FOOTBALL.

Otaki Mail, 21 May 1923, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

Senior: Otaki v. Weraroa, Id—o. Hui Mai v. Shannon, s—o.5 —0. Foxton v. Wanderers, o—B. Junior: Te Horo v. Hui Mai, <3—o. Otaki v. Rovers, 3—o. Third Grade: Te Horo v. Hui Mai, (i—3. Saturday was unfavourable for football. heavy ground and rain interfering. Notwithstanding quite a number of spectators attended at the various townships to watch play, and in some instances good games were watched with interest. OTAKI (16) v. Weraroa (0). The senior game between Otaki and Weraroa took place at Levin, and although the scores were all iu favour of the visitors the game was by no

means as one-sided as they indicate. Otaki was certainly the better team on the day’s piny,-and the way they handled the greasy ball was highly creditable. In the first half Keliu registered the only score, while in the second half tine tries were secured by Rhodes, D. D’Atli, and \V. D’Ath. I’irimi con-

verting two. D. D’Ath, on receiving the ball from llnpi on the blind side of a scrum raced in great style for the line, defeating his opponents nicely, while the try gained by Wallace D’Ath was well merited, lie making a splendid run. Mr Burrows was referee.

Three games were played on the domain on .Saturday. Hui Mai-Tc Horo thirds played the first game and this resulted in favour of the latter team by a ilia rgin of tli roe point*, two un-

converted tries to a try. The game was evenly contested throughout, many of the lad* showing good junior form. OTAKI v. ROVERS.

This was a good even go from start to finish and there was not a dull moment. Although the ground was sodden with tlie recent rain, the teams gave a good exhibition. Just before | half-time Mclntyre got the ball from a I scrummage, and dodging the visitors* backs, scored in a fair position. Tuna ! failed at goal. On changing ends the game again became interesting and time and again both sides made attempts to score. On some occasions tries seemed certain for the locals, but over eagnerness spoiled opportunities. The game ended with the* home boys three points ahead. Mr Kara Davis carried the whistle. For the winners King, Young, Batten, Mclntyre and Lima all played well in the rearguard, and Enoka, Robinson. Satherley. Win* terburn, Lima, and Debreeenv in the vanguard. For the losers all did their best. TE HORO v. lIUI MAI JUNIORS. This game was played on number two ground and Te Horo proved the victors by six points. This game was also a

good one. The Manakau boys, although much lighter than their hefty opponents. did well, but the greasy ball interfered with their *‘fliers. M The first half ended with no score, although

many attempts were made tu cross tin line by botfi sides. On changing end the game was very interesting and af ter many attempts to score P. Well:

scored a good try. Morgan failed at goal. Just before time Mack got over under the goal and Morgan missed an easy kisk. The game thus ended with Hui Mai attacking. Mr L. Fdy refereed. For Te Horo B. Wells, at full, did bis best and saved some certainties, while Puketapu, Clay, Smith. Thomas, Mack and P. Well- all did their share

in the back division. In the pack all played well. For the losers Arapata Enoka. Moki, Silberrv and T. Gray all did splendidly in the rearguard, while in the forwards Geo. Gray. Ohl*on. Holder and Hi kill ana were ahead of the rest. HUI MAI SENIORS v. SHANNON. This game was played at Manakau, and the local.- won by five to nil. A try was scored by L. Te Hiwi and converted by A. Bevan. It was fast from start to finish, asd some good play was witnessed on both sides. At half-time the home boys were leading and maintained it to the finish. Mr Tom Pa rat a controlled the game.

