RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 22 June 1928, Page 1

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

HOROWHENUA DISTRICT COUNCIL The weekly meeting of the management committee of the Horowhenua Rugby District Council was held in the Wistaria Rooms on Tuesday, there being present: Messrs W. Han nan (president), A. Richards (Shannon), L. McDonald (Wanderers), W. Phillips (Referees), G. Mitchell (Shannon), E. M. Ryder (Wanderers), H. , McDonald (Schools), S. Hooper (Weraroa), J. W. Rinimer (treasurer), F. Robinson (Foxton), J. W. Procter (Hui Mai), M. Winiata (senior selector), W. S. Joyce (Weraroa), and J. Casey (secretary). An apology for absence was received from Mr H. Hutchins (Foxton). COMPLAINT AGAINST A COACH. Mr Henry Hemi, referee in the Shannon v. Wanderers third grade match,' played at Prouse's Paddock on Saturday, wrote reporting that Mr Kere Carter, coach of the • Shannon team, disputed his decisions, wanted to fight him, and used obscene language both on and off the ground. The chairman said that the status of a coach was equivalent to that of a spectator, and the Council could not take the same action as in the case of an offending player. Mr Procter remarked that the Council must' protect its referees. The chairman admitted this, but added that the Council could not take action against spectators on public grounds. Members concurred in the view that cases of obscene language could be referred to the police. , r The chairman moved that the case be referrod to the Shannon Club, and that they be asked to bring the referee's charges to the notice of Mr Carter. Mr Casey seconded the motion, and it was carried. Mr Richards stated that his club would look into the matter and would report to the Council at its next meeting. INJURED FOXTON PLAYERS. Intimation was received from the secretary of the Foxton Club (Mr R. Hornblow) that G. Woods, a senior, and duffer, a junior, of that club, were injured in their-respective matches on Saturday. Medical certificates were forwarded in respect of these players, also a certificate that R. G. Findlay would be fit for work on the 18th inst. It was decided that, as Woods had not handed his fee to an official of the Council or to the referee, his insurance was out of order.

MAUNOATUKU PROTEST DISMISSED. The Council proceeded to deal with tire case, adjourned from the previous meeting, in which the Maungatuku team protested against the match awarded to Weraroa Juniors on Saturday, June 9th, at Weraroa, on the ground that overtime was played. It was contended by the protesting club that the referee had drawn attention to the prolonging of the second half. Other contentions were that the game was beguin at 2.55 p.m. and finished at 4.55 p.m., and that the time off for injured players did not exceed eight minutes.

The chairman said that Mr Hoopei was an official of the Council, and nc doubt he kept the time. The referee was the sole judge of time, but, according to the rules, he must keep the time himself. The chairman was oj opinion that if a referee appointed 8 timekeeper —as often happened —the latter became the sole judge of time; and if the referee was in accord with his time-keeper, no protest should bi allowed. Apparently in this case Mi Sands had done the best thing he coulc. in appointing an official of the Counei. for the purpose. He believed that the referee was quite in accord with the time kept by Mr Hooper, and that the Maungatuku protest was out of order. Mr Sands had said that he had allowed six minutes—which was out of order—for an injured player. That player, however, happened to be a Maungatuku man, and so this was s ,in favour of that club, if there was any advantage. The Council must uphold the action of Mr Hooper, one of its members, who had nothing to gain personally. The Maungatuku C'.ub made an imputation against Mr Hooper in its letter. Mr Hooper stated that he was the only timekeeper appointed at the match in question and he asked Mr O'Connor to check the time.

The chairman stated that Mr Hooper was not the first man whom Mr Sands asked to keep the time. He had approached two or three, but they declined to undertake the duty. Mr Procter moved that the protest be dismissed.

The secretary stated that he had seen Mr Sands, who was satisfied that Mr Hooper kept the time correctly. The chairman explained that his idea in postponing consideration of the case from the last meeting was to give the Maungatuku Club an opportunity of attending thevcommittee's meeting and supporting their protest, as he thought that the Council would be quite willing to hear. them.

Mr Hooper remarked that the Maungatuku Club had alleged that the referee drew his (the speaker’s) attention to the length of the second spell. *.iis lie denied absolutely. The chairman stated that the referee had upheld Mr Hooper’s contention. Mr Kichards said he thought that the protest was out of order, .according to

V A UIVOI The Chairman: They are quite legal-

ly entitled to protest, and I don’t think we should impound the ten shillings. Mr Procter stated that at matches allover New Zealand the referees appointed timekeepers on the line. In answer to a question by Mr Ryder, the chairman stated that, even though a referee kept the time inaccurately, his decision must stand. ■Mr Ryder said that, in that case, the rule wanted altering. , . The motion was carried, dismissing the protest. It was decided that the protest fee be refunded. -• CLUB COMPETITIONS. The question of postponing or otherwise dealing with the club competitions, in view of the representative tour, was brought up by the chairman, and it was decided that the competitions be carried on. MANAWATU MATCH. Pinal arrangements were made for the llorowhenua-Manawatu match, to be played at Shannon next Saturday. Mr E. M. Ryder was appointed manager of the A team, and Mr S. Hooper manager of the B team. The appointment of captains was left to the selector and the players. INSURANCE OF COMBINED REPS. Mr Casey moved that the Council accept no responsibility for injured players in the Combined Union rep. matches. He stated that the Manawhenua Union ctiuld well afford to compensate players injured in its representative games without calling upon the District Council. This motion would reaffirm a resolution passed by this Council last year. The chairman seconded the motion. He stated that he did this on principle, in order to bring pressure on the Combined Union to formulate an inmrance scheme of its own, which it must have sooner or later to cover „ those of its players who suffered injuries. The motion was carried. SCHOOL FOOTBALL. Mr McDonald gave a verbal review jf the position of school football in the district. He stated that he had received about twenty letters from teachers expressing gratitude for the Council’s donations of footballs for the schools. He quoted from a letter written by Mr F. A. Mason, headmaster of the Foxton District High School, who expressed his thanks for the gifts of a football each for the main school and the side school (Beach school), and paid a tribute to the Council for the practical interest which it showed in Foxton school football last year. This communication, said Mr McDonlald, was representative of the feeling of all the teachers in the district towards the Council. He added that there were five teams in the Austin Banner competition this season, and this meant that 100 schoolboys were getting a ground- ' ing in football. A match was played every Saturday, and the competition consisted of 10 matches. At the end of the season a team would be sent to play in Wellington; and a team from the Hutt Valley would play a game against the Horowhenua schools. The latter would also play in a seven-a-side tournament for the Noad Shield; and a representative match would be played between the northern and southern schools of the district. Mr Richards expressed pleasure at the state of sfehool Rugby as disclosed by Mr McDonald. The chairman said - that the Council had to sincerely thank Mr McDonald for the great interest which he took in school football and for the work which n A nn 1.1.1 n J 1 X? ’ *1 1

The next meeting of the Horowhenua management committee will be held on Tuesday, July 3rd. The management committee of the Combined Union i will meet in Shannon On evening, following the Manawatu-Hbro* ■

arheaua matches.