FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1931, Page 4

FOOTBALL

WEST COAST RUGBY UNION. The weekly meeting 'of the West 'Coast Rugby Union was held at Greymouth last evening, Mr A. A. Adams presiding. Mr' Hannan advised that the Blaketown seniors would not fulfil any more fixtures this season. It was decided to finalise the junior K.O. competition on. Saturday next by playing Kumara and Cobden A juniors at the Park. .. It was resolved to play the Saraty Cup seven-a-side tourney on September 26th, at Kumara, the date of the . Dittman Shield match, Greymouth v.

Westland, at Hokitika. Mr Guy, manager, of the Seddon Shield team, in reporting on the trip, said the journey up was v a most enjoyable one. The game was ’ practically confined to the forwards, and the Coast pack proved themselves every bit as good as the Buller forwards.. Where the team was expected to be weak,’ it- was strong, and had the backs played up to expectations, they would have lifted the Shield. The fact that Houston was unable to play, after ..travelling to Westport, weakened tho - team to & certain extent,: while K. King, one Of the emergencies, developed a bad knee on ; the Saturday morning, thus leaving the team wltlp out any emergencies fon the backs, CVkrtyn having to play on the _deiec* tlon of Houston. The ; team b.ehayt.d .Hi an exemplary, manner throughout, and , wore a credit to the .Uatyn, .Most, 0f.,, ■the, Coast supporters were surprised .at L. the' fine showing put up by the team.

The Chairman said the Coast scrum on Saturday'last was one of the best he had .seen down'for a long time. The game was v very even. Coast had 'opportunities and lost them, but he. was of the opinion that, on the game, Buller would have been unfortunate to have lost the Shield. The Coast backs seemed to lack confidence!, and several good opportunities were. lost. Buller owed a great deal to their] full-back, who played a fine game. Mr Lawry remarked that in -.the four iSeddon Shield games he had seen during the season, the Coast scrum on Saturday last "las the best. • . . It was resolved that letters .of thanks be sent to the Buller ..Union.,:, for the many courtesies.Cextended, .to , ( the Coast’ team and officials ;■ anti ito > : j Mr E. Samuels, proprietor of vthe,. Empire Hotel,’ for the many.; jj shown the team during its . visit.: ■ Several- ’members complimented the selector, Mr A. A. Adams, .m the jfine ■ display of the team and hearty ..votes of thanks were accorded him and Mr F. W. Baillie, for t)ieir efforts in connection with the, training of ; the team. . A vote, of thanks was also accorded the Cobden Club for the use of their

gymnasium. The- following fixtures were .ftfrang*. ed. for 'Saturday next, September 19;—,Senior s ..Excelsiors’; vd Rivals at Ho*, kitika at 1.30 p.m,; Cobden v. United at Victoria Park, A ground, 3 p.m. (Mr T. Mclntosh). Junior: Final K.O. competition—Kumara v. Cobden A, Victoria Park, B ground, 3-p.m. (Mr W. McLaughlin). ; - nioholls to retire. (By Telegroph —Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 14... _ Mark Nicholls has announced his in-, ter.tion of retiring from first class. Rugby. He will probably play for IVel-j ling'.on against Auckland next Saturday and against Hawlces Bay the fol-,, lowing Saturday, these games marking the close of his Rugby career. NEW RULES. OPPOSED BY CANTERBURY. CHRISTCHURCH, September 15. The Management Committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union has decided to write to . the New Zealand Union requesting it immediately • to protest against the alterations to the rules proposed by the International Board, and to point out sthat they would be unsuitable I'or , New; Zealand pl fl y« , It was also decided to request .the New Zealand Union- to communicate with the affiliated Unions in order to get their opinions as early as. possible.

The principal objection ■: was to tlio rule which reads: “The first three feet of the front row forwards of each team on the side on which the, ball is being put in may 1 not be so ; raised or advanced until, the. ball has passed them.” This rule, it was contended, would make it impossible for the 222 serum formation to con- . tinue.