RUGBY FOOTBALL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 27 March 1936, Page 6

RUGBY FOOTBALL

STANDARD OF SENIOR PLAY ! i LIMITATION OF TEAMS ! SUGGESTED PROPOSAL DEFEATED AT ANNUAL MEETING i With a view to raising the standard of senior Rugby football in the Nelson district, two motions were, moved at the annual meeting of the Rugby Union, but both were defeated. The "Management Committee sponsored a motion: “That the senior championship for the 1936 season be confined to four senior teams.” Another motion, of which notice had been given, was: “.That the management committee pot accept an entry from a club for the senior championship, unless the club undertakes to keep a junior team in the field throughout the season.” In moving the latter motion Mr R. 11. Methven said in cases where clubs had only senior and third class teams, emergencies for the seniors were drawn from the third grade players, resulting in a poor standard of football. A junior team was necessary in any senior club to keep up the supply of senior players. In his opinion a place the size of Nelson could not run.six senior teams and keep up the standard of senior play, Mr A. Mcllwraith seconded the motion. Mr H. M. McPherson said in the case of a country club it may have 20 seniors and 20 others, nearly all boys from school who should be playing third class. A difficult position arose with the country clubs in that direction. Mr N. S. Tankersley said the life blood of football was public support. It had happened in many instances in the past that senior teams were short of players and fdled up with third class players, the result being poor displays which the public would not pay to see. He supported the motion. Mr R. Brownlie said that last year the Pirate Club had nine casualties which resulted in the withdrawal of its team but this year it would have senior and third class teams. COUNTRY FOOTBALL

•Mr J. F. Potter, president of the Union, pointed out that last year there were three senior teams and three ‘dud” teams in the senior competition. Last year it was only when Old Boys, Rivals, or Nelson were drawn together that a game was put on which was worthy to draw the public to see the games. The Union had to build up its finances and to do that the matches had to be attractive enough to draw the public. It was n:s considered opinion that the country districts could produce only one senior grade team. Mr H. M. Richardson (vice-president', said he considered the time had arrived

when a boundary should be made to allow only two clubs in the country. A small area such as the Waimeas could not support three strong clubs which could field strong teams. To bring it to a satisfactory position the country clubs, in the interests of Rugby, should sink their differences and arrange to have two teams and to fix boundaries. This year again there were prospects of three senior teams from the country and a similar position to that of last year would arise. ’ Mr S. Croucher said the Waimea Club considered it was for the Union to take action and determine the 'future o>f Rugby in the country. The chib would continue to field teams as the Union directed, but the clubs were in the hands of the Union. The Pirate Club delegate, Mr R. Brownlie, staled that his club was in a position lo field a senior team this year. ilr L. Hyde considered the fixing of boundaries would kill Rugby in the country. Mr Richardson moved an amendment that there be only two clubs in the country, that a town and country boundary be fixed by an easterly and westerly line from the Anncsbrook overhead bridge, and that the boundary between the two country club be a easterly and westerly line from the Brightwaler bridge over the Wairoa river. Mr Croucher seconded the motion. It was pointed out that if there were too many players on one side of the boundary the Union could grant transfers as was done in other places where the boundary system was in operation. Mr R. H. Methven opposed the amendment on the ground that he considered the individual player should have the right to play for which ever team he chose. Mr Reed asked if the country clubs could guarantee full teams of senior players throughout the season. A Waimea delegate: “The, players sav we can and the management says we can’t.” The amendment was then put to the meeting and was carried. Mr T. Mahony moved a further amendment that the boundaries be fixed by the country clubs in consultation with* the management committee. That amendment was seconded and on being put to the meeting was defeated. Mr Richardson’s amendment then became the substantive motion and on being put to the meeting it was defeated by a narrow margin. * ipflHicWPWPBy