RUGBY ON PLAINS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5412, 17 April 1929, Page 3

RUGBY ON PLAINS.

CLUB BOUNDARIES ALTERED. CLUBS LIMITED TO FOUR. Important, aud far-reaching decisions werq made at thq annual general meeting of the Hauraki Plains; Rugby Union at Ngatea on Monday evening following the reading of the portions in the annual deport concerning the desirability of reciiigr the number of senior grade tesams as a means ofi improyipg thq standard of piny in that grade. An application for the re-admission of the United Coast Club was considered at the same time. In discussing the report Mr A. HMcClean said that it had! been his opinion for a number of years t.hat until the number of senior grade teams, were reduced there would be no improvement in the standard! of play. Teams were numerically weak, and to fill vacancies in the senior grades juniors were promoted during the season. Many of thqse juniors were not physically seniors, and sometimes they were knocked out. The junior teams were discontented when their best players were; taken away, and very often thq promoted! juniplrs were spoiled through getting swelled heads. He was a strong advocate for the reduction in the number of senior tqams. Mr Madgwick asked how it was proposed to effect the reduction. Mr Dent said that it was the difficulty, but there was no doubt that something would, have to be ctone. Mr F. L. Wallis, who was present on behalf of the rq-formed United Coast Club, urged that consideration of the matter be deferred until his application Was made, when the two matters could be discussed together. This was agreed to, and at a later stage .Mr Wallis was invited to state his case. He pointed out t'hat. when, three years ago, the United Coast Club had to disband owing to insufficient players, it was understood that reaffiliation would be granted when sufficient players, becainq available.' About three weeks ago a very enthusiastic meeting had been held at Kopuarahi, over forty people attending. At that meeting a list of about 30 players had been made, and it was thought that a very strong senior* sqnior grade team could be entered. He was of opinion that the new club, by giving more players an opportunity to play, would tend to improve the standard of play. Mr McDell, of Pipiroa, endbreed his colleague’s request, and pointed out that the Coast Slub hadisecured, many players who had not: playejd in the Hauraki Plains. He had been led' to believe that they were very good men. He did not know what players would be taken from other clubs, but if tliis was explained the Union would ’ know how to deal with the application. He had been given to understand that npne of the existing clubs would be affected to any geflkt extent. > In reply to Mr Hayward, Mr Wallis said that he was sure the Coast Club ■ could maintain a team night through tb.e season. He did not have t,he list i of playqrsj , Mr Madgwick said that Jre was well I acquainted with the Coast Club’s area ’ and could not see that a strong senior ’ team could be maintained throughout i the season, seeing that the old-estab-I lished clubs had a difficulty in main- ; taining their full numerical strength. . Mr A- H. McClean agreed with this, , and asked whether the Coast pejople had not considered linking up with ■ one of the existing clubs. ; Mr Wallis replied that the position ■ had not beep discussed. He mentioned the narpes of some; of the; players who were prepared to play for the . proposed c,lub. Mr R. C. Abel said that it was ap- • parent that existing clubs would be : weakened, and Pointed Out that it was i for the union to say whether this . was desirable. Mr C- S. Foster said that therq were ; already too many senior . teams, and . the standard of play was not up tot i that of other districts. Jt was true that juniors w<ere promoted long be? fore they should be, and before they > could stand hard knocks ; Mr R. C. Abel spoke in support of , the abolition of all club boundaries, and was supported by Mr N. Clay, but ■ Mr E. A. Mahonqy opposed, pointing out that the system d’di not work satisfactorily in country districts. The strong teams became stronger i and the weaker ones became weaker. Mr, c. Hayward that there were too ; many and that the recommendation in the report should be adopted. if boundaries were abolished there would probably' be two clubs formed on each side bf the piako, and then there would be four strong senior grade teams, four strong, junior teams, and four strong third-gradq teams. This would make good football. Regarding the Coast Club pro-, position, the matter did not affect the Waitakarurb Club, but from the point of view of the union hei would not favour the application. .The club ■ boundaries could ea'hily be altered by ' mutual arrangement to form two clubs on each sidq of the river. Mr R. C. Abel agreed l ,,.but pointed out that the Ngatea. boundary embraced territory on both sides of the river, and it would not be fair to expect players from just over the Ng,atea bridge; to have to break away from t’dr old club and join another in a centre in which they had no interest. The; matter would be suitable to his olub if an arrangement cjould be made river. Mr Madgwick agreed that the abolition of boundaries would tend to make four or five strong clubs. He agreed! with Mr Abel that the; 'opposition to the proposal wa;\ probably due to a misunderstanding, of the benefits; of thes ystem. The point concerning the Ngatqa Club under the boundary revision could be fixed by mutual arrangement. Mr, Dent, said that the position appeaerd to be that the Coast Club would have to be admitted, or all boundaries abolished and the number of affiliations restricted. Mr Abel moved that all club boundaries l)(j abolished as a trip] for one season.

This was seconded by Mr Clay. Mr E. A Mahoney said that he would be sorry to see this backward step. Lt may work satisfactorily fpir one year, but later on it would be proved again that the system was not applicable foi* country football. Mr Abel pointed out that the purpose was to build up strong clubs, and t.lie; motion aimed at the survival of the fittest. The union would probably get nominations of clubs from all oyer the district at. the beginning, but in the end the fittest would survive, and there would be three, four, or five really good clubs, and highclass football in all three grades. Mr A. H. McCle;an raised the question of dealing with the Hauraki Plains West Club seeing that its, delegates were not present. He supported Mr Abel’s motion if the Patetonga Club was to come in as a fifth club. Mr Foster pointed out that the Patetonga Club had wantqd! to join the Morrihsvijle Union last seasop, and the Plains Union had not let it go. It would be wrong for the union to do anything that may drive the West Club to Morrinsville. Mr Hayward pointed out that in the past season neither the Waitakaruru nor the, West clubs had been able to get . junior teams. The same; position would prevail .this season' unless something was done, and the idea of making two clubs out of three ojn the western side of the river seemed to be a soultion. Mr Clay said that the, Kerepeehi and the Turua clubs could agree on the boundary on the eastern side of the river in half an foolur. Mr Mc.Clean of opinion that the boundary on the western side of the river could also be agreed on in a very short timq. The amendment to farm four clubs was then put and carried! by 12 votes to six, and as the substantitive motion was carried on the voices. Mr E. A. Mahoney asked the position in regard to the present representation on the union. It c,omprisqfi four delegates from each of the old clubs which had; been abolished. The question was not answered, but it was suggested that the present was a suitable time to alter the constitution of thq union, as had been suggested at a previous annual meeting, in the direction of putting the management ip the hands of a union comprising men owing no allegiance to particular clubs. Clubs would sent delegates tot represent their cases, before the union' as was done elsewhere but these delegates would not have a vote. ■ The discussion was closed by the president remarking that the, step taken had been a drastic op.e, and the present position was complicated. Delegates would have to meet again on Tuesday next.