FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4425, 9 June 1922, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

HAURAKI PLAINS UNION* meeting of executive. A meeting of the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union’s executive committee was held in the Ngatea Boardinghouse yesterday afternoon, the following being present: Messrs T. Caahen (chairman), P. Aro, Q. AAvey, G. Gray, G. Porteous, and D. A. Vincent (secretary). ; . POLAND CUP. The postponements of the Frank Poland Memorial Cup matches were discussed, and it was stated that the Union had lost considerably through the postponements. It would be more suitable if the rounds for the cup commenced on June 17, instead of the second day’s matches being played on that date. It was decided to request that a special urgent meeting of the Thames Valley Rugby Union be held on Saturday to consider the matter. ; Mr. Arp made a recommendation that in future all representative teams must travel, wet or flpe, if- the roads are at all passable. POSTPONEMENTS. Mr. Porteous inquired why the cup matches, had been postponed the previous Saturday. . The • secretary explained that he had postponed the matches on account of Kerepeehi and Ngatea teams being Unable to get their, men together in time. ’ Messrs Gray and Porteous said that the Turua plpyers were very sore about the postponement, Mr. Cas'hen upheld tihe secretary’s decision. The secretary suggested having a match on a Wednesday to draw the competition to a close as early, as possible. Mr. Gray said the Turua Club had passed a resolution that the Union be urged to do its utmost to 'have the representative fixtures postponed till later in the season. The secretary expressed the opinion that the first round of the Poland Cup matches must continue as arranged, but .the second round may be put oft till the end of the season. REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES. Mr. Porteous said there was a question where the representative matches should be played. He did not see that they should all be played at Ngatea: : There were good facilities at Turua for teams coming and getting away. Other members thought that the representative fixtures should be distributed among the different centres if good gates could he obtained. REFiUK-EES. The following referees were appointed for to-morrow: Seniors.— Patetenga v. Kerepeehi. Mr. Blythe; Ngatea v. Turua, Mr. D. G. McMillan. Juniors—Kerepeehi v. Patetonga, Mr. Pullman ; Turua v. Ngatea, Mr. Crawford. •. j JUNIOR SELECTOR. It was announced that Mr. D. G. McMillan wished to resign from the position of. junior selector, and a notice of motion was passed that should Mr, McMillan resign no sole selector should be elected in his stead. PAEROA RUGBY UNION,

COMMITTED MEETING ' . .The committee meeting at the Paeroa Rugby Union was held last night. Present: Messrs. Sflcock (chairman), Taylor, Garry, Roach, Dunlop, Wells, Thorburn, Bramley, and the secretary, Mr. Penlington. An application was received from the West Club for the raising of the suspension from V. Bracken.—Refused. An application was received from West Club for the regrading of I. Hamilton from junior to third-grade. It was stated that applications for regrading were becoming far too frequent, and that players must be made to go up into higher grades. The application was refused. It was decided that the curtainraiser to the junior representative match, Piako v. Paeroa, on June t 7, be A and B third-grade teams. Amounts totalling £l6 16s 6d were passed for payment The following are the. matches for to-morrow: Seniors.—Komata v. West, at Paeroa : Netherton v. Suburbs, at Hikutaia. Juniors. —East v Netherton, at Netherton; Komata v. Suburbs, at Paeroa ; West a bye. Third-grade.—School v. West at Paeroa. THE SUSPENSION OF BRACKEN. It is pleasing to note the refusal of the Paeroa Rugby Union ‘o lift the suspension of Bracken. This player was suspended for walking off the field because he did not agree with the referee’s ruling. Every footballer knows that to walk off the field is a serious offence, and should be dealt with firmly. As the matter now stands, Bracken’s suspension will probably remain for the season, which is not a severe sentence for such behaviour, as players have had to stand bn the line for upwards of five years for similar offences. It is through lack of firmness on the part of Rugby Uniops throughout the Dominion in deiljng with offending players that such: disgraceful happen ings have occurred as assaulting referees, teams walking off the field, and such-dike. For, the good of the game firmness must be shown in the management bfj footballers, as otherwise the players only treat the management committees with contempt and expect to do as they please. Without firmness "Rafferty rules” prevail, and tirofc players control, football to suit their pwn ends, and the committees do not count. Tn the matter ofl suspensions it would be better for all concerned if the Paeroa Rugby Union specified the period of suspension in each case, instead of, as in Bracken’s case, “for the pleasure of the Union.” That would be a sign of "backbone.” TEAMS FOR TO-MORROW. The following teams have been selected for to-morrow: SENIORS. Komata.—Pitts, O’Grady, Tukekino,

McLeod, Moore, Royal, C. Poland, Schulze, L. Killgour, H. Pennell, Smith. L. Benney, J. Benney, Patterson, McNamara. Emergency, Gawler. ■West—l. Poland, E. Evans, A Fa?rel’y, L. Shaw, Dean, Pivott, Wells, Rolgard (rover), Wilton, Nelson, Ell’s, White, Taylor, Reid, Hamilton. Emergencies : Ardern (back), G. Sinnett (forward). JUNIORS. East.—E. King, O’Brien, Rae, Haskell, Lee. Moyle, H. Thorp, J. Treanor (rover), Lawrence, M. Pennell, H Mitchell, Vuglar, Douglas, F. Thorp, Williams. Emergencies: L. Smith, C. Treanor, J. Neil. THIRD-GRADE. West.—Spinks, S. Hamilton, Denton, Verran, I. Hamilton, D. Smith, Hardman, Nield (rover), Morrison, Shaw, McKee, Thorburn, McAneny, Pennell. Mead. Emergencies: Hudson i and Wickliffe.