SUNDAY RUGBY

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1927, Page 4

SUNDAY RUGBY

-MATCH OX WEST COAST. ASHBURTOX TJXIOX DISPUTE. ASHBURTOX, Aug. 23. Strong criticism of tlio action of tiio A.shburton representative Rugby team in playing a match against- Inangalina at Reofton on Sunday, was made by members of the Ashbrrton Rugby Union at its meeting last night, and the match as an official one, was repudiated by tlio president. The matter was introduced by Mr D. Hoenan, who asked the president, Mr W. F. Watters, if the match had been played on Sunday.

The president replied : I understand so. It was a matter for the players.

Air Heenan, heatedly: 1 am broadminded and have been associated with sport for the past 25 years, and t know of no more disgraceful action. It is casting a slur on the public of Ashburton, on this Union, and a greater slur ou the parents of the players. J am satisfied that if the parents and the employers had known this they would never have allowed the team to go. It is a, scandalous shame! | wish to express my emphatic protest against our team playing on the Sabbath, for it is a very bad precedent. Each member of the Union must feel a certain amount of responsibility for the match.

Mr M. Timmings said that he did not approve of Sunday football, but it was tlio practice- on the West Coast. (Mr R. Loy: League only. Air Timmings: And Rugby. Playing football on a Sunday is approved by the people in general. Jf the West Coasters wanted to play, the manager of our team would have been bound to meet them. AH Hoenan : Did any member of this Unigai have an idea that the match wa-s to bo played"?

The president: I heal'd a whisper. When the team set out it was to play three matches only. The matter is outside our province at the present time. We will have to wait until the manager conies back. On this side of the ranges Sunday football is strongly d iseountenanced.

Air Loy: I feel as strongly as Air Heenan over this matter. Tt is common talk that this match was prearranged, and wc should express our strong disapproval: If it were arranged alter the team arrived that arrangement- was rank discourtesy on the part of the manager. All' M. Sogers: I am not in favour of Sunday playing. 1 heard there was a fourth match to be played, but j did not know the date.

Mr Timmings: l suggest the matter be left over until the manager, Air J. Smith, returns. Air A. IS. Christie said that he was not altogether in favour of playing on Sunday, but some people bad very lit-t'o to do to criticise clean siwrt. Air Hoenan: Sunday playing wa-s seemly (ensured in Auckland two years ago by the New Zealand Rugby Union. How are we going to stand? Ah- Lane: Mho match was played quite unofficially, and 1 take it- it will not- be placed in the team’s record. The president: The match was unofficial and can quite well be described as a “picnic match."’ It is no affair of ours. ' Air Loy: It is not an official match, and wc should repudiate it. The president: We do repudiate it, as an official match. Xo motion was put to the meeting.