N.Z. MAORI TEAM. PRELIMINARY SELECTION. The New Zealand Maori team leavefor Sydney on the* sth of next month K play four matches. Before leaving i: will meet either Manawatu or "Waikato, ar.d on its' return it will pin y four matches in the cioutb Island. la connection with the selection of the team, a match is to be played at

I Napier for the Te Mori Rose Bowl, between fifteen representing the northern • and southrn districts. The southern ’ district includes the South Island and also Wairarapa, Wellington, Bush, Horot tvhenua, Manawatu, Taranaki, and King i Country. The teams are to be picked from the

following:— . Northern. District. —Barton, Karina, Wi Kape. Mapu. Paewai, Falvessor. Parekuka, Sarge&nt, McGregor, Oneone, Ormond, Tar:gnu. Pae Heta, Pirn, Wallace, Kingston and J. Walker. Southern District. —McDonald. Peiaa. Potaka, Kingi, T. Winiata, Phillips. Hartley, Akuira. Jacobs, Bevan. Kane, .Bell, Love, Broughton. Bannister. Luke, George and Tana. RUGBY UNION MEETS. VARIOUS MATTERS DISCUSSED. Tiic weekly meeting of the Horowhenua Rugby Union management committee was held on Tuesday evening, Mr. J. Proctejr presiding. JLiZs

were also present, Messrs McMillan, Seia&cia, Casey, Hutchings, Austin. Bevan, Grinistone, and the secretary, Mr L. Carmichael. HOVERS IN SOUTHERN DIVISION.

Mr Casey brought forward the question of the transference of the Rovers to the Southern Division in the junior competition. The team wished to know if it would be necessary to travel to Paraparaumu for the match with that team. Most, of the Rovers players, he explained, were in Government positions and it was difficult for them to get away in time to travel this distance. He wished to know if this match could be played at Otaki. which would he half-way. He moved that the secretary write to the Paraparaumu team asking if that team would be prepared to plav this match at Otaki.

Mr Bevan protested that this, if allowed, would start other teams asking for similar treatment.

The secretary said that one great trouble would be to fit the fixtures in. There had beer) great, trouble getting grounds, and this would considerably upset the present arrangements. Alsy, as Mr Bevan had said. it. would pro” ably start other teams asking for similar concessions.

A general discussion took place as io the possibility of working in the mulches and it was finally decided to hold ilie matter over until next meeting, Mr Casey stating that as there was a question of policy involved, he would in the meantime fully explain she position to the Hovers Club. GENERAL. The Mangahao Club wrote re the transference of two players from Shannon to Mangahao, explaining that these men were not financial members of the Shannon Club.—Grant-

The New Zealand Rugby Union wrote about the suggested amalgamation with the Moo vatu Union.

It was decided to hold this question over until the Union’s delegate (Mr .T. O'Connor) could attend. A further communication was receiv. ed from the N.Z. Rugby Union asking the Horowhenua Union to forward ibo name of a suitable selector for the New Zealand Rep. team, and attaching a list of hies qualifietions.—lt was decided to hold the matter over for a week. In the meantime tile names of Messrs M. Win lata. .1. O’Connor and XV. Bevan were submitted, the committee to approach these gentlemen in regard to their accepting the position. PLAYER? REPORTED. Mr Neville, referee of the TokomaruFoxton junior match, wrote regarding the unsatisfactory conduct of certain Players in that, game as the result of which he had been compelled to order two players. Carter and Rowlands. off the field. Tig also mentioned that during the match there had been a tot of bad language from certain of the spectators. Regarding the two players mentioned, it. was decided to bold the matter ovc-r -until these men attended the meeting of the Committee, the men to be notified that they were suspended until such time as they attended. In regard to the language complained of, the, secretary said that this wag a matter for the police, and should be referred to them to be dealt with.

Mr McMillan moved that a letter be written to the Foxton police from the Union, asking them to suppress any bad language on the football field.Carried. Mr McMillan -said that it would be a good tiring if referees were empowered to notify players that when stood on the line for any reason, they must appear before the Union on the fob

oving Tuesday. Mr Grim stone supported this, sayig that in the case of an innocent

•nan. it gave htm an opportunity of ■leering himself straight away. and. -■•ived hirn lo=ing a game. The secretary said that the difficulty vould be that some men would claim fat they had not been so notified.

