MATCH AGAINST OROUA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3676, 11 August 1927, Page 3

MATCH AGAINST OROUA.

AT LEVIN NEXT SATURDAY.

FOXTON GROUNDS' UNSUITABLE FOR. REP. GAME.

The Bebbington Shield match, Horowhenua v. Oroua, next Saturday, will be played in Levin instead of Foxton, owing to the present unsuitability of the grounds here. This decision was reached after a lengthly discussion at the meeting of the Horowhenua District Council Management Committee on Tuesday. A letter was received from the N.Z. Referees’ Association, in reply to the Council’s application for a referee for the match, stating that Mr. Caleinai would officiate. Mr. F. Robinson (Awahou) stated that No. 1 ground on the Foxton racecourse was not fit to play on. Each of the two clubs in Foxton had been granted £5 by the Racing Club to spend on the grounds. It was possible to have two splendid grounds there, but they would have to be fenced, and the fence would have to be-of the permanent type, although it had to be removed for the race meeting in January in order that it would not interfere with the traffic then. If Foxton secured the re]), match, it would be necessary to put up a fence for Saturday and then pull it down, and the clubs would have to look after the material till next season. It would be better for the clubs to say what money they had to spend on the grounds after the next meeting of the Racing Club. Until that was done, he did not think there should be a rep. match played on those grounds. In regard to Easton Park, fencing would also be necessary and it would have to be removed in 24 hours. A fence to hold a rep. match crowd would need to be as permanent a type as one that was meant to last the whole season. Mr. J. W. Procter (Hui Mai) said he thought they were morally bound to take this match to Foxton. Mr. Robinson: Would it be possible to keep a crowd back in Easton Park without a fence? Mr. M. Wfrniata (selector): No. Putting them in an open paddock only makes it look cheap. Mr. M. Ryder (Wanderers) said it was reported by players who had visited the Foxton racecourse recently that the ground was like a ploughed paddock. Mr. Robinson: We can get you the best ground in New Zealand, but it will have to be after the next meeting. Mr. Neville (Foxton) stated that on Saturday morning he had asked the assistance of about 30 young players to come with him and put the ground in order, but he did not get any of them. Mr Ryder moved that the match be played in Levin.

The Chairman (Mr. J. J. O’Connor) : You will have to give verygood reasqns /for breaking faith with the Foxton public; Mr. Ryder: It is because it will cost too much to put the ground in order, and the match will not warrant it.

Mi-. Robinson remarked that the Racing Club grant was for the purpose of putting the racecourse grounds in repair; nothing had been voted to put Easton Park in order. Messrs Austin and Neville and himself had done work on the raceeofirse ground, but got no assistance. After the next meeting of the Racing Club it would be possible to put up a permanent fence. He did not feel prepared to take the risk of losing half of it by doing it now.

Mr. J. W. Rimmer (treasurer) moved, that in view of the fact that the three Foxton delegates maintain that the grounds at Foxton are unplayable at present, and recognising that it would cost a large amount of money to place the grounds temporarily in a playable condition and that the delegates cannot guarantee that Easton Park will be available, this Council does not feel justified in permitting the Horowhe-nua-Oroua match to be played at Foxton, and, as a result decides that it shall be played at Levin. This was seconded by Mr. Ryder, who withdrew his own mo'tion. Mr. Robinson asked if the Union would find the material if the Foxton clubs gave their labour for erecting a fence. Mr. Casey (secretary) said he would be prepared to go to that length, to give the game to Foxton.

Mr. Robinson said that the match could be played on Easton Park if the Council would find the necessary material. He would see the goal-posts removed from the racecourse and would erect the fence. Mr. Neville said they were not certain of getting Easton Park on Saturday, as the Soccer players had the right, to it if they wanted it.

Mr. A. Richards (Shannon) said he was quite in favour of Foxton having this j;ame, provided (hat the clubs there put the ground in proper order for it. Shannon, earlier in the season, entered into the spirit of a rep. game and put its ground in order. The cost was about £lO for a fence, and the Borough Council paid something towards it. It was only right that other towns should do the same. He would like to see Foxton have this match; but unless they could keep the public off the grounds he would be in favour of it being played in Levin. Mr. Neville: You will have the fence for all the season, but we will not. Mr. Richards: We shall have to pull ours down, and put it up again next season. Mi’. Ryder: We don’t want to have a match on rough ground and knock our players) about, Mr. Austin: Easton Park is the only good ground. Mr. Procter: There are a lot of bad holes there that want filling up. Mr. W;. Robson (Miranui) said he was against spending money on any of these grounds. Seeing that the Council could not accede to a request for lighting at 'Miranui, for training, then to be consistent it could not fall in with this proposal. Mr. W. S. Joyce (Weraroa): This is an outside ground, and we could probably sell the material again to the Foxton and Awahou Clubs. Mr. Robinson: If I can borrow the posts and wire for the day, will the Council pay a man to put the fence up? I will put the posts there. The Racing Club has given us back its share of the gate money, and we cannot spend it on Easton Park. Mr. Joyce: If we bought the material now, would the clubs buy it again at a later date? No answer were forthcoming. Mr. Rimmer remarked that it was very late to make any arrangements. The mofion was carried without dissent.