RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 131, 6 June 1925, Page 18

RUGBY

.".- , SENIOR" GHASIPIOKSHIP. Points. Ch. P. W: L.: D Fof.Xgst.Pts'. University ....... li 6 0 1 0112' 40' 12 Poneke .......... 5 i 0 1 90 28 0 Merhampore 0 4 2 0 84 43 8 Marist 5 .2 0 3 34 24 7 Petoue .......... 5 3 2- 0 75-52 6 Athletic 6 3 3 0 54! 63 U Old Boys 5 2- 3 0' 50 43 .4" Oriental 5 l' 3 1 48 83' 3' Hutt 6 I. X- 1.37-' GO 3Wellington <i l'o 0 40 75 2 Stfxvyn ...;, 5 0 5 0 12 145 o■' Wellington's Engagements? Representative .matches to be played by Mcllmgton arc ai follow ■— - " ■ ■ July I.—v. Taranak'i, at Kawera. August s.—v. Southland, at Wellington/August S.—v; Canterbury', at ■Wellington. August 22.—"Wellingtoii-Horowlienua-Manawatii' (combined) v New South.Wales;.at Pal-' nicrstou 2forth. September s—v. Wairarapa. at Wellington. September 12.—v. Otaso, at WellinKton. September 19.—v. Hawkcs Bay, at Wellington. SepU-mber 20.—v. -.Auckland, at Auckland. September 30.—v. .Waoganui, at Wellington; New Zealand in New"South' Wales: Matches to be played .by the" New Zealand team which is visiting. Xew South' Wales are as follow:— .lune o.—v. Wellington, at Wellington. Juuu 13.—y. Xew South Wales (first Test), at ■■Sydney.'-. . ... ■ , ■: ■ .lune 17.—v. Metropolitan, at' Sydney.. Juue 20.—v. J.W South Wales (second Test), at Sydney. - - ' Judo'24.—v. New Soutir;"Wales; (third Test), at Sydney. -„- ■ . -.- . .Tims 27.—v. X.S.W. Fifteen, at' Newcastle. July I—v. TJiorn-'s Fifteen, at Manly. New South-Wales in New' Zealand- '"" Tho New South Wales team has the following engagements in New Zealand:— August 22.—v. Welling'ton-Horowhenua-Jlana-watu, at Palmcrstou North. August 26.—v. West Coast and Buller, at ■■'. Ureymouth. • August 29.—v. Otago and Southland, at Dunedin. ( . September 2.—v. Canterbury and South Can- .. . terbury, at Christchurch. ■:•■•• .- September/ 5.—V. Warigaflui: an'dTaran'aki;- r at' Hawera: . Septemberl 9.— y. Wairarapa- and' 1 iristr Dis- ; tricts, at Masterton. W ** ?"* September 16.—v. King Country and Waifcato in the King Country. September : 19.—v. New Zealand (Test), at „ Auckland. -•-.•; September 23.—v. North Auckland, at AVhangarei. . .. Rarifurfy Shield Matches. , ■'." .- '. Hawkes'Bay, the present'hbiders of-theEan-furly Shield, have a big list'of"representative matches: Those in wliicli .they will be" called upon to' defend the trophy are as follow: July 29.—V. Waikato, in H'awkes Bay. "' August s.—v. Canterbury, at Napier. August B.—v. Southland, at Napier. August 15.—V.' Poverty Bay, in H.-iwkes -Bay.' August 22—v'.Taranaki, at Hastings September o.—v. Otago;. at Hastings? September 18.—v. Wellington, at Wellington. In the football to date this seasonthere has been' any 'amount of evidence of the advance" of the game, but in. looking at the matter from the ..'view--point of numbers' there is definite^ proof of progress. With'a substantial ancrease in the number of teams', taking: part in the. competitions;l trie Wellington Rugby Union's problem" of accommodating the. many: players'has become'more perplexing^ :Its'; defsire'iS' to 1 provide 1 for all, and. toineet the wishes of teams as far as -.it -possibly can; To this end it could do Vi'Oi many more grounds, but with" those at its disposal the union, is making a,.very creditable:solution ofthe problem. However, there are complaints about the allocation of grounds, and in this connection a letter was received at this week's meeting' of .the Management" Committee. The. communication was; of more than passing interest in' that' it contained suggestions about dividing the competitions into town and country sec-1 tions, and also of special interest because it came from the Melrose Glub: One of the many pleasing features of this season's football is the reap-j pcarance of Xfelrose on the playing ; fields. The attempt to .revive tho' old club is being attended with a fair measure of success, and with the enthusiastic interest being taken by those who' liopc to see their old colours occupying, the prominence of former days it iV quite possible that in'a season or two Melrose may again be holding a place among the stronger clubs. Good luck to tho club and its officials! A Melrose Proposal! • The letter! referred-to was penned by the president 'of the Melrose Football Club, Mr. Colin Campbell, and rather than a complaint it was intended as an eftort in the interests of local football-' Mr. Campbell wrote as follows '■;—"When trio Melrose Football Club decided' ' to" play again I gave serious thought whether I would take an active part in the management, but, having promised, I am going' to see the season' through, i suppose wo are lucky in having six good - workers, but the conditions prevailing are very hard for'both players_ and management. I am not grumbling at your committee, but wish to point out-the other side of the ques--1 ion.--Last Saturday week- Melrose thirds played Upper Hutt at Upper Hutt, and to make sure of. getting a full team lured a_motoi- conveyance., to leave Kilbnnie Post Office at 1.30 p.m. This tost them £2 2s. arid tlie boys had to find this money before they left. Last Saturday our fourth B ■ tdiVriv was drawn to., play Lower IftUt at Lower Hutt . at 1,15 p.m. That 'meant, leaving by train shortly after 12 o'clock. On making inquiries at the gymnasium' on Thursday night v.'c found five boys worked until 1 o'clock, aiid four more at Newtown until 12 o'clock, bo we had no option but to default. Now, a lot of these boys live at the far side of Lyall fiay, and leave lioine in. the ■ morning before 7 o'clock, have a bit of • Irv lunch, jjlay lootba 11. .and get, home late in the evening, making, a long flay fora- growing lad. T sec by this morning's paper thai Mcli-qsc fourth P. are to -play Eastbourne at Eastbourne next Saturday at 1.15 p.m. I ligvc. proaiiscd the committee "that 1 will taks charge of Hub team,- and, altliouslv-thr-

