RUGBY FOOTBALL

Lake County Mail, Issue 4, 18 June 1947, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

Sub-Union Meeting Disciplinary Action Handed Out to Club Member A meeting of the Wakatipu Football Sub-union was hold in Queenstown on Monday, June 9. Mr C. M. Inglis presided over the following members — Messrs A. B. Taylor, C. Kitto, W. B. Robins, W. K. Hayward, F. Sanders, J. S. Brown, and W. J. Hore, secretary. The Borough Councils of Queenstown and Arrowtown granted permission to the union to charge admission on their respective sports areas for football matches.

Mr T. L. Hanrahan, secretary of the Referees’ Association, forwarded a recommendation that some provision be made to keep spectators off the sideline, also that all grounds be correctly marked.—Resolved to ask all clubs to act accordingly.

The Southland Rugby Union advised that a junior Blues team would be available to meet a Wakatipu team on the 14th inst, this team having an unbeaten record. It was left in the hands of Mr Brown, sole ’ selector, to choose a Wakatipu team and it was arranged that Arrowtown and Queenstown play a curtain-raiser to this game. Mr C. M. Inglis and Mr C. Kitto were appointed to act as managers. Mr A. B. Taylor, referee hi the match Arrowtown v. Country, of May 31, advised that he had ordered off A. Scott, an Arrowtown player, for using bad language. Considerable discussion took place as to whether the emergency committee had power to deal with a case of this nature, or if it should be held over to a sub-union meeting. It was finally resolved that in the event of a player being ordered off, that the matter be placed in the hands of the emergency committee, who have power to call a meeting of the sub-union to deal with the matter. It was decided to stand A. Scott down for two playing Saturdays, being eligible to play again after Saturday, June 14. The secretary was instructed to write to clubs notifying them of the emergency committee’s powers and issuing a warning that future occurrences of this nature will be dealt with more severely. Mr C. M. Inglis, manager of the Wakatipu team on their visit to Invercargill to take part in the country day fixture, reported on the good showing of the team against a much heavier pack and of the splendid conduct of

the personnel. The manager was thanked for his statement.

Clearances were approved as follows:—G. Jenkins (Waikouaiti to Arrowtown), A. J. Morris (Bannockburn to .Arrowtown), W. Dagg (Queenstown to Country), and R. Payne, (Training College, Dunedin, to Queenstown).

Visitors from Invercargill

On Saturday last an Invercargill Blues junior team met Wakatipu on the Queenstown sports area, and defeated the local side by eleven points (two penalties and a converted try) to nine points (two penalties and an unconverted try). The game soon settled down into a keen forward struggle, with Blues getting most of the ball from the set

scrums. After seven minutes of play Blues were penalised, and from a handy position J. Allen made no mistake with the kick. The next points came when Wakatipu were penalised for a scrum infringement and Hilles equalised the score. Blues again dominated play for a period until a good opening kick by J. Allen paved the way for a try by A. McLean, who went over just inside the corner flag. The local forwards were now going much better, but the backs of either side could not open up the game.. At this stage a steady rain began which made the ball heavy and tricky to handle and resulted in the forwards having to do more than their share and caused a lot of mis-handling by the backs, especially the Wakatipu set. Blues had two chances of equalising the score from penalties, and in their second attempt Hilles kicked a goal from thirty yards out. The visitors at this stage tried to open up the game, but seldom did they make any progress in passing rushes. From a kick through by the Blues backs the Wakatipu full-back fumbled the ball and Invercargill finished off the movement by scoring under tire posts. Wakatipu tried hard to score and from a penalty C. Allen placed the ball over the bar. Blues were within an ace of scoring shortly afterwards, but A. McLean had too much pace for the opposition and touched down to save. From then on Blues dominated play, but could not finish off any movements started.

Mr W. K. Hayward controlled the game.