UNION RULING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20028, 29 August 1939, Page 9

UNION RULING

POVERTY BAY DEPARTURE BALL IN THE SCRUMS PROCEDURE ADOPTED DRAW FOR SATURDAY For the rest of the season, referees in club Rugby matches in Gisborne will put the ball into the scrums, this departure being approved’ by the Poverty Bay Rugby Union at its weekly meeting last evening.

Subject to the approval of both captains, the practice will also apply to representative games to be played before the end of the present season. Mr. G. H. Sceats presided over the following delegates:—Bro. Davis. Messrs. T, French, W. H. James, J. E. Mercer, G. J. Jeune, E. T. Brosnalian, K. F. Jones, and W. S. McKee, hon. secretary. The Referees’ Association pointed out that in some centres the experiment of the referee putting the ball in the scrum had been tried. The association would be pleased to experiment with this in the remaining inter-club matches of the season, subject to the approval of the union being obtained. The chairman commented that the experiment was proving successful where tried and, on the motion of Mr. Mercer, seconded by Mr. French, it was decided to adopt the, suggestion offered by the referees. Guidance For Delegates The delegate from the Referees’ Association, Mr. W. H. James, said that the step was being taken with a view to ascertaining whether an improvement could be effected in scrum work. Some guidance for the delegates to the Imperial Rugby Conference on the motion was sought. It was decided that the practice be adopted in representative games to be played before the end of the season, subject to the approval of both captains being received.

It was reported that the Norihcoie Club would be unable to travel from Auckland to play the winners of the Poverty Bay junior championship, difficulty in arranging transport being advanced as the reason for the cancellation of the fixture.

The chairman expressed the thanks of the union to the teachers who had conducted the . prinyary schools’ Rugby tournament held last week, and said that it was desirable that the fixture be made an annual one. It was decided to advise the New Zealand Rugby Union of-the marked success of the tournament. Mr. H. Hunter, manager of the team which defeated Bay cf Plenty at Opotiki on Saturday submitted his report on the game, stating that the game was one of the cleanest representative fixtures he had ever seen, this opinion -being substantiated iby players. „ Anderson’s Good Hookingf Mr. Hunter commented on the performa'nce of the hooker, H. C. Anderson, in outhooking the former Poverty Bay representative hooker, W. Mathieson, who was in the middle of the Bay of Plenty front row. The calibre of Mathieson’s hooking was well known to members, said Mr. Hunter, and Anderson’s performance in outhooking _ Mathieson’s was a notable one.

The manager was thanked for his report and also for his services to the team, a vote of thanks to Mr. Hunter being carried with acclamation.

-On the motion of Mr. Mercer, seconded by Mr. E. T. Brosnahan, Marist juniors were declared winners of tne Junior Grade championship and were congratulated by the union. The chairman commented that, a notable feature of the game was the manner in which the teams had foregathered after the game. Saturday’s Fixtures Following is the draw for next Saturday’s games:— Old Timers’ Game Barbarians v. Saracens, Oval No. 1, 2.45 p.m. Seniors Celtic v. Old Boys, Oval No. 2, 2.45 p.m. Juniors Marist v. Old Boys A, Oval No. 1, 11.15 p.m.: High -School v. Rovers, Oval No. 2, 1.15 p.m. Third Grade s Celtic v. Old Boys, High School No. 1 ground; Marist, a bye. Fourth Grade High School v. Marist, High School No. 2: Celtic v. Old Boys, High School No. 3.