THE RUGBY CRISIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14145, 21 August 1909, Page 9

THE RUGBY CRISIS.

SUGGESTED ABOLITION OF DISTRICT SCHEME. The decision of tlio Auckland Rugby Union at last Wednesday evening's meeting to hold a conference on October 6 for the purpose of discussing the present crisis in tho game is worthy of commendation. To this meeting will be invited the officers and delegates of the Auckland Union, tho officers of district clubs, and officers and members of the Referees' Association. This body should represent all shades of Rugby officialdom, but there are staunch supporters of the game- who consider the meeting should bo open to the public, when known supporters of trio sport might be invited to attend and discuss with the officials the position from the point, of view of tho public. The throwing open of the meeting indiscriminately might, however, defeat its aim, and prevent all hope of calm discussion.

It is necessary to take a retrospect of the present Rugby situation in Auckland to gain a clear understanding of the causes that have led to tho present crisis. The district scheme was instituted in 1892, and for tho first year or two tho teams were evenly matched. The record of winners, however, shows that Parnell wore sueessful for the first three seasons, and then Grafton won in 1895. The next season aroused keen competition, and as a result Newton, City, and Parnell tied for first place. The honour of being champion district then took a turn round, 'and Ponsonby, Newton, North Shore, City, and Grafton won in successive years. The next two 1902-3-—City won, and

then in 1901 Newton were victorious. This was the last season that saw more than two teams in the competition, for City won in 1905-6-7, having in tho last , two seasons keen opponents in the Ponsonby district team. The latter team eventually prevailed last season, and this season have accounted for all opposition in hollow fashion, the nearest opponents— defeated in two games by 17 points to 7, and 24 points to 5. The City Club was just as superior to other clubs as Ponsonby was to City. Two features in the past season were tho defeat of North Shore by Ponsonby by 62 points to nil, and the default by Newton senior team to Ponsonby. The opinion is gradually forcing itself on the minds of many Rugby pa trons that the district scheme has failed to give interesting football matches. The man in the street has been saying so for five years. It was proved this season that there is a great football public in Auckland, the 8000 that attended to witness the first match between Ponsonby and City being proof of that. There can be no doubt but the majority of these people, who desire to see eood matches, aro dissatisfiea with the present system. As a financial proposition, it is bad compared yith, say, the club system in Wellington, where this season club match gates have averaged approximately £100, compared to Auckland's £40. This is not because the football displayed is better, for it is not, Auckland representatives holding supreme position in interprovincial matches, but rather because the public like to see games in which thero is some doubt as to the outcome. The district scheme destroyed (he old club tics without giving anything in return; for, as many footballers are bachelors, living an itinerant existence, the district boundary is no bar to them, for they can, before the appointed time, move into lodgings in the district to which they wish to play. A season's experience at, Rugby Union Management Committee meetings would satisfy anyone on this point, for large batches of cases of persons removing into districts about the time necessary for them to Qualify are dealt with each week. The conference would do well to consider tho district scheme in all its bearings, and seriously discuss a reversion to the club system. Another weighty question which will probably be discussed will be the alteration of rules. There are many Rugbyites of the old school who are against tinkering with the laws of the grand old game. They consider that there would be no outcry against the game itself if the district system were abolished. _ Others, again, of the younger school are in favour of certain modifications. Tho Aucklanders are in the van in this movement, and the union officials have certainly done all in their power to obtain a universal scheme for a more " spectacular " game, and more concessions for players generally. Whatever tho outcome of the conference may be, no harm can arise if these matters aro seriously discussed, and if as a result a more attractive programme of club games should be presented next season, then praise should bo meted out to the present management of the Auckland Rugby Union for its recognition of the circumstances. SELECTION OF TEAMS. "A Retired Senior and Auckland Representative" has sent the following letter in reference to the selection of the North Island team:"Seeing the North Island team is picked, I wish to comment on Mr. Gallaher's selection. The selector has chosen Morse and O'Leary as the five-eighths line, and it has come as a great surprise to me that these two players have been preferred to Bob Magee, for ho is, without doubt, the best back in Auckland at the present time, and I may say one of the best in the' Dominion. Speaking to an " All Black" on tho selection, he said 'Magee should have been on© of the first picked for the North Island team.' "

" Retired Senior and Representative" j should remember that Mr. Gallaher is only one of three in selecting the North Island team. Undoubtedly Magee has shown sufficiently good form this season to be considered with Morse and O'Leary for tho i position, his work throughout the season stamping him as a high-grade player. A peculiar inconsistency in selections is shown, however, by McGregor being put as emergency of "the North Island team. In the selection of the Auckland representatives Mr. Gallaher placed McGregor as emergency ! for that team also. It is but a fair deduction to say that if a man can only get a position as emergency in a city union team he ought not to be emergency for a North Island team. Another inconsistency is the outright selection of Robinson for "to-day's match, and yet, before the team has played, to place him as emergency for the touring team, in which the backs selected number 10 beforo Robinson is considered. ?ONSONBY CLUB'S TOURSOME CRITICISMS. There was no counter attraction to seriously interfere with the attendance at the return engagement between Ponsonby.and a team chosen from the Sydney first-grade clubs (says the Sydney Mail, of August 11). In the match on the previous Saturday Ponsonby secured a very lucky win against the metropolitan men. During the first half Ponsonby, playing tho usual New Zealand bustling and tearaway game, led the homo team by 9 points to 5. Tho Ponsonby pack aro entitled to. all credit for the great game they played, but when one has said that the game was principally a forward one,. there remains little else to be said concerning the crack New Zealand club team. Very seldom indeed was any attempt made to get in concerted work. Thero were a few individual achievements in the Ponsonby v. Metropolitan match which stand out like an oasis in a desert. There are, of course, any number of people who admire the strenuousness and the pace of the forwards, especially when they are combining well; still, it requires a game diversified in forward and back attacking to sond the crowd into their wildest state of enthusiasm. This condition was very seldom brought about in Saturday's play. What brilliant attacks there were in the way of open play were furnished principally by the Sydney players. Against McCabe's brilliant scoring efforts may be set out—one by Murray, of Ponsonby. To the amazement of everybody, the latter went through tho two packs just after the scrum had broken up, and, dodging and feinting, lie got. to within a few yards of the home line, when tho ball went to earth in an attempt to transfer to a comrade. Murray's run was pushed very closely bv performances by McGregor and Wolfgram, both relieving the visitors' display from much of the monotony of close work. Thero were not a few undesirable features about the match. Some of the visitors —especially Savouryattacked men after the ball had been parted with. The idea, of course, is that as tho would-be tackier as put out of play by his effort ho should also grass his opponent. Though this is not at all an uncommon occurrence, it should not be tolerated for a moment. In other respects the game was a heavy one, and on two or three occasions • Referee Cochrane stopped tho play and admonished : players. The greater offenders wero the visitors; still, there were some incidents by members of the home team which, had' they been observed by tho referee, would have merited removal from the field. "Vicious kicks were dealt out, and blows were exchanged. NOTES AND COMMENTS. Tho brake for referees v.-ill leave the Metropolitan Hotel at 1.10 sharp this afternoon. A football match of unusual interest was played at Victoria Park on Thursday, when a team from tho "Jack and Jill" Pantomime Company played His Majesty's Theatro house staff. . Tho game provided ; sufficient "incidents" and "situations" to furnish material for a new pantomime, the members of the company providing ludicrous element. The match was won by the house staff by 36 points to 8.