RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 14 June 1929, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

horoVhenua district council

The management <• nnmittee of the Horowhenun Rugby District C ,im .• il was held in the W svaria Rooms on Tuesday evening, there being present: Messrs W. C. Hannan (president), G. Mitchell (Shannon), J. W. Procter (Hui. Mai), S. Hooper (Weraroa), P. foyers (Waikanae), 11. G. McDonald (Schools), A. Richards: (Shannon), F. Robinson (Foxton), W; S. Ileyes (Foxton), W. G. McLean (Paraparaurau), W. Phillips (Refeiees), J. Casey (secretary), and J. W. Rinmer (treasurer). Mr Procter occupied the chair, owing to Mr Hannan being called away.

PROTEST AGAINST H. WEIIIPEL HANA DISMISSED.

A letter was received from Mr C. Nees, secretary of the Hui Mai Club, in reply to the Council's communication of May 28th, stating that tho Otaki club had entered a protest against H. Wehipeihana playing for Hui Mai juniors, alleging that he was a senior player. The Hui Mai club had placed the following contentions before the Council:—That it had been a recognised rule that, if a player had not played in senior matches for two seasons, he was eligible to play in a lower grade; Wehipeihana had not played senior for three seasons. That the Council, either consciously cr unconsciously, had allowed Wehipeihana to play the whole of last season for the Paraparaumu juniors. That, such being the case,-it was only reasonable that Ilui Mai should feel confident in the belief that Wehipeihana was playing according to classification. That, in any case, the injuries he had nowsustained to his shoulder while playing football were such, that it was contrary to doctor % orders that ho play at all, let alone senior football. In view of the above circumstances, the club hofced that the Council would not uphold the protest. In reply to ‘the Council’s inquiries ,as to Wehipeihana’s status, Mr A. E. Neiison, secretary of the Wellington Rugby Union, /rote stating that Wehipeihana played in that Union's senior competition in the 1927 season, but he' was not,' on that account, classified as a senior player by the Union. If he were playing in Wellington this year, he would be permitted, to play in a lower grade as considered necessary by. his club. "As a matter of fact,” the writer added, "we do not actually classify players except in eases of a man having represented his province during the present or past season. In such cases he is. automatically classified as a senior player, and before being eligible to play in a lower grade must be transferred by the Union.”

i The acting-Chairman stated that he had, received a letter from the Hui Mai club pointing out that no notification had been received from the Otaki club that the latter intended tp lodge a protest; ’ Mr Procter added that the protest was not in accordance with the rules, which -provided that a written statement setting forth the grounds of appeal should be forwarded to the secretary of the Council not later than the Tuesday following the match. Otaki had not made their protest within that time. It was mentioned that, under tho new classification by-law, a junior was one who had not played more than twice in a competitionhigher than his class.

A resolution was passed that the protest be dismissed; that the protest fee of 10s be refunded; and that thy Otaki club be notified that the classification of Wohipeihana by the Wellington Union is that of a junior; and that the. Ilui Mai-Otaki game stands.

WELLINGTON OVERTURES FOR MATCHES.

The secretary of the Wellttgtou Rugby Union wrote stating that he had written to the ManaiVhenpa Union asking if they could arrange a junior match between ' Manawhenua and Wellington. His Union would also like to send their third-grade repteam to play either at Levin or Otaki, and it was suggested that, if the match could be arranged, liorowhenua should play their junior rep. team againjst Wellington’s third grade team, subject to the absence of any of the former’s juniors who might be included in the Combined junior team. Mr Hannan pointed out that the Council could not arrange the propos ed match without consulting the Combined Union. Mr Procter: Unless we could have control of the gate, I don’t think wo could entertain it. Consideration of the. matter was held over until information is obtained as to whether the Manawhenua Union will allow 'the Council the gate fo: the match..

WING FORWARDS. A communication was received from the Manawhenua Union stating that the N.Z. Rugby Union had written to them as follows:—“Wing Forward and Obstruction.—At the annual general meeting of delegates, a discussion took place on the question of abolishing tho wing forward, and a resolution was passed asking Unions to draw the attention of referees to Laws 17b an-1 19.’ ’ The letter was referred to Mr Phil-

lips for transmission to the Referees’ Association. BEBBINGTON SHIELD MATCHES.

The secretary re.poited that he had sent a telegram to the 'Danuevirke Sub-Union asking if Saturday, July 6th, would be a suitable date on which to play their challenge for the Bobbin gtou Shield, the match to take place at Foxton. He was awaiting a reply. The secretary’s aetion was in accordance with the Council's reconsideration of dates for the Bebbington Shield matches on account of a challenge being received from the Bush Union, who wanted an early fixture. Conditionally on Danuevirke accepting July 6th, the date to be submitted for the Bush match, which is to be played at Levin, will be Saturday, July 20tli.

It was decided that further consideration of • the Dannevirke challenge be deferred for a week. MANAWATU MATCHES.

The Manaivatu District Council had accepted Saturday, June 22nd, as the date for the Horowhenua, A and B matches to be played against Manawatu, at Shannon, and both Councils agreed to the return matches being played at Palmerston on Wednesday, July 10th.

