RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 30 August 1929, 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 last evening, there being present: Messrs W. 0. Hannan (president), J. Casey (secretary), W. G. Phillips (Referees), M. G. McLean (Paraparaumu), J. Mc'Gill (Otaki), F. Meyers (Waikanae), J. W. Procter (Hui Mai), S. Hooper (Weraroa), A. Richards (Shannon), G. Mitchell (Shannon), \V. S. Heyes (Foxton), F. Robin-' son (Foxton), and .J. W. Rimmer (treasurer). HAWKE'S BAY. Notification Avas received from the Combined Union that the following players had been selected to represent Manawhenua against Hawke's Bay at Napier on Saturday next: —M. Johnston, W. Parata, Bevan, T. Parata, D. Tatana, L. Dalzell, and J. Hanna. PROPOSED ORIENTAL MATCH. Mr W. A. Jameson, coach to the Oriental juniors, Wellington,, wrote asking if a match could be arranged against a team in Levin early next month. Last season the team played Hui Mai as a curtain-raiser to the match Manawhenua v. Wellington. The secretary reported that he had referred "the request to the Otaki Club with a view to their playing Oriental. The meeting confirmed the secretary's action. FINES IN RESPECT OF FOOTBALLERS' ATTIRE. With reference to the junior match, Wanderers 1 v. Foxton, played at Foxton on July, 20th, and the complaint by the latter club that several members of the Wanderers' team were )vrongly attired, the Referees' Association secretary (Mr Phillips) handed in a letter which he had received from the referee, Mr McGregor, in which he stated that he had thought that the Wanderers only had a "pick-up" team on the date in question, and that the matter complained of was therefore not worth reporting. He named four players who were in the wrong colours. As to his having rcfereed without a jersey, 'he explained that he had been asked to referee in the absence of Mr Bevan through sickness and did not have time to get his proper clothes or to notify the secretary that he was without them, but he had asked another to do so. . * i

Mr Phillips said that Mr McGregor had only been apointed at the last minute.

The Chairman pointed out that it was previously reported to the Council that eight players were wrongly attired, but the report only mentioned four. He moved that Wanderers be fined 10s in respect of the four players reported by the referee. The motion was seconded by Mr McLean, and carried. Concerning the Shannon v. Otaki match, played at Shannon on August 10th, and the report to the last meeting by Mr Richards that one of the Otaki players was in the wrong colours, Mr Phillips stated that he had spoken to the referee, Mr Smith, who said he had thought that there was no need to report the - matter, as Otaki had simply picked up an emergency, a schoolboy, who played in shirt instead of a jersey. The Chairman said the position was that referees had to, report all such cases.. Wanderers had been let off lightly in that they had only been fined in respect of four men instead oi eight, and in regard to Otaki he thought that, now that the Council had .received an explanation from the referee, the matter might be overlooked Mr Meyers thought that the rules should be"enforced. The Council looked to the public to finance football, but could -not expect that support if the rules were allowed to be ignored. _ It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Procter, seconded by Mr Meyers, that Otaki be fined 2/6. Mr Phillips stated that the referee in the Hui Mai v. Shannon game, played at Manakau last Saturday, reported that two of the Hui Mai men were wearing wrong jerseys. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Procter, to fine Hui Mai ss. SHANNON AWARDED JUNIOR MATCH. Kef erring to - the, non-play of the junior fixture, Wanderers y. Shannon, at Shannon on Saturday, in the Lieen- : sed Victuallers' Cup competition, Mr Hooper stated that Wanderers had had a team ready to go, but one of the cars broke down and the players could not all reach Shannon. Mr Mitchell stated that a telephone message to this effect was received at 3.15 p.m. in Shannon. Five of the team arrived at 3.30. If the game were awarded to Shannon, he would like to move that Wanderers be not required to forfeit their deposit. The Shannon Club had had a team ready. The Chairman said he thought that the Committee should get a report from the referee, Mr Coyle. Mr McLean: I think that, if anything happens to a team, they should write to the Council and explain. Mr Procter: It is hard on a team if they are making every effort to get to 'a place and a car breaks down on the, rostd. The Chairman: We have no appeal