iSY/'DROPKICK 11! FIXTURES AND GROUNDS SOLVING A DIFFICULT PROBLEM MELROSE CLUB- OFFERS A SUGGESTION

boys are, keen and willing to play, can I get fifteen players to-' catch the boat "a tew minutes after 12 o'clock?" "I suppose-other clubs are up against the saiiia trouble, but, unfortunately, most of our boys come from Melrose, Kilbirnie, and ■ Lyall Bay districts. What I would'suggest to your committee is that they seriously consider making a country, and town section from third class downwards, the winners of each class to play-off "«it the Park—Eastbourne,. Petone, Lower Hutt,'Taita, Upper Hutt', 1' Johnsonville,. Porirua, Kaiw'arra, etc., to form ths country section: If some alteration- is not made for next";year" I can see' a lot of lads "leaving-Rugby, and playing Soccer and .other games. I"would' like your committee tip consider this letter in the slime' spirit' in" whicli it is written, for the good of Rugby football." "Very Difficult Question." "This raises a very difficult question," remarked-the chairman (Mr. J. PYendeville), when the letter was read at the union executive's meeting this week. "It is one'which'we have ahvays'rtried to get over, but cannot' owing to the limit of (grounds. With: regard to: town and country sections the suggestion is one that cannot be carried but, for two reasons—(l) Insufficient country grounds, and (2) the heavier travelling of country teams." The chairman added that the ! secretary {Mr. A.- E. -Neilson).- was doing Jus very best to' cope* witli tlio' position in regard to fixtures' arid grounds Mr. J. N. Millai-d: "I think we are entirely of the same opinion as Mr. Campbell." (Members: "Yes."). The Chairman:. "Personally,-I would like to see all matches started at 2.30 p.m.,: but that is quite, impossible." Concerning the question of fixtures and , grounds, it may be pointed out that in ;or'def: to', have' the'- dirties'■'.' carriedl out .satisfactorily the work is: left to one man, so that" a special method should '.apjily^o' all' grades: AnbtHer'!advantage in haftng one man doing the work; is that the position in regard to ■ clubs and the travelling they do is alwaysi known. The secretary of the Wellington Rugby. Union (My. Neilson) carries .out' the" Work,- and' lie-has it/ down to a ;fine art, .though; the compilation of the .fixtures list-each-week keeps him occupied for the' best part of tho week-end. ;At' tlie-start of'the'season- the entries 'for each'grade are placed*.in'a--hat,'and then they are draw-n one: ,by. one and ,set down, as the .foundation of a plan apori' wliicK the fixtures are made. By the time that the fixtures sheet has been completed each week every team has received, full and fair consideration, thoiig.-! in the allocation of grotin'ds it may apjpear that' sbmb' team's a"r» being called iupon to do more than 1 their share of .travelling;. It'''sometimes! happens that somo team's-gef more: travelling than others at certain- periods of the season, but. at the end of the season it will generally be found that the allocation of grounds- has' Been tlie 1 best; possible for all concerned. Another point which is also studied 1 is ihat'as'far as' possible tlie teams" called' upon to'do most travelling are' those' which 1 receive- a- refund of fares. The union pays the travelling ■expenses of all teams.in the fifth, sixth. iand: seventh grades, and of all school teams. .-Wherever 'possible suburban teams meeting- bii& another are given a minimum' of travel;.'but : in- cases where a team has to' travel to the opposing team's home'ground it will genewlly be found tKat other Hea'iris from tlje same 'club- are' given a gamfe at home. For instance, in one-grade Eastbourne may have to ts-avel to Jotinsonville, while in another grade JohnsoiivilJe may luivo to frav e i foV Eastbouriie: To 1 play those teams in town would mean that town •players wotlld- be. subjected to unnecessary expensess in tiivulling, outi to occupy the grounds- of :tlie= suburblui teams coming" into-towiiii-and- if all 1 tetims arc |to have ga.irieii c\very S.i tilrday-a-I'l g-i-ounds ■ must be-occupied-: Clubs shoultf rccogI nise that-, the union- is doing, its utmost ito meet' their need's, and.all thing's con"-' ] sidererl there does* not soem to "lie much cause for' complaint' about the di.'awin«- of. 'fixtures.