RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume LII, Issue 5462, 24 April 1920, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

LOCAL SEASON OI’ENS PROMISINGLY.

GAMES I i KING PLAYED END EH OLD RULES.

(By “W.F.”). Saturday last ushered in the -H- u &‘ hy saasoii for 1020. The glorious weather was probably more appreciated by the spectators than by the players for the majority of the latter at about half time looked as though a fall of snow would have been the most welcome thing oil this earth. Taking the play by and large there is every indication of a very successful season ahead of the rugby game in the Poverty Ray district At one time 1 rather thought that the ru<'hy union was over-reaching the supply of players—players up to the senior form—when it accepted trie entry of. six teams for its senior competition. But the standard or play for.the opening games of the season was very promising and should vastly improve as the season progresses. In the past one of the chief, possibly the. chief, drawback to football here was the easiness with which players got a plijce m the senior teams, and the difficulty experienced in getting full fifteens to take the field. On Saturday all the teams opened the season well hy being up to strength, and long may this happy state of affairs continue. Promptness in commencing play lias not been a characteristic of Poverty Bay football, but it is pleasing to ‘note that Saturday’s games commenced well up to scheduled time, the last'to commence being the United-Huia affair—the clock; indicating just a quarter past the hour when the ball was sot in motion. At this time the game on the adjacent ground and the struggle on the Reserve wore well in progress. With such a promising start it should not be. difficult to ensure promptness tor the whole of the season. The point, I am sure, will be appreciated not only by the spectators but also by the* players themselves. If the Rngbv Union insisted' on punctuality, doubtless the referees would heartily co-operate and the result would be general satisfaction. The High Sehool-Y.M.P. struggle provided the best game of the day. and naturally attracted the most attention. As a matter of fact the High School team can always he relied upon to give an interesting display and their work generally on Saturday last was very pleasjpg. On the whole they played better football than their opponents, both backs and forwardh, but the disparity of weight was their undoing, Y.M.P., having the advantage in poundage in both divisions, had the game slightly in their favor throughout, and by adopting spoiling tactics they prevented the light but nippy boys from getting going properly except at infrequent intervals. However, the School backs gave many judications of having had careful schooling and the side should be ns strong, if not stronger, than the team which gave many bright and clever exhibitions of Rugby last season. They have the happy knack of running straight, which was in marked contrast to some of the members of the back division of their opponents who at times showed a preference to wander over the whole field. Y.M.P. will prove a tougli proposition for any team in the competition. The side is weighty and fast, and 1 with attention to the finer points of the game will improve. Their tactics in the first half were not good, for with the advantage of the sun and wind: the ball should have been kept in play more and; not so frequently kicked into touch. Had this been done I think the game would have finished with a wider margin in their favor. Possibly the tactics were governed to some extent by the doubtful condition of a number of the team, but it is not always wise to he over precautions.

Tiio gam« on the adjoining ground between United and Hnia, t though evenly and stubbornly contested; <lSdi not- produce the standard of play m the game just discussed. Mostly the efforts wer e . of an individual nature, but those certainly gave one the impression that both tennis will improve wonderfully as the season progresses. United comprises players who played for Rowing Club—last year's cup winners-—one noted 1 addition being Chrisp who played' himself into the Wellington Representative team last year. The Huia team has a number of very promising players in its ranks, and should develop into a very fair side. Lack of practice, however, was plainly evident and the club authorities would do well to look into this importantpoint. No team can succeed without training, and condition will ho very necessary in the senior competition for fast football will be a ruling feature of Gisborne games this season. The contest on the reserve between Mangapapa and Old Boys’ produced somewhat of a surprise. It was generally anticipated that Old Boy’s would have no serious difficulty in disposing of the suburban team, but these calculations were decisively upset. .Mangapapa’s win was a "ood one. and the success will db much to encourage the team. Certn'nly Old Boy’s did not have their strongest combination in the field, but this does not deduct from the merit of Mangapapa’s victory. The play, though not of great excellence, iuer-

ited more attention than that shown t>v the public, and on the whole was well worth watching. During my tour round the different grounds”! noticed that the games were played under the old rules. It j s rather a pity that the amended rules, such a.s the games "of last year were played under, bad to be foregone. They bad much to commend then and there is no doubt whatever they improved the Rugby game especially from the spectators’ point of view. 'Hie reason for reverting to the old rules is, as it is now well known, the refusal of tbe English Rugby Union to countenance any alteration. Under the circumstances Rugby players in New Zealand had no option but to discard the amended rule. At one time it appeared as if the New Zealand Union would defy the decision of the parent body and ■ a runtyre was Imminent, but the wiser counsels on the New Zealand; Union prevailed and the crisis was averted. The time is not opportune and in fact never will bo, for aio breach in the Rugby Union ranks. The Rugby game is a good game, but without doubt jts lidos can be improved to suit the times. This fact, however, does not warrant any open breach with the parent body. 'I he future of the Rngbv game depends largely on the loyalty of the players to the unions and the loyalty'of the unions to constitutional authority. Once there is any drastic departure from this defined path the life of our national game is in grave danger, and as much as 1 would like- to see many needed alterations for thy .improvement of our game, I am not prepared to risk any rupture with die parent Union, and incidentally with the other unions of the Rugby wo rid.

Players generally will be pleased to learn that tho services of Mr George, GiTiett as a “knight of the whistle,” will be available again this year. George reckons that the distance between Gisborne and Tatapouri is not great enough to keep him from, taking an interest in the game hereabouts, and 1 understand lit- was asked to supply musical accompaniment. to the Diggers v. P.B. Reps, affair on Monday afternoon next, hub on that date he wi]] be in A no,kin nd. Set down in the draw for the games this week’ end there are seventeen ganfes, six senior, tour junior, and seven third grade. With tho increasing interest that as being manifested in the game it is safe to assume that next season this number will be augmented. This brings up a very grave question—the question of grounds, and one which promises to prove a very knotty problem for the Rugby Union authorities to solve. For this year the Union has been fortunate in securing a lion’s share (and comparing the number of its players with other sports it was entitled to it) of the spaces placed at the disposal of the different winter sports bodies by the Borough authorities. But will the Union be similarly fortunate next year? Personally lam an out and out Rugbyite, but at the same time 1 am nut so bigoted that my vision as to the merit of other winter games is obscured. There are many devotees in this town to both Soccer and Hockey, and their numbers will increase. Naturally as time goes on both hockey a net Soccer will require more accommodation, as will Rugby, anti it will bo impossible for the local civic authorities to cope, with the demand. Unless some action is taken immediately, it seems to me that we may witness' a vulgar scramble for playing areas exceeding that which took place before an amicni!?b arrangement was reached tor this season. I say an amicable arrangement, but is it? There should be no friction between the devotees of tho ’different games-, for they all have'one common object, the development of tile young manhood of the country. Rugby is by far the strongest- numerically at the present moment, and it should take thp lead by making an effort to seen re a gvound of its own. I can see many difficulties before such a venture. hTit these difficulties would disappear if the matter were tackled in a delermined manner and the co-opera-tion of every Rugby player In the district secured. A ground, would prove not only a benefit to Rugby but also to the town, and provided paltry bickering was thrust into the background .could be made an accomplished fact.