Mr McMillan said that Jiis recommendation applied particularly to 'bibs whteh were short of men If P>r some reason some of these clubs’ men were put off. the club might not have enough men to play next Saturday. He moved that clubs he notified that, any man stood on the line must appear before the management committee on the following Tuesday, otherwise he would be suspended until -uch time a? he does appear.—Carried. OTAKI GATES. X letter was received from Mr N’orrove, gatekeeper at Otaki, enclosing -tatemenf 0 f gate-money received at last Saturday’s match. —Received. Favourable comment was made by members on the keenness of this official and the excellence of the reports submitted by him. SHANNON’S FAILURE. Mr R. Rangihuia, referee appointed for the Shannon-Moutoa junior fixture, wrote explaining that owing to the non-appearance of the Shannon team he bad awarded the game to Moutoa. He explained that as the Tokorn*.ni team, had got through to Foxton, there was no reason why shannon could not have got through, to Moutoa over the same road. The

game was not scheduled to start until 3.T) which gave them ample time to have made arrangements. Mr Grinistone explained that Hie only means of getting across the flooded portion of the road was one dray. There was about 4 miles of read under water and it had been found Impossible to get both teams over. There would not have been time to get the Tokotnaru team ts Foxton if both team* had Insisted on going, and thq Shannon team had stood down in favour of Tokotnaru, which had already travelled some distance.

Mr Austin, asked for hte opinion, ‘said It was hard bn Shannon to be penalised If they could not get across. At the same time It wa z not fair to Moutoa to do anything else. There did not seem to be any reason why Shannon could not have got across as Tokomaru had dors, and ordered t lorry from Foxton to STSefc thflS on th 6 otJser sj£e.

The secretary said that there seemed to have ..been great difficulty in getting across, and it seemed hard to penalise Shannon, Tokopaaru hail really displayed exceptional keenness in crossing as they did.

Mr Grimstene said that only one dray had heen procurable in Shannon. This had had to make two trips with the Tokomaru team, taking eight men each trip, which left it too late to get the Shannon team across as they also would have had to go across in two batches. He had rung up Ihe secretary of the Moutoa Club explaining the circumstances as soon as it was found impossible to proceed. The secretary said that the mailer was one for the management, committee to deal with and not. the clubs. If the Shannon team could give a legitimate excuse for not playing, Una matter could be arranged. It. was decided to let. the matter

stand over until next meeting to enable it to be ascertained if the secretary of the Moutoa Club had received Shannon’s explanation. CLASSIFICATION MATTERS. The secretary of the Weraroa Club wrote asking for an amended decision of the Hui Mai—Weraroa junior match on Saturday, as Hui Mai had played a man who had played as a senior at Wanganui last season. It was.decided that, as this player had played junior for the Ilorowhenus Union last year, bo was entitled to play junior until classified, the prolest fee to be refunded. The classification of junior players was left over until next meeting to enable all teams to submit names of men for classification. REFER EES’ ASSOCIATION.

The secretary stated that he bad been in communication with the secretary of the Referees' Association in regard to that body functioning again, and that the secretary had informed lain that the Association would not

operate again unless the whole business of appointing referees were left in its hands.

Mr Erevan entered a strong protest against giving up all control of the appointment of referees, explaining 11 1 at men who were prejudiced against certain teams might, be appointed to referee games in which such teams played, if the matter were not controlled by the management committee. The secretory said that these things were always a. difficulty, but that ihe Referees' Association should be asked to. where possible, put outside referees in charge of games. If the Association was not kept going, the Union was in danger of losing some of its best referees, as these men could not get good games unless affiliated with the N.Z. Referees' Association. He thought that os there, was this danger of losing good men it was better to concede this point to the Association. In answer to a question be explained that, in Rep. matches the Association submitted the names of three referees to the committee tor selection, so that there was no danger of an unsuitable man being picked for these fixtures. A long discussion followed, it. being finally decided to leave the matter over in the meantime, members of the committee to attend the Referess’ Association's meting on Saturday next. A vote of thanks to the chair and to Mr Nash for the use of his room concluded the meeting.