PLAINS FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5416, 26 April 1929, Page 1

PLAINS FOOTBALL.

BOUNDARIES ABOLISHED. DRAW FOR THE SEASON. Rugby football will commence on Hauraki Plains on Saturday week, May 4, and there will be five clubs, as in the past season, with the difference that there will be no club boundaries. On Tuesday evening the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union continued its adjourned annual general meeting. In opening the business the president, Mr H. Dent, stated that since the meeting of April 15 many points had been brought up which warranted reviewing the action then decided upon. There was no doubt that the action had been taken at the wrong time of the year, and that many factors pre-, sented themselves which would not have done so had the alteration to clubs been effected at the end of a season. Mr G. T. Davidson, Ngatea Club, stated that by direction of the union the three clubs west of the Piako River had met and had arranged to form tw r o clubs. Since then the proposed South Club had met, and after a full discussion had decided to ask the union to revert to the old system of district clubs or to abolish all boundaries. He mentioned that many players had already purchased jerseys and sox with thir old club colours, and it would be a hardship to put them to the expense of changing. Storekeepers had procured supplies in anticipation of a demand, and the same would also apply to them. The boundary agreed upon was the best that could be found, but it was recognised that it was not satisfactory. Mr J. Christie, Patetonga, said that the West Club on its own could put teams in the field, but they would be weak teams. The conference of clubs had agreed to disagree on the question of boundary, for while it was recognised that for the betterment of football fewer clubs were desirable, it was also recognised that it was almost impossible to divide the area into two without creating hardships. On the matter of jerseys he mentioned that the Patetonga storekeeper had indented supplies and would suffer a loss if the West Club lost its identity. Mr C. S. Foster said he felt that what had been done was not the right thing. All had agreed that there were too many teams, but had become tangled up when discussing altering the position. All sides of the question had not been seen and a rash course had been adopted. Mr Madgwick asked what control would be exercised in the event of the abolition of all boundaries in the direction of restricting an influx of players to any one club. Mr Davidson pointed out that players would have to get a clearance from their old club, and that all players would have to be registered at the beginning of the season. The union could control transfers. Mr C| Hayward, Waitakaruru, moved, and it was carried unanimously, that the previous resolution stipulating the four clubs be rescinded. The Waitakaruru delegates then endeavoured to have their club’s boundaries extended, but an amendment to their motion was carried abolishing all club boundaries and restricting the affiliations to the five clubs of last season. Election of Officers. The following officers were elected : Delegates to Thames Valley Rugby Union, Messrs H. Dent, W. Madgwick, and C. S. Foster; manager of senior team, Mr W. Madgwick ; senior selector, Mr C. A. Hayward ; junior selector and manager, Mr C. Bertelsen ; judicial committee, Messrs N. Clay, A. McClean, and W. Clifford ; insurance committee, Messrs E. A. Mahoney, A. McClean, and H. Dent; wet weather committee, Messrs C. Murray, J. Christie, G. T. Davidson, C. A. Hayward, and W. Madgwick. Draw for Seasan. It was decided that the inter-club competition commence on May 4, and the following draw was made : — May 4.—Ngatea at Turua, Kerepeehi at Waitakaruru, West a bye. May 11.—Kerepeehi at Ngatea, Turua at West, Waitakaruru a bye. May 18.—Ngatea at Waitakaruru, West at Kerepeehi, Turua a bye. May 25.—West at Ngatea, Turua at Waitakaruru, Kerepeehi a bye. June I.—Kerepeehi at Turua, Waitakaruru at West, Ngatea a bye. In the second round the draw will be the same, but the other team will travel. As there was some doubt as to whether there would be five junior teams, it was agreed to make another draw in the event of the senior draw not being suitable. It was decided that all matches must commence at 2.45 p.m., and to command the referees to have the ball kicked off at that time and record a win for the team on the field. Poland Cup. Several members strenuously advocated the reduction in the Poland Cup competition to one round, and it was seriously suggested that the union should decline to enter the competition unless this was done. It was mentioned that the delegates from the other sub-unions were likely to support the reduction this year, as the other unions were being converted to the view held by the Plains advocates.