COUNTRY FOOTBALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15923, 8 May 1912, Page 8

COUNTRY FOOTBALL.

The result of the Canterbury Rugby Union’s deliberations concerning the condition of football in the country districts is exceedingly disappointing. The delegates who met last night showed little desire to foster the game in which they are interested, and instead of attempting to devise a scheme for the rejuvenation of country football they contented themselves with conferring a very doubtful benefit upon a few individual players. The effect of the Union’s decision can be only to satisfy an ephemeral demand, and we hope that it is not intended to be a final attempt to solve a pressing problem. If we may judge It from the nature of the play at Lancaster Park during tho past few weeks Rugby football in the city has fallen below tho standard of recent years. The inclusion of a few country players in the city teams is scarcely likely to produce a very great improvement, but the adoption of the system of town and country matches that has been advocated would afford a powerful stimulus. Under the conditions which the Rugby Union has approved there is danger of the country clubs becoming disorganised and the town clubs failing to reap any material benefit. * It is, no doubt, too late for the Union to alter its programme for the pretent Season, but the gentlemen who are concerned with the government of the game should be making their preparations for a big revival of football next year.