FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1931, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

WEST COAST RUGBY UNION

The weekly meeting of the West Coast Rugby Union was held last night at Greymouth. The Lake Brunner Sub-Division allied for a match with a West Coast B representative team. Mr Rvan stated that a B representative senior team would not be a great deal better than the junior reps, anu if the Sub-Division were given a game against the juniors the senior fixtures would not be interfered with. The junior competitions would be practically completed, and such a game would not affect the junior competition, as it ■would the senior, were a senior rep. tea m played. He consdered that the Hokitika Sub-Union would be quite agreeable to continue tbe senior fixtures and to play the junior representatives against the visitors. It was decided to write the Hokitika Sub-Union asking their approval of the proposal to play the junior reps against the Lake Bruner team. A letter was received from the Lake Brunner Sub-Division advising that they had decided to suspend Malloy, who was .ordered off the field during the progress of the Tv.otuku-l.lu Lu match on June ’2lst, for disputing the referee’s decision, and who subsaquently struck the referee on the jaw, for the rest of the season. They asked the. Union’s approval of their action.

Mr Mclntosh said it must he taken into consideration that last year they had a case at Hokitika, in which a player had been disqualified for 12 months for cheeking a referee. Assault was much more serious. The Chairman considered the penalty quite severe enough.

Mr Bicheno: In a major Union a man would he disqualified for life for striking a referee. Mr Mclntosh pointed out that some years ago a player had been disqualified for five years for taking the whistle from a referee at Hokitika. Mr. Ryan moved, that the sentence he increased to disqualification for 12 months from the date of the offence. The motion was seconded by Mr McIntosh and carried.

An application from the Kuinara Junction School for a football was referred to Messrs Kvle and Bicheno. At the last meeting of the Union L. Mnrtyn wrote stating that he had received a transfer, which he thought was probably a temporary one, from Hokitika to Kuinara Post Office, and applied for permission to play for Excelsiors, even though he would be residing within the Grey boundary. The Union decided to inquire tfrom the Chief Postmaster as to whether Martyn’s transfer was a temporary one or not. A letter was last night received from the Chief Postmaster, Mr A. I. Flett, advising that Martvn’s transfer was a permanent one. Mr Steel moved, that, as the season was about three-parts over, Martvn be allowed to play or Excelsiors for the rest of the season. Mr Kay, in seconding the motion stated that in any case Martyr inended playing for Excelsiors, as lie had arranged to board on the Hokitika side of the boundary. Mr Mclntosh said that there was n great deal of trouble last year over a similar question and he expressed the opinion that Martvn should he compelled to play in the Greymouth district.

The Chairman concurred with Mr Mclntosh.

Mr Ryan, said that the senior competition was practically won, and as Marty n was just over the boundary he did not think the Union would be creating •v oreeedent. by granting the applied tion. On a \bte being taken, Mr Steel’s motion was carried. Mr Mclntosh, manager of the representative team, reported that the weather conditions were hot tod good for the game. There were only a couple of showers in the first spell, but heavy rain fell during the second spelt and the game developed into a ior ward struggle. Air t»uy stated that it was very late on Saturday night before any official information was received oy the Union, officials as to the result of the game.

Mr Hothwell stated that the Secretary telephoned him from Westport; at about 5.30 o’clock that afternoon, and told liiui the result, and he informed a few of the officials, though he did not tell Mr Owen, in whose shop windown results are usually posted. I On the motion of Messrs Rotliwell ! and O’Donnel, a vote of thanks was ! accorded' the car owners who transj ported the representative team to Westport last Saturday. Mr Willi ams said he was of opinion that all referees should be given the i opportunity to referee a senior game. Last year all were given a chance and lie considered that similar action should he taken this year. The matter was left to the Referees’ Selection Committee, with a favourable recommendation from .the Union. The following fixtures were arrnnged for Saturday next, July lltli:—; I Senior: Rlsiketnwii v. United at Victoria Park, B ground. 3 p no. fMr, B. Reid) ; Stars v. Fxeefsiors at Victoria, j Park. A gromid (Mr T. M-UnU'sh' ; ' Co.tderi v. Rivals at Cobden, 3 p.m. (Mr W. Williams).