PAEROA RUGBY UNION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5039, 13 October 1926, Page 3

PAEROA RUGBY UNION.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE.

JUNIOR TEAM FOR AUCKLAND.

The regular meeting of the Paeroa Rugby Union Committee was held at Bain’s Rooms on Mohday night, the chairman (Mr W, Pennell) presiding over Messrs R. G. Southby, K. L. Slyfield, E. J. Shaw, W. Morrison, J. Wilson, R. Hodson, J. Rackham, and J. M. Crosby (secretary). WEST V. NETHERTON MATCH.

The chairman reported that the West club had applied for a postponement of its game with Nether ton, which was to have been played at Paeroa on Saturday last. The reason for the request was that several of the Wept players were going to represent the .Oddfellows Lodge in a match against the Tuakau lodge. The chairman said that he got in touch with as many members of the committee as he could in the time, and it was agreed to postpone the game. As soon as the decision was reached the Netherton club secretary was advised. Mr Morrison said he did not think the postponement should have been made so lightly. The Nether,ton club had gone to a lot of trouble to get out a team, and word of the postponement was not received until Friday. Some of the players could not be communicated with in the time, and actually travelled to Paeroa. Others had made arrangements for getting their cows milked so as to be able to get away td take part in the match.

Mr Slyfield said that by prior arrangement with tine, union the Oddfellows were granted permission to play fixtures on October 9 and 16. He was surprised to learn that a union fixture had been set down Tor Saturday last. Mr Wilson contended that the union fixtures should have been disposed, of before the Friendly Societies war® granted permission to play. Mr Shaw said that the lodge games had been arranged in 'good faith. When the dates were allotted it was never anticipated that the final game in the banner competition would have to be replayed. After further desultory discussion Mr Rackham brought the matter to a head by moving that the West-Neither-ton match be replayed on October 23. Seconded by Mr Hod-'On and carried. THE CASE OF C. McNEIL. A Netherton player, C. McNeil, who was granted permission to appear before the committee, stated that he took strong exception to his case having been reported in the “Gazette.” The referee (Mr F. Pivott), by means of his report, which had been made public, had cast a slur on his character.

The chairman reminded McNeil that his case had been dealt with in committee, after the evidence had been taken, and the report in the “Gazette” was a fair one.

McNeil reiterated that he had not used the bad language complained of by the referee, and could produce evidence to that effect. He was not in the habit of using filthy language, and had never been" cautioned dn the field in his life before. If the union insisted on judging the case on the report of the referee he would have no alternative but to take further proceedings.

Mr Shaw stated that the matter had been carefully considered, and without bias, and the union regretted that in the interests of football it had been forced to take the stepjs it had taken. The chairman intimated that if McNeil felt that he had a grievance h® could ta.ke his case to the Thames Valley Union through the proper channels. The local union had dealt with the incident as it considered fit and proper. REFEREES’ OBJECTION. The following letter was received from the Paeroa Referees’ Association : “I am instructed by my association to protest against the action of your union in ordering a replay of the West-Nethertpn match, contrary to the report of the controlling referee. Furthermore, we consider some action should have been taken with the captain of the Netherton team for not keeping proper control (if the team and rendering that assistance to tlie referee which is his due.” Mr Rackham said he thought the association had done right in forwarring the letter, and he contended that the Netherton captain was very excited during the incident and had not assisted .the referee as might have been expected.

The captain of the team (A- R. Morriso1!!) denied that he was excited. He went up to the referee and asked what had happened and why the game wa® suspended, because his tea;m had not walked off the field. The referee had hot approached him and asked him to assist .to restore order, and neither were his questions answered. Mr Slyfield... agreed with Mr Rackham, and said the actual “walking off the field” was a mere technicality. In his opinion the Netherton teajm was a beaten team before the incident happened. Mr Hodson said he took exception to the letter, and in his judgment the captain was not unduly excited. On the suggestion of the secretary the discussion was cltfeed. APPOINTMENT OF REFEREE. With regard to the appointment of a referee to control the West-Nether-tpn match the chairman reported that the names of four outside referees had been submitted to the local referees’ assdeiaition, with a request that th® association nominate one to control the match which was to have been played on Saturday last, but no reply had been received.

Mr Slyfield thought it was unnecessary to go outside for a referee. The union should have faith in the local referees. It was desirable thajt a local man should be elected to control the match when replayed, especially in view of the rumpus that had occurred.

Mr Crosby agreed, but added that from a broad standpoint it would be in the interests of all concerned to have an outside referee.

During further discussion a; member was heard to remark that the

referees’ association had shown discourtesy in ndt acknowledging the committee’s request, and wondered what would have happened had the game been played on Saturday last. Finally it was moved that the recommendation as passed at the meeting on October 5 should stand, and that the matter be left in the hands of .the chairman. TOUR OF JUNIOR TEAM. Mr Slyfield reported progress in connection with the visit of a representative junior team to Auckland °’n Saturday next. The secretary stated that he had interviewed the chairman of the Auckland Rugby Union, who had expressed pleasure at Paeroa sending a team and had advised that arrangements had been made for a ground and for the visitors to play an Old Boys team.

The junior selector (Mr T. M. Wilkinson) said that he did not anticipate any difficulty in getting together a team willing to make the trip. It had been sugugested that the team would leave Paeroa by metor-b'.is early on Saturday morning and return on Sunday evening. Each player was willing to pay his dwn fare, and it wag hoped that the union would make sufficient out of its annual social to be in a position to refund the fares at a later date.

Messrs Crosby and Slyfield were thanked for the\assistancc given, and the final arrangements were left in their hands. Mr J. Rackham was appointed touring manager. STATUS OF A PLAYER. Mr Hodson said he had heard that J. Catlin, a Netherton senior player, had played the League code last season and had not obtained a clearance or been reinstated. He asked how the committee would view the matter. Catlin had played in a number of the competition games during this 'season. Mr Crosby said that it was mdr,e a matter for the Netherton club to look into rather than the union. Mr Mo’rrison said that was the information he had received about the matter, and he would be pleased to make further inquiries.

Mr Southby said it was a great pity that Mr Hodson had brought the matter forward, especially as the season’s football was closing.

' Mr Shaw agreed, and said that no attention should be paid to street talk.

PRIMARY SCHOOLS TEAM.

It was resolved to get in,to touch with the Thames Valley Primary Schools Association a,nd request that the representative touring team assemble and play a curtain-raiser to the Wfst-Netherton match at Paei’oa on October 23.

JUNIOR TEAM FOR AUCKLAND.

PLAYERS SELECTED.

The Paeroa junior team to play at Auckland on Saturday next will be selected from the following :

R. Rare, J. Conolly, L. Potter, E. Potter, W. Leach, H. Moore, Jim Rackham, R. Mead, G. Wells, M. Poland, C. Vincent, J. Lee, A. Nelson, N. Neil, E. McLeod, W. Pennell, T. Lovatt, W. Hargreaves, M. Bro.wn. Any player unable to make the trip is requested to advise the secretary of the Paeroa Union or Mr T. M. AVilkiiisdn, selector, .as early as possible.