RUGBY FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 21090, 23 May 1930, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL

EASTERN SOUTHLAND SUB-UNION.

WEEKLY MEETING.

At the weekly meeting of the Eastern Southland Rugby Sub-Union held last night Mr F. Murray presided over the following members: Messrs F. Wallis, senr., G. Whittingham, I. Martin, J. W. Aitken, C. D. McConnell, H. G. Wallis, M. Fitzgerald, R. S. Green and J. M. Boyne. A. Sinclair wrote applying for a transfer from the Edendale Club to the Seaward Downs Club. He forwarded a clearance from the Edendale Club. It . was decided to get further particulars from the Edendale Club.

B. Popham, of Wyndham, wrote to the effect that he would not play football at all if he was forced to quit the Wyndham Club to play for Edendale. It was decided to ask the Edendale Club if it yVould allow Popham to play for Wyndham. The following letter was forwarded by the secretary of the Eastern Southland Referees’ Association: "I am instructed to inform you that the committee of the Referees' Association accepts your letter of May 16 as a satisfactory explanation of the remarks complained of in my letter 1 of the previous day. The members of the association will on all occasions welcome constructive criticism from the Sub-union. It is, however, the considered opinion of the committee of the association that the publication of criticism of referees is not in the best interests of football and that such criticism should be communicated officially to those concerned through the .proper channel, the committee of the association.”

J. Dowling -was granted a transfer from Seaward Downs to Edendale. The question of the postponement of fixtures was brought up and it was decided that the first and third grades play this week’s games, and that the fixtures committee arrange for second and fourth grade games.

R. Miller’s application for a transfer from Seaward Downs to Star (Invercargill) was referred to the permit committee. The chairman proposed that the Otago University team be invited to play Eastern on some suitable date at Gore, and it was decided to write inquiring if the University Club would be agreeable and if it would forward suggestions. CENTRAL DISTRICT NOTES. CLUBS AND PLAYERS. (By Full-back.) Only three teams are competing in the Hamilton Shield competition this season. It was a very wise move when the Central Sub-Union decided to have a junior competition this season. There are six teams participating .in this competition. Winton have not had their line crossed ' so far and Limehills were very unlucky in I not breaking this record last Saturday. | Laing and Thornbury are Dipton's out- ' standing backs. The former has plenty of . weight and a good kick, while Thornbury, although very light, has speed and is a I very hard man to collar. Thornbury won i the Dipton v. Winton match for Dipton. I The Winton-Limehills game played at ; Limehills last Saturday resulted in a win I for the former team by 22 points to 6, although the game was better contested than the scores indicate. The game was very ragged to watch and was confined mostly to the forwards, very little back play being witnessed. This is very hard to understand as the grounds were in peri feet order and with a dry ball nothing ■ could have been better for a fast, open I game. Limehills did attempt one or two pass- . ing rushes and on one occasion were unfortunate in not crossing Winton’s line. Taking the game all through, many opportunities were missed and both Jeams lacked the necessary finish required to register points. Limehills monopolized the ball in the scrum and Barnes and Wilson were certainly too good for the Winton pair. Barnes also played a real good game in the open, and this player will be hard to keep out of the Central team.

Cairns is another player who should earn distinction in the Liniehills team. Last Saturday he played his first game this season as wing-forward and acquitted himself well.

Balch who played opposite Cairns for Winton last Saturday did not give the latter all his own way. Balch is a very fast forward when fit and was prominent in several solo efforts.

Shand played a good game on the wing for Winton last Saturday. This player learned his football at the VVaitaki High School, and his two tries were determined efforts and thoroughly deserved. W. Reid played his best game to date for Limehills and was unfortunate in not scoring against Winton last Saturday. This player has plenty of pace and is very hard to stop. The Winton backs are a very light .combination, but given favourable opportunities will be a good scoring side later in the season.

Murphy was successful in registering three goals for Winton last Saturday. Although a prominent junior last year, this player has certainly earned his place. Soper (Dipton) is a dashing forward and is certainly worth his place in any senior 'team.

Anderson and Ward are two heavy forwards playing for Dipton. The latter is the makings of a good footballer, but should learn to play the ball and not the man. Late tackling is also another fault of this player. Thornbury is a big acquisition to the Dinton fifteen. He and Laing are the mainstay of the backs while Laing’s heavy punts are very disheartening to opposing forwards. ■Mr G. Agnew, referee in the LimehillsRyal Bush junior match last Saturday, is to be commended on his prompt action in ordering a player off the field for fighting. Players who cannot control their tempers should not play football and it is all the better for the game when these players take their football from the side line. Last season six teams competed for the Hamilton Shield but owing to the inability of Ryal Bush and Waianiwa to raise senior teams only four entries were received this season. Drummond have now withdrawn from the competition which leaves a triangular contest between Dipton, Limehills and Winton. This state of affairs is certainly to be -regretted and it behoves the Central Sub-Union to use every endeavour to improve matters before next season otherwise senior football will h e doomed in the Central District. An effort could be made to have a combined senior team from the Waianiwa and Ryal Bush Clubs, while Drummond have a big district and will probably come back as strong as ever next season. Many good players have been brought out in these districts. Probably many more are there and it is the subunion’s duty to use every endeavour to foster' teams in these and other country centres. ■

Regrades were handed out wholesale at the last sub-union meeting, but it is questionable if the sub-union was wise in granting a' regrade for a Central senior “rep.” to play junior. , The positions of the senior and junior teams are as follows: —

Senior. P. W. D. L. Points Ch. F. A. Pts. Winton ., .. . - 4 3 — 1 80 9 6 Dipton ..... . 3 3 — — 17 3 6 Limehills .. . 4 1 — 3 9 66 2 Drummond . 1 — —— — 28 — / Drummond withdrew from the competition. Junior. P. W. D. L. Points. Ch. F. A. Pts. Hedgehope . 4 2 2 — 31 28 6 Limehills .. 4 2 1 1 46 43 5 Ryal Bush . 4 2 1 1 48 26 5 Hokonui .. . 4 2 1 1 46 36 5 Drummond . 4 1 — 3 34 55 2 Winton .. . 4 - 1 3 23 40 1