LEAGUE

Otago Witness, Issue 3890, 2 October 1928, Page 53

LEAGUE

By Forward. TOO MUCH TOURING. The contention_ that sport is unduly transgressing business has a candid supHar yy- Divers, who expressed his views when he was in Auckland m charge of the Otago Rugby League “ I consider,” said Mr Divers to a representative of the Auckland Star, “ that altogether too much time is devoted to touring teams throughout New Zealand In Rugby League I think it may be said that with the English team here and one way and another there has been quite enough of interchange. Above all. it seems to me that the time has arrived when more consideration should be given in the fostering of club competitions, which' «^u al, ’. are the soul of the sport. lhe interest and rivalry of clubs, schools, and public should be paramount until the close of the season. Relatively, in all the codes, there are few stars simply because there are too many touring interruptions which weaken the citv or district teams from which representatlve teams are chosen, while the visits of the tourists break the local competitions wherever they happen to have fixtures. Then there is the heavy cost and risks in connection with touring teams, and I realise that to the employers of labour the constant granting of leave to men is most irritating. It seems! that the better the player the more frequent are the demands upon his employer. This cannot continue. Understand that I am not entirely against tours, say, every three or four years, but the thing is overdone by annual policy.” “ One of the principal reasons for the success of Rugby League in Australia.” he continued, “is the intensive development of club play. New South Wales and Queensland each have two interstate matches in the big centres, and otherwise the big attractions are interdistrict games with fine club play as their feeders. The administration, the players, and the business of the country cannot stand these long interprovineial tours, which take much time and money. Take, for instance, the team I am now with. It is costing us about £7OO for the trip. While we are away the cup competition is lagging because of the absence of leading players. Our presence here causes your temporary suspension of the Roope Rooster competition. It therefore is unsettling and imperils the standards of the game.

’* There are far too many Dominion matches between provinces, and the sooner we decide to concentrate on club competitions the sooner we will raise the level of play and discover more talent. Some of the boys who should be here with us to-day could not get away, because they had been to Auckland and Christchurch, and some also to Invercargill. One member was so keen to come on this tour that he was going to resign his position, but I persuaded him not to do any such thing. This goes on in all sport, and, while I am a keen supporter of all good sport, I am dead against this ceaseless seasonal travelling. If they only liked to speak up, there are thousands in New Zealand who will agree with me in this matter.”

The opuiion of Mr Divers finds favour with many of Wanganui’s business men, some of whom are’ officials of sports clubs and associations. “ If I had my way,” said Mr R. P. London, secretary of the Wanganui Rugby Union, “ there would be no representative football. Too much time and money are wasted on sending teams to play in other towns, to the disregard of grade gajnes. I think that cups' should be done away with. They are encouraging players to play to win, no matter how, instead of playing for the

sake of the game.” The statements were echoed by other officials on the Rugby and business men of the city. 1 think that every representative footballer spends about two or three weeks a y ear playing football in working time,” ?. aid Mr London, '• and of course players like >ooke and members of the All Black team spend nearly all the winter in sport.” FINAL GAME FOR MAXWELL CUP. CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND PACIFIC EQUAL. The final game m the Maxwell Cup competition was played between Christian Brothers and Pacific on Saturday afternoon under perfect conditions and in the presence of several hundred spect ora. The Caledonian Ground was in goo order, atlhough the turf was somewhat heavy after the recent rain. Bright sunshine flooded the area, and the warm conditions caused many of the players to tire before the game finished. The teams -were evenly matched, and the game was one of the brightest played °, n Caledonian Ground this season. Christian Brothers were without the services of four seasoned players. Pacific led off in some brilliant play, and at half-time Pacific led by 15 points to 10 points Christian Brothers equalised the scores towards the finish, and it looked as though the game would end in a draw. Just on the call of time, however, Montague secured the ball outside Pacific’s twenty-five yards mark and potted a splendid goal, giving Christian Brothers victory in the last game of the season. As the teams secured 10 flag pointe each in the competition, the names of both clubs will be inscribed in the cup. The final scores were:— Christian Brothers .. .. 20 points. Pacific 18 points. Mr E. Watson was referee. JUNIOR MATCH. A match between Christian Brothers A and B teams was played on the Caledonian Grouhd prior to the senior game, and resulted in a win for the B team by 11 points to nil. AUCKLAND COMPETITIONS. ' AUCKLAND, September 30. In the League football semi-final of the Roope Rooster competition Ponsonby (8) defeated Newton (6). * THE THACKER SHIELD. CHRISTCHURCH, September 29. Greymouth Marists, the champion West Coast Rugby League side, played a challenge game against Christchurch Marists this afternoon for the Thacker Shield. Christchurch won by 22 points to 13.