RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 9 August 1929, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

HOROWHENUA DISTRICT COUNCIL. The management committee of the Horowhenua. Rugby'' District Council was held'on Tuesday, in the Wistaria rooms, there being present, Messrs W. C. Hannan (president), A. Richards (Shannon), G. Mitchell (Shannon), W. S. Heyes (Foxton), F. Meyers (Waikanae), W. G. McLean (Paraparaumu), J. McGill (Otaki), S. Hooper (junior selector), F. Robinson (Foxton), H. J. Jones (Schools), J. Casey (secretary), W. Phillips (Referees), J. W. Rimmer ‘(treasurer), J. W. Procter (Hui Mai)., The chairman, extended. a hearty welcome to Mr Jones on tpking his seal as representative of the schools of the district, in succession to Mr H. G. B. McDonald, who has gone to Wellington. The speaker hoped that. ' Mr Jones's term of office would be as pleasant to him and to his fellow-members as had been the case "with his prede-

eessor. Mr Jones suitable acknowledged the chairman’s sentiments. WELLINGTON THIRDS’ MATCH. With reference to, the proposed match between ' the , Wellington thirds, and Horowhenua juniors, to be played in this district, the Wellington Union wrote stating that they would like it to be. delayed until September. The matter was held over for further consideration.

Mclennan trophy,

A question with regard to the McLennan Trophy was raised by Mr Rimmer, who said that the donor was under the impression that it was to have been for competition throughout the season, ■

The chairman.pointed out that, as it had been given out by the Council that the trophy would only be prayed for during the competitions, no alteration could be made this season; but the conditions could be altered next year. Mr Rimmer said that it was Mr McLennan ’s wish that the trophy should be embodied in the Nash Cup competition next year. REFEREES’ ENGAGEMENTS.

A letter was received from Mr F. ,C. Meyer stating that the referee appoint-, ed was not in attendance at the match between Hui Mai and .Waikanae juniors, at Waikanae on July 27th. The Chairman asked for an explanation as from the Referees’ Association.

Mr Phillips stated that the Association should have met on Monday night, but was unable, to get a quorum. A meeting 'was being called for next Mondays night. An application had been received from Mr A. Smith, of Waikanae, to act as a referee, and he had forwarded a two years’ subscription. A notice-card was sent to Mr Smith, but it was returned; endorsed “Unknown. ’ ’

The Chairman said not think that' the Referees’ Association were exactly to blame in ’this case, which was evidently one of misadventure. They were quite in order in trying to get an extra referee at Waikanae if they could. Discussion ensued as to the existence of some laxity in attendance on the part of referees in the southern end of the district, and it was mentioned, that one man had said that he would no longer referee at Otaki. Mr Meyers said there had been no hostility in the southern area against the referees, but there had been some criticism. There was nothing in the rules to compel a referee to go to a certain place, but it would show a sporting spirit if a referee notified his intended absence to the Association so that the latter could appoint another man.

The matter was left to Mr Phillips to bring /before the Association. . INCORRECT COLOURS.

Mr T. Watt, coach of Wanderers Juniors, wrote expressing astonishment at “the way the Council had slated the junior team” for its attire in the match played against Foxton juniors at Foxton on July 20th. He" felt that such criticism would never have been made had the Council known the position. The team were incorrectly dressed through no fault of the management as a whole. On account of sickness it had not been possible to raise a full team without including some who were not correetly clad. The next Saturday he refused to put in a team against Weraroa as he would have had to do the same as in the match against Foxton. Consequently they had had to forfeit to Weraroa. The Chairman said he thought that the writer's notice should be drawn to Kule 18 of the Club Contest Begulations. That was all that concerned the Council. Members of .teams had to play in the right-coloured jerseys. A report was received from Mr E-. Bevan that one of the Wanderers seniors played in the wrong jersey against Shannon, at Levin on Saturday. Before the match, the Wanderers’ captain, Tatana, mentioned that he could not get an extra black jersey for this man. It was decided that a line of 2/6 be imposed on the club. ENCROACHMENT OF THE CEOWD. Mr Bevan, in the same communication, suggested that one or two Council officials, or referees who might be present, should assist in keeping the crowd back to the fence at a 'match, as the referee had repeatedly to stop the game to ask the crowd to move back. The chairman said that officials received a lot of abuse if they tried to keep the spectators back from the line. Mr Jones said that if the officials had some badge of authority it might be helpful. The Chairman: The only person who can control them is a referee or a policeman. A curious point in connection with the senior championship final, played at Levin on July 27th, in which Wanderers defeated Foxton by 11 points to 8, was brought up by Mr Robinson, whd contended that the match was played longer than it should have been, and that if it hr ’ been stopped on time

the result would have been a draw, with the benefit to the Council of a re-play on another date. He wanted to know if they owned a bell for time-keeping purposes. The Chairman: If we had the finance we should have a stop-watch for important matches. The Council once had a bell.

Mr Procter:’We have'had several The Chairman: They disappear.

It appeared from the discussion that the referee had waited for the ball to go out of bounds before sounding time in the senior final, and that he was firm on the point that he was acting rightly. Mr Robinson said that, fifteen seconds before the game finished, a man tried to call the referee’s attention to the fact that time was up, but play went on and the winning try was scored. There were no stoppages (luring the match to necessitate extra time being played. The Chairman said that, as far as the referee was concerned, his procedure would have been just as fair for Foxton as for Wanderers, but it happened that the latter were attacking at the time.

This matter was not the subject of a protest, and the Committee proceeded to the next business. NASH CUP CONTEST. '

In regard- to the Nash Cup contest, which is being played this year on the rounds system instead of as a “knock-out’’ competition, Mr Mitchell moved that, in the event of a drawn game fin the final, two extra spells of teii minutes each be played. Mr Heyes seconded the motion. Mr Robinson opposed this, and favoured the playing of an additional match, on the grounds of financul benefit. • .

The motion was allowed to lapse, it being agreed that the committee would bo in a better position at a later, date to know what stand to take.

COMING MATCHES.

August 17th was fixed as the date for the junior final between Otaki anl Foxton, to be played at Levin.' D> the event of a draw, two ext.', a spells of ten minutes each ivill be played. Entries for the junior knock-out competition for the Licensed iVictuallers’Cup will close on August l!)th. Mr Meyers was appointed nninngu of the Horowhenua junior reps, to play Manawatu juniors ati Palmerston on August 14th. The Levin District High School team were granted the use of the Park Domain, Levin, for their match against Otaki Maori- College on Thursday. Mr Jones suggested that the secretary ask the various clubs holding trophies to return them so that tli£ winners’ names could be engraved on them. They were supposed to be back in May. The Chairman said that this had not been enforced for a season, but he thought that the winners’ names should be engraved in the same season that the trophies were won. t A FINE SPIRIT.

Mr Procter referred with pleasure to the good feeling evident as between the Weraroa and Tokomaru thirds in the final of that grade, played last Saturday at Prouse’s Padock. A fine, clean game was played, at the conclusion of which the Tokomaru players “chaired’’ a number of the'members of the winning team ofe the ground.