decision in regard to the Foxton and Awahau Ciubs, members of the committee extended to the chairman, Mr. A. Gillespie, congratulations on the good work he had done in unearthing fitrther evidence in favour of Horowhenua, and to his deputation. Comment was made at the serious injustice that had been done the uriion by the N.Z.R.U's previous decision, which had meant a considerable loss of finance to the union. :