POPULAR WINTER GAME.

Northern Advocate, 19 April 1923, Page 6

POPULAR WINTER GAME.

RUGBY IN THE NORTH. WHANGAREI PROSPECTS. Rugby football, tlio recognised national game in New Zealand ever since the famous All-Blaclts in 1905 taught Great Britain what the gaino could become, is a sport which commands the interest of many residents of this country. In North Auckland the Rugby code has held premier place from pre-war days omwards. It has always interested spectators and it has produced some very good players indeed. The memorable match against New South Wales, defeat •though it was, showed that the North had the material to put up as good a light against the clever visiting combination as any other representative fifteen in the Dominion, although perhaps at the same time it emphasised the prevailing shortcomings. Seemingly air that is needed now is that foot'ball should bo enqpuraged in the North ty public patronage, by increasing the 'roll of players, and by careful administration of tho game, combined with proper and efficient training. The absolute necesity of training is a generally accepted axiom, though in practice in the North it is more or less a farce. How some of the foremost players of the past could appear Saturday after Saturday and play as well as they did without touching the leather during the interims must remain something of a puzzle to those who have taken to training so seriously "that they indulged in practice every day—but they did I>lay well, to a degree. Improved facilities for training, combined with a determination to prepare seriously for the matches ahead, must and would have a reflection in much advancement towards a naturally high standard of play. But there are other factors besides training and coaching that have a marked bearing upon the future progress of the game in North Auckland, and more, particularly in Whangarei district. Chief of then, is the administrative ability and power of discrimination of the Rugby Union. Within tho scope of that body's activity is the ■classification of players, and the grading of teams. Those seem to be the particular functions which must be carried out by the Management Com inittee already appointed, if tho com petitions this year are to bo as inter esting as the public has a right to ex pect. Indications so far point to f most unusual position. It seems that While Hikurangi and M"aungalearame; have bad no hesitation in enrolling senior teams, and High School Olc Boys have got a fine fifleen in prospect together with a Kamo side, inclusive oh several of the mainstays of represent*! 'tive football, the town of Whangarei is again having difficulty in forming s regular team to play in the senioi grade competition. Why that shoulc be the case is hard to fathom. Unitec last season was a distinctly good clut and why players havi not come for "ward in large numbers anxious to dor the maroon jersey is a problem. Thefa failure to do so does not reflect a greal amount of credit upon the sportsmer in the town as opposed to those ir ether localities. A place such as Wha ngarei .should 'be ablo to support a 1 least two senior teams, and apparently there is really no reason why it shoulc not do so. Tho Rugby Union ha; power to re-grade players. There art men nominated again this year in some of the junior grade teams who hav( played under that category for a num ber of seasons. Some players will neve: be better than junior grade, and theii retention can neither improve nor re tard the junior competition as againsi the seniors. However, there are othtv players, a list of whom could readilj be prepared, who have by experience improved play, and increased weigh really qualified as seniors; jiet they re main in the junior grade. Apart fron the natural desire to play on wit! their last year's companions, even a iho-expen.se of gaizig higher honours oi the field, it is difficult to imagine wlr they have not of their own free wi] endeavoured to get a place in a senio team. One could almost go as far a to say that-there are men nominate* as juniors this year who will be Wha rgarei senior representative player before ihe close of the season, or a nny rate next year. Those men shoul be el/russified as seniors without mor ado. It is evidently anticipated tha there will be more than a dozen team in the junior competition, and onl; four in the senior. Neither competitio: should be allowed to open under thos conditions. All players considered fi to play first grade should be require* by the Union to do so. If they are un willing to enter the coitvpetition agains men of their own weight and calibre they should certainly not be allowed t remain in junior teams to rob smalle and less experienced exponents of thi joy of a really good game. If thi Rugby Union's Manxgement Commit tee, with a good knowledge of tin oualifications of most players under it: control, drafted out those whom i considered senior men, there seems t< be little doubt but Whangarc /town could be represented by at leas two clubs in the senior competitionUnited, and one other. With so man; entries of teams in the junior grade the loss of reclassified men would no have much effect upon tho competition but, the re-grading, if done, should bi effected before the competitions onoi so that no clubs will be unjustly treat cd once the referee blows for th£ firs kick-off.