RUGBY UNION MATTERS.

Shannon News, 7 September 1923, Page 3

RUGBY UNION MATTERS.

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETS

The Management Committee of the Horowhenua Rugby Union met on Tuesday evening, Mr J. Procter being in the chair. Also present: Messrs W. Bevan, Austin, Hutchings, Casey, and the secretory (Mr L. Carmichael). JUNIOR FINAL FOR OTAKI. The Otaki Club wrote asking that the Koputaroa-Otaki junior match for the chamionship of the Union, which resulted in a draw last Saturday in Levin, should ba re-played at Otaki. They pointed out' that one game had been played at Levin which was Koputaroa’s home ground, and that, as Otaki had travelled on one occasion it was only right that Koputaroa should travel for the second game. They further pointed out that as this waS not a rep. match, the Union’s decision that, all such games should be played in Levin, did not apply. The secretary said that there appeared to be a certain amount of justice in the claim. Certainly Koputaroa had .had to travel also" to reach Levin, but as Levin was , their home ground, this could hardly be held as travelling in the ordinary sense of the word. ' The gfime ; would have to be re-played on Saturday next, and as Otaki had come- up to’ play Koputaroa, iti was not unfair that Koputaroa should now go down t-o play Otaki.

The chairman also supported this view.

Mr McMillan sid he had always understood that all finals should be played at Levin. However as he was interested in the Koputaroa, team, he would not take part one wiay or the other, but leave the matter to the meeting. The secretary pointed out that in tire case of finals, the rule was that an intermediate ground be chosen. Mr Bevan was of the opinion that ais Koputaroa had had to travel several miles to, play in Levin, no matter where iheir ihome ground was, they might be considered to have travelled just as much as Otaki. lie moved that, the game be played rd Levin.

The motion lapsed for want of a seconder, and on the motion of Mr Hutchings, seconded by Mr Austin, it was agreed that the game be played in Otaki. 1

Mr McMillan pointed out that as a number of Koputaroa players were ■milking large herds of cows, there might be some difficulty about travelling to Otaki. However, he would make enquiries and see what could be „ done. PROTEST AGAINST REFEREE. The Te Horn Club wrote protesting against Mr Wehipeibaina being appointed as referee for a: match played by that Club, ah cl stating that Te Horo had lost a game through his unfair ruling. They stated that so unfair was this ruling that they were glad to say that nothing worse had happened than that the referee was hooted.

Mr Bevan said that the secretary of the Te Horo Club should come before the Union 1 to explain his statements. After all this man might not understand football, and it, was certain that tihe referee did. Te Horo had been beaten so decisively in a later match than the one complained of, that there did not, seem to be any doubt of who should have won that match also. Statements such as this, unless they could be supported, should be put a stop to. He moved that the secretary write to the Te Horo Club protesting strongly against such unsupported., statements. This was carried unanimously. GENERAL.

The secretary of the Bush Union wrote stating that-they could not accept a challenge for the Bebbington, Shield for this, year, hut would give Horowhenuia the first game of the 1924 season—Received. It \v,as agreed that the final of the Thirds Competition—Foxto-n ,v. Hui Mai—should be played at Levin on Saturday, September Blh, at 2 p.m. Hunt-,'of-the Foxton Club, who was ordered off the field for unsatisfactory Conduct, wias suspended until sucli ume as it ip should -appear before the Union. Accounts amounting to £l4 12s were passed lor payment. THE, SHANNON. GROUND.

Mr Hutchings asked if the Shannon Club had -had any assistance from the Union this season towards putting their grounds in order. 1-Ie understood that a payment had been made for erecting goa-l posts. The secretary said that such a claim had been put in, but, had been disallowed by the Union, There had been certain payments last year, but this year the Union had taken the definite stand that each club should pint, its own grounds in order. V GROUNDS FOR FOXTON. Mr Hutchings asked what the position ol Foxton would be, if. as seemed certain, Easton Park would be closed next year. The other ground would be rather out. of order and he wished to know if the Union would help to get it into condition lor play. Also to whom did the goal posts in Easton Park belong. The chairman said that the posts belonged to the Union. Regarding waking new grounds, the Union’s policy was that the Club should do this, ’and. when done.,, the Union took them over. A recent example ol this was when the Koputaroa Club had made their own ground. Mr Hutchings 'asked if the marking off of grounds did not come under the heading of maintenance. The secretary expressed the opinion that if a club expected the Union to mark out its grounds for it, the best thing it, con id do was .to shut up shop. If tho club was not keen enough to attend to that, they were as well out of the Union. In Wellington all the grounds except Athletic. park were marked out by the different dubs, and the Ho row,henna Union had definitely disclaimed' any responsibility in this cornier,lion earlier in the year. A hearty vole of thanks lo the chair and to Mr Nash for the use of his mom concluded the meeting.

HOROWHENUA REPS.

TO PLAY TTA.WKES RAY. Mr J. J. O’Connor bias selected the

following players to represent Horowlieima against Hawkes Bay, in the nintcih I'or the Ranfurly Shield, on Satiirdav, Sept. Bth: — BACKS. Full-bark : Meta. Johnson. Three-quarters:• Udy, Tahhvi, Kelly. Five-eighths: Moses. Jacob. Hair: McDonald. • FORWARDS. Rover: Brougjhfon. Hookers: Bevan, George. Fork: Tarn. Sides: Moynihan, Gardner. Rack-vow: Howell, Koro. Emergencies .-—Forwards: Marsh, Henderson. * Backs: Lenihan, Irak back; Wallace, wing-three-quarter.