FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 July 1921, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

TARANAKI RUGBY UNION. MEETING OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. A meeting of the management committee of the Taranaki Rugby Union was 'held at Stratford last night. Present: Messrs. Jas. McLeod (chairman), L. G. Beamish, D. J. Malone, G. IL Meuli, A. R Ryder, A. F. Neilson, D. George, J. Garcia, B. G. Harkness (treasurer), and G. E. Jago (secretary). . A letter was received from the northern committee of the Taranaki Referees’ Association containing resolutions passed at a meeting of that buly calling the attention of the union to the unsatisfactory conditions prevailing In the language and behaviour of players and spectators in and around the dressing shed In Pukekura Park rports ground and expressing the hopt that the union would take the necessary steps to remedy this. In view of tli-j in erex se of rough pLy and foul language on the Held at the football matches, the association also protested against the very lenient penalties recently Imposed upon the offenders, and asked that the union consider the question of making such disqualifications much more severe.—ln connection with the former complaint, Mr. McLeod said that the Referees’ Association ha 1 the matter in its own hands, as the referee had control of the greund. Moreover, the police were always on the ground. The chairman was authorised to interview the police authorities on the matter. In regard to lenient sentences the chairman stated that the union was desirous of putting down both foul language and rough play.

Two fourth-grade boys, reported by tne referee for rough play, were suspended for a month, and another was suspended till the end of the season, and an Okato th.rd-grade player, reported in the Okato-nth am match, was, on the recommendation of the referee, cautioned. A Star player (J. Bowler), who was reported for using bad language to the referee in the Star-Inglewood match at New Plymouth, was suspended for the rest c-f the season.

On the application of Mr. Gray, director of the Hawera Technical School, it was resolved to allow the Hawera and New Plymouth Technical Schools to play a match at Hatten ns a curtain-raiser to the Canterbury match. Owing to the Moascar Cup match Between the New Plymouth High School and Wanganui College taking place at New Plymouth on August G, it was resolved to play the senior matches set. down for August 20 on August G t and play the lattet matches on August 20. It waa also decided to play the play-off between Lepperton and Clifton juniors as a curtain-raiser on that date.

The Taranaki Plumpton Coursing Club wrote asking if the union could postpone its fixture set down for August 13 at New Plymouth, In view of the fact that they had set down a big coursing fixture for that date, and this could not he postponed, as it filled m with the visit of the Australian dogs to the Waterloo Cup meeting.—lt was pointed out that the union could not possibly postpone the match, as it would be difficult now to get the fixtures through, but that if the light permitted the starting of the match would bo delayed that afternoon

Technical College complained against Lepperton playing five lads over age.—lt was resolved to ask Lepperion, through the Clifton Club, to supply the ages of the players mentioned.

The referee tn the Strntford-Kaponga match at Stratford on July 2, complained that owing to tho junior match finishing late, he had to curtail the second half of the senior game between Stratford and Kaponga owing to darkness, to ST minutes Instead of the agreed time of 4) minutes.—The Referees' Association Is to be notified that matches must dot start later than three o’clock, and in the event of there being a curtain-raiser, that match must stop at 3 o’clock.’ Kaponga wrote asking that tho match mentioned above should be played over again at the cner tho season. No action was taken.

It was resolved to advise the Opunake Domain Board that the union proposed to pay them 10 per cent, of the gate takings. Owing to a misunderstanding. It was resolved to agree to the application of the Eltham Club to have the match replayed between Eltham and Stratford thirds, which tho latter were claiming by default. It was also resolved to replay the BateaOkaiawa third grade match, which was set down for decision at Hawera on Saturday last, but was not played owing to tho Patea team’s conveyance breaking down.

It was resolved to agree to Wellington’s request to exchange dates with thorn ror the Auckland match nt. Auckland. Taranaki will now play Auckland at Auckland ou September 10 instead of September 3. It waa also decided to offer to play Wellington at Wellington on August 20, and Manawatu on August 17, at Palmerston North.

It was resolved to write to the Railway Department, tho Police Department, and the borough traffic department expressing the union’s appreciation of the excellent arrangements made in connection with the Springboks’ match.

The officer in charge of the Taranaki defence district placed before the union tho question of excluding Rugby players who arc military defaulters, 1.e., those who evaded military duty during tho war, and those who were evading their (military obligations at the present time. The union had a decided influence on the young men of the district, and might do a great deal to assist the Defence Department, They wished to make it quite dear that the military authorities realised that the union had this power, and only wished to co-operate with the union in al! their schemes.—lt was resolved that the union is willing to co-operate with the Defence authorities, and if a list of defaulters is supplied, the union will take steps to prevent them from playing.

The rule regarding kicking out of touch which has been played during the last six weeks in cup contests laving had the desired effect of making play more open, the Taranaki Rugby Union has decided to instruct «efereea rille.