LEAGUE FOOTBALL DELEGATES ADOPT TOWN-COUNTRY COMPETITION

Grey River Argus, 11 August 1948, Page 6

LEAGUE FOOTBALL DELEGATES ADOPT TOWN-COUNTRY COMPETITION

At the West Coast Rugby League’s delegates meeting held last evening, the Hokitika representative, Mr T. N. Warren, submitted for approval a proposal for the inauguration of a Town v. Country competition in which players selected from the districts ot Runanga, Ngahere and Blackball would play a team comprising members ot the Marist, Cobden and Hokitika clubs. He said that a town and country trophy would give a good chance for any promising player to be seen in action by the selectors. Mr Warren said that these matches could be played alternatively at Hokitika, irrespective of who held the trophy. The match could be held at Wingham Park this year, and the proceeds be contributed to the injured players’ fund.

The delegates agreed that the proposed competition would provide each year quite a good game. Mr B. F. Connors (President) said: “It could be played on the same basis as the Auckland v. Maori games which are held each year in that centre with great success.” Mr J. Oakley said that the thanks of the League should be conveyed to the Hokitika Club for this great idea. It was decided that Mr Warren s proposal be adopted, and that next season the competition be held on the first available Sunday following the end of the senior competitions and that a Town v. Country senior reserve match be held as a curtain-raiser to the main game. It was also decided that the proceeds from the matches be contributed to the injured players fund. ~ , . Mr B. F. Connors presided, also present being Messrs J. Oakley, B. Ramsay, J. Kidd, T. F. McKenzie (secretary), L. P. Coffey (treasurer). Delegates present were: Messrs W. Gilbert, M. Power (Marist), T. N. Warren, A. Broome (Hokitika), N. Griffiths, J. Anderson (Runanga), J. Kerridge (Kohinoor), J. Balderstone (Ngahere), W. Williams, J. Harper (Brunner), T. Freeman (Cobden), and J. Neilson, and A. Kennedy (Blackball). . . ~ Because of the infantile paralysis outbreak it was decided to cancel the West Coast schoolboys’ trip to New Plymouth to take part in the Dominion tournament but that the schoolboys’ match with Canterbury will take place as previously, and that players be selected from the two teams to form a South Island representative team to play the West Coast fifth grade representatives. It was decided that every endeavour be made to broadcast the Runanga v. Auckland match to be played at Carlaw Park on September 25. A request from the Canterbury League for a visit from the Blackball Club in September was granted. Marist Club was granted a set of jerseys for an old-timers team which will take the field at their silver jubilee celebrations early next month. The unsatisfactory state of the Cobden Domain was the subject of a report by a referee, Mr H. Bassett, who stated that the Held was almost ankle deep in mud. It was decided that letters of congratulations be sent to Misses K. Kennedy (Greymouth), N. Burgess (Runanga) and N. Flaherty (St Mary’s, Hokitika), on being selected in the combined basketball team to piay the Australians. A challenge by the Cobden Club for the Senior Challenge Shield was accepted, and will be held at the first available date. The effect of the recent strike at the Runanga mines was mentioned in a request from the Rapahoe club for financial assistance in travelling. The letter was left on the table to oe reviewed later when a Rapahoe delegate is present. It was resolved that the Hokitika seniors be given all their gate money until the end of this season to help in defraying their travelling expenses. FIXTURES Senior: Runanga v. Ngahere, at Wingham Park, 2.45 (J. Griffin); Cobden v. Blackball at Dobson, 2.45 (J. Williams); Hokitika v. Marist, at Hokitika, 2.45 (R. Baird). Senior Reserve: Lake Brunner - v. Ngahere, at Te Kinga, 2.45 (C. O’Flaherty); Blackball v. Cobden, at Blackball, 2.45 (L. Kinsella)'; Runanga v. Rapahoe at Rapahoe, 2.45 (H. Fisher); Marist v. Brunner, at Wingham Park No. 1, at 1.15 (J. Mathews). Third Grade: Marist v. Brunner, at Wingham Park, No. 2, at. 2.45 (W. Moore); Blackball v. Hokitika (fourth grade) at Dobson, 1.15 (B. Casey). Fourth Grade: Cobden v. Marist, at Cobden, 2.45 (J. Knowles); Kohinoor v. Runanga, at Rapahoe, 1.15 (T. Freeman). Fifth Grade: Brunner v. Runanga, at Taylorville, 2.30 (W. Mundy); Blackball v. Hokitika, at Blackball, 1.15 (K. Bullimore); Marist v. Kohinoor at Wingham Park, No. 2, at 1.15 (W. Hopkins). SCHOOLBOYS (Saturday) Senior practice at Victoria Park, 2.30 (J. Griffin). Sixth Grade: Rep trial practice at Victoria Park at 2.30 (W. Mundy). Seventh Grade: Rep trial practice at Victoria Park, at 2 p.m. (W. Hopkins). Eighth Grade: Marist A v. Brunner, (final), at Victoria Park at 10 a.m. (K. Bullimore). Ninth Grade (Sunday): Brunner y. Runanga at Dobson, 2.30 (B. Casey); Cobden v. Blackball, at Wingham Park, 2.30 (J. Mathews).