iii from Wanderers, and 1 think we should award the game to Shannon. 1 move that, owing to Wanderers not fulfilling their engagement, the match be awarded to Shannon. Mr Phillips seconded the motion. Mr Robinson moved, as an amendment, that, owing to the fact that Wanderers had made every effort to reach Shannon, the match he re-play-ed, provided that it has any bearing on the. competition. ' Mr Heyes seconded the motion, ex- ■ pressing the opinion that a team should not be penalised in (ho event of a breakdown.' Mr Mitchell stated, and Mr Richards supported him, that the Shannon club had not expressed any preference • one way or the other, but they did not want Wanderers to lose their deposit. ~ > Mr Casey stated that the match '' would have to be're-played, as it was in a knock-out competition. The amendment was lost by three votes to nine, and the motion was carried, awarding the game to Shannon. On ,the motion of Mr Mitchell,- it was resolved that, as Wanderers had made evqry effort to attend the match, their deposit be refunded. FIXTURES. Owing to the junior rep. match, Manawhcnua v. "Wellington, being set , down for Saturday next, at Levin, it was decided that the junior knock-out games be postponed till September 7th, when the fixtures will be:* Otaki v. AVaikanae, at Otaki; Shanntfii v. Foxton, at Shannon. ' NASH CUP CONTEST. The secretary announced that Foxton were out of the Nash Cup competition having defaulted in respect of two games. On. Saturday next Shannon will have a bye, and Hui Mai win by default from Foxton. The remaining Nash Cup match for that day is Wanderers v. Otaki, and it was resolved that in- ' quiries be made to ascertain w-hether

it; would be possible to play it as a "curtain-raiser" to the junior rep. match in Levin„.and that in the alternative it be played at Weraroa. ROWLANDS GUP. The Chairman stated that arrangements would have to be made in due course for the match for the Rowlands 'Cup, to be played this season at;Levin, between Otaki juniors' (winners of the. Hoi'owhemia championship) ' and the winners of. the Mauawatu junior championship. JUNIOR REPS.' FAILURE TO TRAVEL. ' The Chairman reported that, out of the nine 'Hoawhenua junior players selected to play in the Manawhcnua, team against Wanganui at the latter ; place, only four made the trip. They were Croon, Mopre, Taylor and Hirini. This was a matter concerning which the Manawiienu.i Union would want an explanation. Failure to keep the engagement was unfair to the selectors. The, members of this Council who were oil the Combined Union had battled hard to get these juniors a Manawhenua game, and would have to get an explanation so as to place it before the Union, v

The secretary stated that Atkins and Merwood had advised him in reasonable time of their inability to go. The thre'e men unaccounted for had prom-j ised seven days beforehand that, they would go -with'the team. What had kept them behind was playing Paraparauimi. • ■lt Was decided, on the motion of Mr Hooper, seconded by Mr McLean that the three players' in question be asked for ah explanation as to why they did not fulfil their engagement. REFEREES' ABSENCES. Mr Meyers stated that the referee appointed f'oi the Hui Mai v. Waikanie match, at Waikanae last Saturday, did not turn up. Mr Phillips stated that the referee received notice rather late—it was on Wednesday nigilt. He "did not notify •the speaker, but told another officer of the Referees' Association on. Friday, that hje would not be able to officiate; Mr Phillips did not get notice of it at all. He met the referee that afternoon (Tuesday), and the latter said.he had not been well and had sent a message up town to anyone connected with the Association to let Mr Phillips know. Mr Meyers said he could' sympathise with Mr 'Phillips, but lie thought that the Association needed shaking up. There was too much of this business of letting the delegate come to the Council meeting and try to smooth things over. > The Chairman: It is certainly a bit tough. Mr Robinson: I think the Association should be fined os and the amount given to the Waikanae Club. (Laughter). The Chairman said he thought thai the Committee of the Association were trying to do their best, but they wort working under difficulties. This was a problem that' required thorough!} thrashing out at some general meeting of the Association. Mr Phillips stated that the Associa tion could not penalise the referee, the' same as the Council could penalis< players. If it had such a power aiu used it, it would finish up with no re ferees at all. Mr Meyers: Some of the public an to blame'for the lack of referees; bu if a man i s willing to be a referee, he should abide by the appointment which the Association makes. The Chairman: I hope we will hav; better luck next time. I- don't thinl we can do anything.