TO PLAY OR NOT TO PLAY?

Shannon News, 2 June 1927, Page 3

TO PLAY OR NOT TO PLAY?

CLUB GAMES DURING REP PROGRAMMES. LOCAL FIXTURES TO CONTINUE. A short discussion took place at the meeting of the Horowhenua Rugby Council, on Tuesday evening, on a motion which Mr. J. Casey (secretary) moved in accordance with notice given, that club games be continued on the days when combined rep. matches and trial games are played. The motion was seconded by the chairman (Mr J. J. O’Connor). The first four combined rep. matches will be played away from home. These are: July 30tli, v.-Hawkes Bay; August 17th; v. _ King Country; August 20th, v. Auckland; and August 24th, v. Waikato. Three more are at Palmerston—viz., August 31st, v. Taranaici; September 3rd, v. Wanganui; and September 7th, v. Canterbury. The remaining match of the series, which is against Otago, will be played at Levin on September 14th.

' The Chairman in answer to a question by Mr. Robson (Miranui), said then would be no trial games here; but there would be one at Wanganui, between Wellington-Wairarapa and Mana-watu-Wanganui. -Mr Richards (Shannon) contended that the question should be held over until a later date, as this district would not be affected until towards the end of July. Mr. Anderston (County) said that if the motion was carried, some of the rep. players might be left behind. Mr. M. Winiata (senior selector): If a rep. player refuses a trip, there is a strong penalty, and it would be foolish for him to look at it in that way.

Mr. Anderson remarked that good club, football produced representative players! If a club had to fight out a close finish, its players were not likely to go away with a rep. team. Mr. Casey: It means that one team has no games for five weeks. Mr. Wrigley (Kuku) said that the public required to be catered for, and unless the club games were continued there would b? weeks and weeks without football heie. The Council would be„losing gate-money too.

Mr. Anderson said that if two or three members were taken oout of a club team, leaving it in a weakened condition, people would not go to see the games. It might also mean that one of the weaker clubs would knock out a hitherto strong club. Mr. Joyce (Weraroa): It is not going to encourage football if you put off matches for five weeks. You will be spoiling the interest for the public. Mr. Robinson (Awahou): The team rhal does hot play for five weeks will not play again this season. - Mr. Winiata: If we are not going to

close up our competitions we may loss' two or three at the outside from our leading clubs. If we do close, then perhaps a hundred players will have to wait for them*. It is not fair to the players. Mr. M. Ryder (Wanderers) said he was not in favour of the motion going through. Only one or two players from this district went away with the Manawhenua team; but did the rest of the players wish to play when their best men were away? He believed they were not in favour of playing under those conditions, but would rather be on the line.

Mr Procter (Hui Mai): It is not right lhat they should stand on the line for five weeks i lam in favour of the motion.

Mr. Casey: Imagine Wellington closing down —it would be the joke of the country. Mr Anderson: It was not a joke in Southland .last year when their club players refused to go because there was a close competition. Mr Richards: This Saturday we are putting off fixtures on account of the Otaki races.

It was pointed out that this was done in accordance with the past practice of the Council.

Mr. Robson stated that, last season, there were no fewer than six player 3 away from one club in one. day, playing in a combined game at Palmerston. The Chairman: That was not a touring. team. ' Mr. Anderson: I know a case of a strong club being beaten by a-weaker club through the same thing. The Chairman: What would the Shannon football public think if they did not see a senior match for seven weeks?

Mr. Robson: I think they would sooner see that than see the team victimised.

The Chairman: We might as well close down altogether if we have no club matches. Mr. Joyce: We decided at a previous meeting that if there was an occasion such as Mr. Robson quoted and it was an important game, it should be reconsidered.

Mr. Anderson: That was not the motion at last meeting. It was carried that there be no club football for two Saturdays. Mi-. Robson: If I thought we could get over the difficulty by relieving a team of their obligation on a day when they are short of, say, three players, I would be inclined to favour this motion .

Mr. Ryder: Some of the chaps who are not quite up to rep. football might like to travel with the team and see their mates play. ' The Chairman: Awahou, Weraroa and Otaki will go out if we have no football for five weeks. They have only about 15 men each. Mr. Ryder: If the other clubs with only 15 are going to lobo players to rep. teams, how are they going to put on a match?

The motion was then put to the meetr ing, and was carried by eight votes to four.