TO BE RELEGATED?

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 167, 11 April 1935, Page 20

TO BE RELEGATED?

Onslow Soccer Team PROTEST TO COMMITTEE Opposition to the suggestion that tliev should be relegated from the Wst B division to the Junior A grade was expressed by a deputation, consisting of Messrs! W. Ede, J. Dougal, 11. Stevens and E Bethell, from the Onslow club which waited on the management committee of the Wellington Football Association last night. Onsiow, it might be explained, finished last in the competition last year, and Rovers were next. Therefore Onslow was due fot relegation, but as it is an enthusiastic and growing club, it has not been the desire to lower its status It was thought that as Rovers had oniv one team it could be relegated instead,' for the rule provides that a club shall enter at least two teams. The' Rovers club, however, has complied with the rule, for it did “enter two teams but “maintained” only oneThere is now a suggestion that Island Bay, which finished third from the bottom, might be relegated on the ground that some of its points were obtained while it was unfinancial. The question will be gone into from this new aspect next Wednesday by’ the committee Mi Ede. who led the deputation, said he would like to know what rule relegation came under so far as the W.F.A was concerned. It was pointed out that rule 11 covered the question . Mr Ede referred to the district m which the club was situated. It was a Rugby stronghold, and it had been a hard task to get Soccer going at all The club, however, had been successful, and it was hoped to increase the teams and to get the schools interested If the team were relegated it would have a detrimental effect on it and also on the district 'We honestly be lieve that,” Mr. Edo said. Mr. Stevens said Onslow’s contention was that if Rule 11 were properly interpreted, Scottish Wanderers were not eligible for promotion, and Petone was. Voices*. Oh, no. Mr Stevens said ht thought was as good a team as any in the L division and Institute which won the division championship last year .k had a hard struggle to beat it Intimidation by Rugby players.would be Conveyed tc the boys at the ’ c ' the same as was done in the COLe= at present— “slinging off, and that >or of thing.’ It would nave a detrimental effect on r he club and on the association "eneraßy Onslow would be of as mucn benefit to the game if not more chan Scottish Wanderers, as it was hrin o tn„ new players into the game, and was proving a nursery for Wellington. 0 the'other hand. Scottish Wanderers n.ad taken practically a complete team over from Miramar and that was not ben. fitius the association Mr McDougal .-onsidered that on -playing strength the Onslow team would be a great deal superior to i.is y Mr Bethell said' the Rugby people at Onslow had been very good and nad offered their gymnasium for the use or the! Soccer team. Therefore bocce was getting support, but if the team were lowered a lot of harm would accrue It was surprising the number of business men who were becoming honorary members, and that wou c mean their children would join,, too. The chairman. Mr. KV. B. Hicks, as I snred the deputation that the committee appreciated Onslow’s difficulties and he hoped the committees difficulties were appreciated also The association had rules to abide by, and so far as relegation was concerned he did not, think it would be as serious as the deputation thought. It was impos sible to promote Petone as it had i team already in the first division, and the oniv team that could ge up was Scottish Wanderers He assured the deputation that even, if the decision went, against Onslow it would not be for want of sympathy for the club or for the game. Mr. J. Meltzer, when the deputation had withdrawn, moved that, while regretting the decision the committee had no option but to relegate Onslow to junior A Mr. J Allan seconded. Following an amendment it was decided to defer discussion until next week, when the committee. could discuss the position of first. B division teams which had been credited with championship points when they might have been unfinancial The Rovers club sent a list of its first B division players who it was stated .would not accept relegation to the junior A grade. The letter was “received."