FOOTBALL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5154, 20 July 1927, Page 3

FOOTBALL

THAMES VALLEY RUGBY UNION. MEETING AT PAEROA. A meeting of the Thames Valley Rugby Union was held in the Soldiers’ Club, Paeroa, on Saturday, tihe following being present: Messrs J. W. Silcock, president; F. Lockyer, G. Lindsay, and A. Hill, Piako ; H. Mullins, W. Paul, and S. Walmsley, Waihi; C. T. Mettam, C. Potter, and H. M. Shand, Paeroa ; H. A. Dent and H. L. Berney, Hauraki Plains; McPherson, Primary Schools’ Union; D. G. McMillan, Referees’ Association; and W. D. Nicholas, secretary. . RULES. The president moved that the rules as submitted be confirmed. Mr Lockyer seconded. Mr Mullins thought that some of the rules were conflicting. He had not had time to go through them, and thought that if a representative from each union, with the president and secretary, were to meet and go through the rules it would save time. He moved an amendment to that effect. Seconded by Mr Walmsley. The- president explained that the rules were almost an exact copy of the Waikato rules, and he had personally reviewed them. Copies had been distributed before the last meeting. The amendment wa.s carried. AUCKLAND MATCH. The Auckland Rugby Union wrote offering to play a match on September 3 and asking that the £3O offered to that union be given to the Ray of Plenty Union. It was decided to accept the fixture for the date mentioned. MAORI MATCH. The New Zealand Ilugby Union notified that it could not arrange a fixture with the Maori team. In explaining the matter the president, Mr S. S. Dean, said that the Maoris could only be induced to play six matches in the North Island, and applications had been received from 14 unions, besides others from a number of subunions. General regret was expressed that a fixture could not be arranged. WAIKATO MATCH. The Waikato Rugby Union wrote asjking whether another date would be suitable for the match a.rranged to be played with the Thames Valley Union, as it had a match with Auckland on the same date. The letter stated that they were- willing to carry out the fixture, but the Auckland fixture was important to them for various reasons. It was decided to suggest September 1(1, and that the arrangements be left in the hands of the president and secretary. AUCKLAND V. MAORI MATCH. o The secretary was instructed to write to the N-Z- Rugby Union and ask for an explanation of why Mr Dunstan, of Waihi, who had been appointed to referee the Auckland v. Maori match at Auckland on July 9, had not been notified of .the- fact that he had been selected. MANAGER OF TEAM. Mr H. A. Dent was appointed manager of the team to play Bay of Plenty at Rotorua on August 20. It was decided that the local executive should arrange all details for outside ' matches in towns, where matches were to be played. REFEREES. Mr Mullins considered that the referees were not up to the mark, and he suggested that a board of examiners .should be set uo and more and efficient referees picked. He would like to see two or three examiners from Auckland come down and examine the men. Mr H. M. Shand did not agree with the previous 7 speaker, and said that the Referees’ Association wasj quite capable of dealing with the examination of referees. To send to Auckland would be going over the he-ad of the local body. Mr D. Gi. McMillan said that merely passing ' .examination in theory did not make the best referee. It was experience on the field that was absolutely necessary. The difficulty in the Thames Valley area was to get men to come forward to qualify. ENCROACHMENT ON FIELD. Mr McMillan said that he thought the most serious trouble a referee had to contend with was the encroachment by the spectators on the playing field. He thought the union should .take the matter up and appoint officials for all matches to deal with such happenings. The game was <often held up for a considerable time, and this greatly interfered with the game and often spoilt good play. GENERAL. Mr Walmsley explained to the Hauraki Plains delegates that Che reason wiry the game could not be- played at Waihi las.t Saturday, as previously arranged, was because the ground had been let for a hockey match. The treasurer ‘stated that the credit balance stood at £lO7 15s lid. Accounts amounting to £l2 2s 6d were passed for payment. The suni of £l5 was recived from the N.Z. Rugby Union for school grants for 1927. It was decided to divide this amount amongst the sub-unions. Permission to play an outside match was granted to the Piako Rugby Union which wished to play a return match with Matamata.

PAEROA RUGBY UNION. MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The weekly meeting of the Paeroa Rugby Union Committee was held in Mr Bain’s rooms on Monday evening, the following being present: Messrs C. T. Mettam (chairman), C. H. Potter, T. Royal, E. P. Fathers, J. Pinder, H. M. Shand, J. M. Crosby, and R. Hodson (secretary). TRYiOUT GAME. The East and West clubs wrote applying for permission to play a friendly match on Saturday next in order, to give the selectors of the proposed City team, which is to compete in the Drysdale Cup competition, an opportunity to see all players in action.

