FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5111, 6 April 1927, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

_ MEETINC OF PLAINS UNION. PROGRAMME FOR SEASON. The delegates comprising the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union met at Ngatea on Monday evening, there being present: Messrs H. Dent (president), C. S. Foster, C. Bertelsen (Ngatea) ; W. Madgwick, P. R. Henry (Turua) ; A. H. McClean, H. L. Berney (Waitakaruru) ; F. ’l. Wallis, R. Whelan (United Coast) ; W. Thompson, C. N. O’Loughlin (Kereneehi) ; E. L. Walton (Plains West) ; E, A. Mahoney (Referees’ Assn.) ; and W. Wylde (lion, secretary). CLUB BOUNDARIES. The matter of altering the existing club boundaries owing to the weak state of the United Coast club was reported on by the special committee set up to deal with the question. The committee had been led to believe that Kerepeehi would not be able to place a team in the field, so had declared it a neutral zone from which players could join any other club. s Mr W. Thompson reported that the Kerepeehi club could place a senior team in the field, but not a junic-r team. It would resent being abolished, as it was one of the oldest clubs on the Plains. The president explained that the committee had no desire to obliterate the Kerepeehi club, but had acted on the information available. Mr Wallis explained the desire of the United Coast club to have further -area allotted to. it, and in regard to the Kerepeehi dub explained thgt he was in favour of cutting out this club and the Coast team merely for the purpose of creating four strong teams. Mr Mahoney expressed the opinion that the increased territory desired, by the Coast club would not give it more than a bare number of players sufficient for a team. To. be able to carry on the club should have more than the bare fifteen players. Mr Whelan explained the suggested boundary desired by the Coast club and the number of players that would be included. Mr W. Madgwick stsfted that the players mentioned would not play for the Coast club, and Mr Bertelsen explained that the proposed alteration -would reduce the strength of the Ngatea club to below the present strength of the Coast club. Mr Henry asked if the Coast and Kerepeehi clubs could unite and form one strong club. The Pipiroa district could be divided between Ngatea and Waitakaruru, thus making five strong clubs. Messrs Whelan and O’Loughlin stressed the advisability of having teams of an equal strength, and pointed out that on tfie present indications the Turua club was much stronger than any other club. Mr Henry stated that the Turua club was strong, and was willing to grant clearances to players who desired to play for other clubs. Mr Whelan pointed out the geographical impossibility of constituting the Coast and Kerepeehi districts one club. Mr Thompson asked how the Turua club would view a request to extend the Kereepehi boundary to Orchard East Road. Mr Madgwick pointed out that this would deprive Turua of the four players who were its mainstay. Mr Walton thought it was unreasonable to expect men to play out of their district. He had been instructed to support any reasonable readjustment of boundaries, but could not support the suggestions alreadymade as, in his opinion, they were not satisfactory. Mr Henry again suggested joining the Kopuarahi and Orongo districts to Kerepeehi. Mr O’Loughlin said that the Kerepeehi club could not promise to give Kopuarahi and Orongo players representatoin or games in their locality. Mr Foster spoke in favour of having five strong teams, and moved that the Coast club be disbanded. Mr Walton objected to the tone of this proposition. It was not sporting to pass a resolution which amounted to disqualifying certain players. Mr Whelan stated that he did not take offence at Mr Foster’s remarks. His club was prepared to disband unless the union agreed to grant further territory. On the motion of Mr Madgwick, seconded by Mr Foster, the territory asked for by the United Coast Club was refused and the club was. struck _ off the roll. Mr Henry moved, and Mr Berney seconded, that the Kerepeehi boundary be extended to include all that part of the Kopuarahi and Orongo district'in the Coast club’s area, and that the Ngatea boundary be extended to the Pipiroa-Waitakaruru road and the Waitakaruru boundary be extended eastward to the Piako River, As an amendment Mr Whelan moved and Mr Mahoney seconded, that that part of the Kopuarahi and Orongo districts be present in the Coast district be declared neutral ground, from -which players may be given permission by the union to play for any club. The amendment was carried. Mr O’Loughlin moved, and Mr Thompson seconded, that the Kerepeehi boundary be extended to Orchard East Road, but that the present Turua club members be given the option of playing for Turua this season. —Carried. The delegates to the Thames Valley Union were asked to obtain a statement concerning the boundaries of the Hauraki Plains Union’s territory. JMJFEREES’ TRANSPORTATION. nF connection with the transportation of referees to inter-club matches it was decided that the onus be placed on the team travelling, as in the past, and that the secretary be instructed to notify the Referees’ Association that it must acquaint him by Wednesday morning of the appointments made for the following Saturday, so that he could advise the teams concerned of the referees they were to pick up. APPOINTMENTS. The following appointments were

made: Senior representative selectors, Messrs G. L. Griffiths, E. Ryan, and T. Morrison ; junior representa.tive selector, Mr C. Bertelsen; judicial board, Messrs H. Dent, F. Wallis, and F. Stephens ; weather committee, Messrs Dent, McClean, Henry, O’Loughlin, and Christie. TIME OF STARTING. It was suggested that the Referees’ Association be instructed that its members were to take a firm stand concerning the time of starting matches, and that games were not to be commenced after 2.30 p.m. except in very- special circumstances. In cases where a team was. late in arriving the referee was to award the match to the waiting team. Members contended that this would be too drastic, and it was decided to urge clubs to commence matches sharp on time. JUNIOR COMPETITION. It was decided that any junior players in a district where there was no junior team could play far some other district. THIRD GRADE. It was decided that a third grade competition be organised, and Messrs Madgwick, Bertelsen, and McClean were appointed a committee organise it. representative teams. The representative team selectors were instructed to give the secretary a list of players selected seven days before the match, and he would notify the. players direct. JUDICIAL BOARD. To more clearly define the duties Of the Judicial Board it was decided that the Union delegate to the committee all its powers to deal with protests and suspensions. The purpose of the committee was to save calling meetings of the Union at frequent intervals. INTER-CLUB' MATCHES. It was decided that the inter-club competitions commence on Saturday, April 23. The draw for the first round resulted as follows : — First day : Turua at Waitakaruru, Kerepeehi at West, Ngatea a bye. Second day: Turua at Ngatea, Waitakaruru at West, Kerepeehi a bye. Third day : Ngatea at Waitakaruru, Kerepeehi at Turua, West a bye. Fourth day: Kerepeehi at Ngatea, West at Turua, Waitakaruru a bye. Fifth day : Ngatea at West, Waitakaruru at Kerepeehi, Turua a bye. The second round will be the same, except that the other team will travel. POLAND CUP MATCHES. The delegates to the Thames Valley Rugby Union were instructed to ’do their utmost to have the Poland Cup competition conditions altered to provide that only one round be played. Members submitted that unless this was done the Union should withdraw from the Thames Valley Rugby Union and join up with Thames. The Waitakaruru delegates mentioned that their club had decided to give notice of motion to that effect. Other delegates mentioned that the mater would 'receive their support when it came up for consideration. Mr C. S. Foster was the only one opposed to the suggestion.