RUGBY.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 13, 23 August 1928, Page 7

RUGBY.

RETROSPECT,

back over the current season's activities so far as it affects' the local club, one has the opinion thsit the form throughout the grades has not* been up to expectations. Several factors contributed to the indifferent showing of all teams in the. open grades, from senior to intermediate.

It was confidently expected that the senior team would gain champion honours since the team was stronger than that of the previous season. It was soon realised, however, that Senior B football was of a high standard, and if -anything, competition was more "keen than that of A Grade football. For the first four or five matches practically the same team was fielded each Saturday, and quite a high standard of football was shown. Thereafter- injuries and sickness - took* toll of the players and for several games a different team took the field each match-, with the result that a couple of matches were lost in the second round, a fact which definitely put this club out otf the running for championship honours. A victory over the winners in the last match enabled the team to finish as runners-up.

It must be admitted that some mem-

bers of ■ the team, did'not .improve as much as was expected; no doubt the constant but unavoidable shuffling round had not a little to do with this. Looking at the- matter dispassionately, one is forced to the conclusion that as at present constituted .the senior team is not ready for promotion to the A Grade. Senior A football' is., expected to be of a much higher standard next' season, and it would not be in the interests of the club to go up again for a season and then perhaps have to come down again; more harm than good would result from such a process. As I see it the best -way is to build up on sound lines so that, when again promoted, the team will be strong enough to maintain a position in the Senior A ■competition for many years. With the excellent training facilities at its disposal, the.club should progress rapidly, providing all members pull together. Quite a number of new players will be -transferred/to this district before next /season, and although no definite promises have been made, the local club ias more than an even chance of gaining a few senior as well as lower grade players.

The junior teani had a very uneven season due to the fact that a B team -was entered after several games had "been played. This team, won its ■ first five games but by that time there was & shortage of players for the A team, .•a similar state of affairs reigning in the Third Grade. The committee de•■cided to withdraw the _ Intermediate team to fill up vacancies in the higher rgrades; but unfortunately this did not 'have the desired effect, and the B team iad to default the remainder of its engagements. Several TJhird grade players were promoted and showed very .fine form; and as all are young, the fqundation of a very good junior team has been laid for next year, so that much good should come out of a seemingly bad situation. A system of classification is what is required before next season's games begin, and this is receiving serious consideration. Nineteen players should be picked for each grade, the reserves being worked in for games yraithout weakening the combination of - the various teams.

The Fourth Grade teams—A and B — did fairly well, and it is gratifying to record that both teams were kept at full strength. Some very promising players are in these teams and quite a number will be playing in this grade next year. Adams, J. Feeney, Hansen, .Tenners, Killeen, L. Morrison, Deans, Mewett, Mclntyre, Odium, Lambert, Broe, Body, Evans, Emerra, Murray, McMahon, Pyne, Roberts and Reid should make up a good team.

The Fifth team was composed of very young players, most of them being eligible for Sixth Grade, consequently it was uot expected that their measure

of success would be great. At least ten of these boys can play in the same grade next year, so that a good showing can be confidently expected.

A bad season often has the effect of showing up defects which would not otherwise be brought to light; and in this connection the current season ha^ shown that it is a bad policy to "be too ambitious regarding the number of teams, and in particular in entering teams after the season has. started. It would be better to have a few players standing down each, week than to involve the club in such difficulties as it has experienced this year. t " NOTES. . Congratulations to A. Clendori and A. Foote upon their selection for the junior trials. We hope that both will play their way into the rep. team. * * . * Members are requested to watch these columns for an announcement regarding the annual "smoko." A decision will be reached on this question at the next meeting of the Committee to be heldOon the 23rd inst. * * ■ . * ■$* / A trial match between the Senior B reps, and a B team from the A Grade is to be played as a curtain raiser to the Wellington—Taranaki game on the Ist September. Peck, George and s Fisher should find a.place in this team, with Fawcett a strong contender for a job as hooker. One would also like to1 see Jarman tried as a full back, a position in which he played so well last year. His experience as a three-quarter this season should give him plenty of confidence for the job.