FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3828, 10 May 1913, Page 9

FOOTBALL.

The Opening of tho Season.

The official opening of tho Rugby season takes place to-day on tho Victoria Domain, when two matches, ono junior and ono senior, will bo played set ween teams representing tho Maoris and 'the Pakehas of the district. These matches are to act as a prelude to the more serious business of tho competition matches which are set down to commence next Saturday. Tho match to-day should provide a fairly good display of Rugby, for both .teams are, if last year’s form can be relied upon, strong combinations, though several of the district’s most prominent players are not included in the lists that were published. Patrons of Rugby should, however, have no reason to anticipate anything excopt a first-class afternoon’s sport, for the Maori combination at least can bo relied upon to play their open and attractive game..

Fostering the Came. M ith the increased facilities, for training and tho better accommodation of players that now obtains at tlio Victoria Domain, Rugby should become increasingly popular with those who follow and play tho game. Good football cannot ho expected from teams who meet only once.a week for practice and that on the day they are set down to play-, so the installation of electric light for practice purposes on week nights will prove no mean factor in the development of Rugby in this district. Tlio Rugby Union aro to be congratulated on at last being alive to tho fact that more interest must be taken in the protecttion and for the advancement of the game. The steps already taken are wiso ones and should bo productive of much good in tho immediate future. W bother tho steps taken will be sufficient to combat the influence of Northern Unionism remains to be seen, but, it is .only by studying the interests and looking after the welfaro of the players that Rugby will ho able to hold its own in the district.

Cetting in Early. Last year I advocated that Hie representative programme should be arranged and announced ns earlv as possible in the season, and I stated, several reasons to support my contention, one being that it acts as an incentive to players to pay more attention to training and to keep their form for matches which they are certain will eventuate. Last season two represent,iii. - matches were played—one hero and cue in Napier—neither of which could be said to present many attractions from a players point of view. One homo and ono outside match can. hardly be said to have boon too many representative matches for r.n important union like the Poverty Bay Union. Now that the Northern Union code lias made its appearance here the matter of which game can offer the best attractions will be no little consideration. There can bo no doubt that many players will be retained to Rugby if the Union can show itself to be in a position to offer and docs offer the better inducements.