The committee resolved to submit the names of Messrs T. Parata, E. Bevam, J. J. O’Connor and P. McLeavey to the Manawatu Union for the selection of two referees, one for the A match and tho other for the B match against . Manaivatu at Shannon.

On the motion of Mr Procter, seconded by' Mr Robinson, .it was resolved that the A grade representatives be brought in to Levin for practices, transport being available with the assistance of delegates and supporters. FINE REMITTED. The secretary of the Hui Mai Club wrote with reference to the fine of os imposed on that club on the, grounds of two jerseys of wrong colours having been worn in the junior match against Paraparaumu. He stated that lie understood from the manager of the junior team that all ths jerseys were of the right colours. In the two jerseys evidently referred to, the green had faded and they were not easily distinguished at a distance.

A resolution was passed remitting the fine. WANDEREBS-FOXTON MATCH TO

BE RE-PLAYED,

Mr Ileyes asked for a ruling on the status of a school or college boy revisiting his home town and playing for a local club, stating that J. Mackenzie, who played for Wellington Varsity senior B team last year, played for Wanderers seniors against Foxton on Saturday. The Chairman said there bad been an understanding in the past that in such case a could play for a local club.

Mr Hooper said he thought that, according to the rules, permission must 'first be obtained.

Mr Ileyes said he would not have raised any objection if the club hail been short of players, but it happened that on this occasion ssome members were stood down. Mackenzie was an outstanding player on/the field; but the speaker was not . raising the point merely because Foxton had been beat-

The rules were consulted and found to provide that permission might be granted to any toy attending a secondary school or a training college, when in his home town, to play in a match, but not below his grade. The Chairman ruled that the play ci' in question iAvas not eligible to play in a loca.l team 'without permission from the Council. Mr Robinson asked if this meant that the game would be given to Foxton. The Foxton club committee understood that previous years Mackenzie was a schoolboy, but now that he was in the University he was a senior player. ißefercuce to the minutes showed that in 1927 Mackenzie was granted permission to play for Wanderers a? a schoolboy. Mr Robinson contended that if the match was likely to affect the result of the competition, it should be replayed. Mr McDonald moved and Mr Phillips seconded, that the Wanderers club be informed that they were in error in playing Mackenzie without permission, and that in the event of the game affecting the championship finals it would be re-played. As an amendment, Mr Riminer moved pud Mr Robinson seconded, that the game be re-played, at Foxton. Mr Rimmer explained that his reason for nominating Foxton as the venue was that Wanderers had forfeited their first game there. The amendment was carried by eight votes to three.

RE-CLASSIFICAI lON MOTION LOST. Mr Mitchell stated that lie had been asked by the Shannon club to apply for the re-classification as a junior of Vertogen. He was classified last- year, but had not been able to get a game in the seniors. The club instanced as a precedent the re-classification of Anderson, of Foxton. Mr Hooper said that this case was different. Vertongen had bec-n offered a game with Hui Mai, also with Weraroa.

'The Chairman: I don’t think tilers should be any classifying after the first round. It should be- completed then for the season.

Mr Robinson: There is nothing in the rules to prevent a mail being reclassified at any part of the season. Mr Hannan has indicated that ho would be lenient in classifying, this season, owing to a player becoming a senior after playing in three senior matches. Vertongen is a big chap and should develop into a good footballer. I think it would be an asset to the Union to let him play another year as junior.

The Chairman: The second round of Ihe juniors is half-way. through now.

He has played one game this year a senior.

Mr Robinson: • Had he not be classified, he would still have been junior.

A motion by Mr Mitchell, secondt by Mr Richards, that Vertongen be r instated as a junior, was lost by foi votes to eight.

SUSPENSIONS

At the previous meeting of the ma agenient committee, two complaints t which evidence harl bc6n awaited we disposed of. Ropata, of Wanderers seniors, wl had been ordered off in the matt against Shannon, was in attendance answer a charge of having delibe ately struck, at an opponent. Aft hearing' his evidence and that of tl referee, Mr P. McLeavey,: it was d eided that Ropata be suspended ft two. playing Saturdays. Matthews (Tokomaru thirds) ai McCarthy (Foxton thirds), who h? been ordered off on charges of figh iug and using bad language, also a tended. After their evidence had bet taken, Mr McGill moved and k 0 ’Rourke seconded, that they be stoc down for two playing. Saturdays.' A amendment was moved by Mr Hey and seconded by Mr Milt-chell, th they be suspended for one playii Saturday. The amendment was lo and the motion carried.

REFEREES FOR SATURDAY. Referees for the football matches ihe liorowhenua district on Saturd: have been appointed as under:— Seniors. —Foxton v. Otaki, at Fo ton; Mr P. McLeavey. Shannon Hui Mai, at Manakau; Mr T. Parata Juniors. —Hui Mai v. Otaki, at Otak Mr K. Davis. Waikanae v. Parap raumu, at Waikanae; Mr C. Hodgso Wanderers v. Foxton, at Weraroa; & J. Smith. Weraroa v. Shannon, ; Shannon; Mr R. Sands. > Thirds. —Tokomaru v. Shannon, Tokomaru; Mr T. Koliika. Foxiou Weraroa, at Prousc’s; Mr H. Peue.