On the motion of Mr Crosby, seconded by Mr Potter, permissiion was granted, the game to be 1 played on the No. 2 ground lit 2 p.m. SUSPENDED PLAYERS. The East club wrote asking that the suspension of G. Morrow be lifted to enable him to take part in the match on Saturday. A formal application of a similar nature wa.s tendered on behalf of L. Potter, of the- Netherton club. The secretary tnpvedFand Mr Royal seconded, that the suspension be lifted as from August 13. As an amendment Mr Crosby moved, and the chairman seconded, that the matter, be deferred until the committee meeting prior to the opening gamein the Drysdale Cup competition. The amendment was carried by 5 votes to 4. DRYSDALE CUP RULES. The secretary was instructed to place before the next meeting the rules framed in connection- with tihe Drysdale- Cup competition. It was also resolved to accept the nomination of the Netherton club senior team in the competition. APPRECIATION. The manager (Mr J. M. Crosby) of. the junior and third-grade- teams which visited Te Aroha on Saturday last spoke highly of the manner in which the teams, were treated by the Piako Union. It was resolved to write- expressing thanks and appreciation for tihe generous hospitality accorded the teams. REPRESENTATIVE JERSEYS. On the motion of the chairman it was resolved that all representative jerseys must be returned to the team manager immediately the game is over, failing which such defaulting players will be suspended from club and representative games until such time as the- jersey is returned. , GENERAL. The matter of improvements) to the grounds was left in the hands of the chairman and Messrs Shand, Fathers, Pinder, and Crosby, with power to act. C. W. Jones and W. Watene were registered as senior players and allotted to the Suburbs club, and L. Bell was registered as a junior and allotted to the West Club. Accounts amounting to £lO 7s (id were passed for payment.

SHAREBROKERS’ CUP. PIAKO V. PAEROA JUNIORS. There was a good crowd at Te Aroha to see the ga.me between the Piako and Paeroa juniorst, the proceeds of which are to be devoted to the relief of unemployment. The spectators were treated to a fairly good game of football. Play was fairly even all through, the only score being a penalty goal which decided the game in Piako’s favour.

Piako kicked off, and a succession of lineouts saw Paeroa. forwards: gain ground and work down into Piako’s territory, but Tremain kicked clear to halfway. A succession of marks put Paeroa on attack, but the backs passed right across: the field and very little gain resujted. Mead had a shot from a mark which went wide. Piako forwards then broke through, with the ball at toe, and carried play to the visitors’ twenty-five. Piako secured from the scrum, and Paeroa. being penalised gave Mace a chance to goal, but the kick was a failure'. A lucky speculator sent the ball into Woodroffe’s hands, and he found the. line with a fine kick. A series of scrums on Paeroa’s line ended in a free kick to Piako and Munro made no mistake-. Piako 3, Paeroa 0. The Paeroa forwards had the better of the opening exchanges in the second quarter, Piako forcing twice in quick succession. Tremain with a good mark placed his side on the attack, and weak fielding by Paeroa almost’ Itt Piako over. The defending forwards prevailed, however, but Piako soon returned on attack. Passing by Paeroa backs gained ground, but Tremain pulled them up with a good mark. Munro then broke away, and from a line-out Tremaih gave a good pass to Hill, who missed, and Paeroa went through to Piako’s line, where Woodroffe saved with a mark, but a man in front saw a scrum ordered close in. Paeroa hooked cleanly, but the. backs were not quite good enough and Woodroffe cleared. Paeroa backs opened out in the third quarter, but Tremain cut in and broke through. Paeroa broke away, and Barakat, caught in possession, was forced out right on the line. The throw-in saw Hill relieve with a fine kick to half-way. Paeroa was .having the better of the game at this stage, but the inside backs, by hanging on too long, spoilt many an opportunity. Munro then broke away and made a fine opening, which was: nullified by a knock-on. Then Mead broke away for Paeroa with three men in support and lost a certain try by hanging on too long. Piako opened out in the last quarter and made things lively for a time, until Mead broke away and transferred play to the home team’s territory. Piako infringed in front of the posts, but Mead missed an easy kick. Tremain kicked high and, following up fast, just failed to score. Paeroa forwards returned play to Piako’s territory, where Clarkin cleared to the line. The throw-in saw Paeroa backs on the move, but the ball was kicked too hard and a force resulted. From the drop-out Strange and Munro removed the danger and time was called with the score, Piako 3, Paeroa 0. Mr W. Jonas was: referee.