RUGBY UNION MEETS.

Shannon News, 25 May 1923, Page 2

RUGBY UNION MEETS.

The weekly meeting of the Horowhenua Rugby Union was held "on Tuesday, Mr J. Procter being in . the chair. There were ,'also present Me ;sr & Hutchings, Casey, McMillan Scia oia. j Austin, Bevan, and the secretary,' Mr j L. Carmichael. j A vote of sympathy with the lela-j tives of the late Mr Higgins was pass., ed in silence, members expressing ap- ; preciation of the services Mr Higgins had rendered to football in the dis- j trict. “PRACTICALLY A CIVIL WAR.” Two players, C. Rowlands and l’m Carter, who were ordered off the held at the Foxton-Tokoinaru junior match, i appeared before the Union. Rowlands, who admitted the tough play expressed regret for what hvl happened. He admitted having been warned previously in the match and had “dumped” a player pretty bird but denied fighting. It was the fi ,c ’ time he had been ordered off a field. There h!ad been a certain amount of ill-feeling between the two teams for some time.

Mr Neville, the referee, asked foi his version, said that the game had started off practically with a ol war, and he had called the teams together and warned them. Later be had found Rowlands using his fists in a loose scrum, and had proi :otlv ordered him off. Rowlands agreed that this was true.

Tui Carter, who wa& warned off for using bad language, complained that the offence had been committed as the result of rough play on the part of an opposing player, when he had used the language complained of. The feeling of the meeting was that a firm stand should be taiken in order to prevent ia recurrence of such offences, the chairman expressing the opinion that as the players had been stood down for one Saturday, it would be sufficient to stand them down for another game and he moved to this effect. Mr Ciasey seconded.

Mr Hutchings moved an amendment that these players having/been suspended for one Saturday they be severely cautioned and warned that if they come before the Union again they will he severely dealt with.

Mr Sciascia seconded the amendment, which was carried. LOCATION OF REP. MATCHES.

A letter was receiver from the Manawatu Rugby Union suggesting June 23 as 'a suitable day for a Rep. match, and asking that if this was satisfactory that they be notified to this effect.—Agreed to. After some discussion as to where the match should be played, certain members urging that it was in the best interests of football to distribute Rep. m'atohes throughout the Union, Mr Casey moved that the game be played in Levin.

Mr BeVan supported the motion. There should be a policy in this connection. Personally he considered that there should be a central position in the Union where all Rep. fixtures could be played. He quoted the Wellington and Manawatu Unions in support of hl s contention.

Mr Hutchings opposed centralisation and mentioned the Taranaki Union, which distributed its Rep. matches. He considered that having Rep. matches in the different towns of the Union did much to stimulate football. The chairman paid that three years ntro he wlas one of those who supported the idea of. giving a trial to holding Rep. matches in different centres. Matches had been played at Fox‘on. Shannon, Otaki, and T.evin, and the scheme had not been a success either financially or from any other point of view. The advantage of having, mlatches in a central position was 'hat people could come from holh endsof the district without having to travel an undue distance.

The motion as proposed was adopted.

WELLINGTON CHALLENGED

A letter was received from the Wellington Rugby Union asking for a combined Horowhenua land Manawatu Unions game at Wellington on. July 28, the Wellington Union to pay expenses. . They explained that at this, time the Wellington Union would have a team playing H/awke’s Bay and the match would be against ‘A* grade men who could not get away with this team. This would give the Horowhenua land Manawatu Unions a chance of meeting the selectors’ eve with a view to New Zealand Rep. matches.

The chairman said he was opposed to playing against a Wellington l ß’ team. He considered th/at HoroWhenua on its own could play any Wellington second team, and it. was not necessary to bring Mlanawatu into it. After considerable discussion it was decided, on the motion of Mr Casey, seconded by Mr McMillan, to challenge Wellington to a Rep. game on July 28, under the conditions set out in their letter of May 17. OTHER REP. GAMES. In reply to a letter from the TaihSape Rugby Union asking for a match at Taihape, the secretary wa s instructed tp write to that Union pointing out

that Taihape owed Horowhenua a match, and that they would Jbe pleased to arrange a match in Levin. . A letter from the Bush Union, re a return game was held over. . The Marlborough Rugby Union wrote suggesting a game at Levin on i July 14.—Agreed to. I REFEREES. ! The name of Whata Hakaraia was | received as being " suitable man for I referee. I A“POSTPONED” MATCH, j The secretary of the Paraparaumu i Club wrote complaining that the thirds j match between Parapariaumu and Kuku last Saturday was not satisfac- ! tory, the Club having been notified that the game was being postponed and j then at the last moment being asked ’ to get a team together, which they J were unable to do satisfactorily, i The secretary explained that owing | to the Otaki bridge being undergoing j repairs and the river flooded, it had j been decided to postpone this fixture and Paraparaumu had been notified accordingly. At the last moment Kuku had decided to go, and he had been compelled to write to paraparaumu that they were on their way and asking the Club to fix up a game if possible. I It was decided that the clubs concerned he notified that if the results of this match affected the final of the competitions it should be played over again. CLASSIFICATION. The names of the following players were banded in for classification Kuku.—E. McLeavey, L. Johns, B. Kuiti. llui Mai.—Taha Gray, H. Wallace, D. Gardiner, Moki. i Otaki.—B. Tahiwi, Gray, Fogden. Te Horo.—S. Marino, Larsen. P a r ap ar aum u.—Howell, McLe an, Hammett, B. Clothier. Rovers.—Tatiana, H. Wilson. It was explained that the majority of these players had voluntarily gone up to .senior, and the remainder were declared seniors. A helarty vote % of thanks to the chair and to Mr Nash for the use of his rooms concluded the meeting.