FOOTBALL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4716, 25 June 1924, Page 2

FOOTBALL

PAEROA RUGBY UNION. MEETING OF COMMITTEE. A meeting of' the Paeroa Rugby Union Committee was held last evening. Mr P. E. Branan presiding over Messrs C. T. Mettam, W. Walsh, H. M. Shand, W. Pennell, C. H. Potter, and C. H. Butcher (secretary). UNREGISTERED PLAYERS. The referees’ reports showed that several unregistered players had taken part in games on Saturday last, and it was decided to write to the clubs and point out the offence. REGISTRATIONS. The following registrations were approved: T. Pilbrow and J. Crosbie, East juniors. The application to have \V. Nealie regraded from senior to junior in the East club was declined, the chairman stating that the club had applied to have him registered as a senior player, and if he was only fit to play junior he rightly belonged to the Karangahake club. The registration of A Shergold for East juniors was deferred pending investigation. ABSENCE FROM MEETINGS. Owing to his absence fiom three consecutive meetings of the committee Mi J. Johnson forfeited his seat, and it was decided to fill the vacancy at the next meeting. Mr F. Clarke wrote "apologising for his absence. —Accepted. SATURDAY’S FIXTURES. Seniors.—West v. Netherton, at Netherton ; East v. Suburbs, at Paeroa. Juniors.—West v. Netherton, at Netherton ; East v. Karangahake, at Paeroa. Mr Mettam suggested that the third round of the senior matches should all be played in Paeroa, in view of the precarious state of the tin mil's finances and the small gate receipts that were received from outside centres. Mr Potter strenuously opposed the suggestion on account of the travelling the country teams would have to do. He contended that it was not fair to players, many of whom had io travel jniles to reach a centre. Mr Shand supported the suggestion made by Mr Mettam, and stated that the finances were at a low ebb, and that the gate receipts from outside centres had been unsatisfactory.' The receipts from Netherton on Saturday last were only 13s, and it had cost Ils to send a refreee down. He suggested that as the senior competition w.as nearly two-thirds played a trial match should be arranged between two senior teams for Saturday next. Mr Potter contended that this would mean a large number of players standing on the line. He stated that last season the Netherton team had been kept waiting six weeks for its final match. He then moved that the draw be adhered to. Seconded by Mr Walsh. The chairman said that it was necessary to have finance if the union was to do any good in the interests of football. A good match had been played at Netherton last Saturday, and it was very disappointing to And that the receipts totalled only 13s. It was rather late in the competition to upset the draw, but next year an alteration in fixtures would have !o be made. He thought that Netherton could be given its match on Saturday, and it was up to them to show .what the gate could produce. Mr Potter.: The treatment o£ country clubs is not fair. The chairman said that country clubs, realising any disabilities, joined the union with the idea of getting competition and meeting with a higher standard of football, and he was of the opinion that it was not the outside clubs that were the attraction in Paeroa. Greater interest was naturally taken in the home teams. Mr Potter reminded the meeting that without .the country clubs the union would have only two senior teams in Paeroa, and he asked if that number would provide an interesting competition. The Chairman: Yes, certainly. I contend that interest would be maintained. Mr Potter: Yes, it would be like the third-grade competition. After further discussion the resolution was carried.