CURTAILMENT OF CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 149, 24 June 1908, Page 8

CURTAILMENT OF CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS.

(To the Editor.) Sir —I beg permission to utter a protest, through your columns, against the Auckland Rugby Union's decision to forego senior cup matches after June the 20th. To all enthusiastic players of Rugby football this is a severe curtailment of their pleasures, and sufficient to make them throw up Rugby football in disgust. Take Jthe average senior player; after several weeks spent in training at the sheds, and a few matches played, he commences to feel fit, and thoroughly enjoys the game, and the experience of the few matches played begins to show itself; then, just when in a position to play his best, and to demonstrate just how good (or bad) a player ho is likely to turn out, the A.R.U. step in and put a stop to senior matches. When a player gives up valuable time to train, and goes to the expense of buying a football outfit, he expects to obtain more fun than that afforded by a paltry half-dozen matches. Again, some players may not in that space of time have struck fprm, and therefore Auckland representative teams will have to be picked on reputations and last year's form. Another side of the- question is that presented by the position of teams in the cup competitions; teams cnat have commenced badly hut are now picking up have to be content with the place they have gained by the few matches played, without getting a chance to improve their position. If the authorities know that so many- representative matches arc to be played, why cannot they open the season earlier, or so arrange the matches that the teams «mgaged shall know how they stand at the end of a certain period? —I am, etc., FOOTBALLER.