College Rugby Teams And Union Competitions

Chronicle (Levin), 31 March 1949, Page 4

College Rugby Teams And Union Competitions

Describing the Horowhenua College third grade team as almost a Horowhenua represe.ntative side,. Mr. G. T. Clunie, of Paraparaumu, recommended to the annual meeting of the Horowhenua Rugby Union that the position of the school be. reviewed with the object of ' allowing other clubs the first choice of players. Following" a lengthy discussion, during which the college represen"tatives, MeSsrs. A. Haley and A. V. Chappell, pointed out that the college expected no more than allegiance and loyalty to its own -teams, the president, Mj\ R. R. Robinson ruled the recommendation out of order. It was contended by Mr. Clunie that' on account of the wide xarea from which thev college drew its pupils, it had a much stronger third grade team than other clubs because it had the first selection of the boys. The college did not "take the first pick," said Mr. Chappell in reply. It merely expected, and 4. hoped, that a boy would elect tpjt /N play for the college as a matter or*J ' loyalty. He remarked on the tradition which followed college sport, adding that a school was known for its sports attainments rather than its scholastib achievements, and that it was quite natural that a boy would prefer to play for his own school. Mr. Robinson told the meeting . how in the past the college had set a standard of sport in tne district which it was hoped other teams would play up to. He considered that it would be wrong to take the action suggested, but thought that the management committee could | arrive at a solution by considering the question of the age limit. It' had been suggested that the college should field three third grade teams this season. Mr. Clunie gave details of a cass in which a boy who had elected to play for his local club had been told that if he did, then he would not be eligible for se'ection for the t college representative team. . The boys were free to make their choice, said Mr. Chappell. He considered that any club would take the view that boys who turned out on Saturdays were the ones' who should represent the college in inter-collegiate sport. ;Mr. Haley said it was a matter to be considered by the college alone. "Was this penalty fair, asked Mr. Clunie. If t"he college did not play its usual team as a representative side, then it would be beaten time and again, sai'd Mr. Chappell. A weak team which was accustomed to playing together would be far ( stronger than a side made up of ithe strongest players, he contended. j After further discussion along These lines, the recommendation jwas again read to the meeting and lit was at this stage that Mr. Robinson ru'ed it out of order on the ground that the suggested action was aneady in' effect. Boys were ailowed to nominate a club if they wisned to play for it.