SATURDAY'S MATCHES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 110, 11 May 1908, Page 7

SATURDAY'S MATCHES.

Nobody can be congratulated on the result of Saturday's Rugby games. Or the five matches set down two were played, the others all going by default E_no not all, for out of one team two ■players in everyday garb put in an appearance, kicked off. an£ allowedthe £ther side to score, thus "saving their stake." However, this was but a farce, and may be counted as a loss by default or all practical purposes. The only games played were the senior match Central v. Waitohi, at Picton, and the third-class match Opawa v. Central, at Blenheim. The latter was set down for Dr. Innes's paddock, but on arrival there the players found that no goal-posts had been erected, so they lied them to, the Domain and played on No. 1 ground (No. 2^by the way, was suffering from a tumbledown goal post). . No reason, so far as one is able to learn, has been given for the bulk of the matches "going by the board. It a club is not able to put out two teams, then it were better not to try, and to sayi at the beginning of the season. "We will enter only on© team, and make it as good as possible." Then the Union will know where it is, and the fixtures can be drawn accordingly and adhered to. If teams go on forfeiting in the way that they did on Saturday the season will be half over fcefore any matches have been played; and, in view of the visit of the British as well as the Nelson and Buller teams, this will spell disaster to Marlborough football. The clubs have a choice of two alternatives: either to i put full teams into the field or to j withdraw them from the contests altogether. '