OFF THE FIELD

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7123, 21 October 1949, Page 5

OFF THE FIELD

NOTES FROM HERE AND THERE GAMES AND PLAYERS (By “Breakaway”) One of the many topics touched on at nearly every end-of-season function held by Rugby clubs in the district has been the future of the Finlay Cup, the championship of the subunions of the Waikato Rugby Union. It seems to be generally accepted by the majority of interested parties that the present competition is too much of a “tie” for the sub-unions and club football is bearing the full force of the strain and is accordingly degenerating. Several schemes have made their appearance for the betterment of the competition and will, no doubt, be carefully considered by all sub-unions before the next annual meeting of the Waikato Union. Recently there was published in the Courier a statement by Mr E. J. L. Whiting, president of the Waikato Rugby Union, in which he placed his suggestions for the raising of the standard of Rugby in the union and the faults of the Finlay Cup competition as it was at present constituted. Mr Whiting set forth a plan whereby a new competition would be inaugurated and that it would be composed of the senior clubs winning the local championships in the subunions in the 1949 season. This would provide a competition of eight club teams in the event of each sub-union entering a team. Sub-unions would then provide a secondary senior competition for the remaining teams in their “areas”. This scheme may bring about the desired improvement in the standard of play, but how would public interest be maintained with only one major attraction on home grounds on alternate Saturdays ? Would it not be a better proposition if two teams were entered from each sub-union so as to provide a home game each week ? Locally two good senior teams could be fielded and the remainder of the players at present enjoying senior status could be relegated to the junior grade and so also strengthen that competition. The senior competition in Te Awamutu this season was confined to two teams and only when players from one of these sides (four in number) were called on to represent the Waikato Union were they at all troubled to hold their opponents at bay. Zoning Suggested

There has bqen support offered, both in this and other unions, for the zoning of the Waikato into two areas comprising (1) Raglan, Lower Waikato, Hamilton and Te Awamutu, and (2) Matamata, Morrinsville, Putaruru and Cambridge. This would call for only three games (or four for the winners of the prospective zones) and the restricted representative programme would not unduly interfere with club football. It would also allow any sub-union to play more representative matches, if desired, and challenges for the Peace Cup would be more readily made. With this scheme the same trouble would be forthcoming with regard to interruption of club play and the same dissatisfaction, as is now evident, would undoubtedly crop up sooner or later. A third suggestion has been for the introduction of the Taranaki scheme, which is run on a provincial basis, but divided into two divisions, northern and southern. The distances which would have to be travelled by the Waikato teams would be on a par with those in Taranaki and would create no hardship to any side. Increased attendances would ho doubt bring about a greater incentive for the players and bigger gate takings would compensate the extra expense involved. With this scheme the zoning suggested earlier could be applied and the winners of each area meet to decide the champion team of the Waikato.

However, all sub-unions will no doubt be giving the matter serious consideration and much time and thought will be put into schemes which will be placed before the Waikato Rugby Union at its next annual general meeting.

Proposals Recommended A meeting of the sub-associations in the southern area of the Waikato Cricket Association was held on Monday night at Te Kuiti and delegates from the Waipa, Otorohanga, Maniapoto and King Country Associations were in attendance. Mr M. Barnett was voted to the chair and gave a full review of the proposals that had been put forward by his association for the alteration to the constitution of. the Waikato Association, by foundation of a separate Hamilton subAssociation and all sub-associations then to have the same representation on the parent body. In addition the question of Country Week in Hamilton and the appointment of with special emphasis on the country associations having selectors to represent the Southern and Eastern Areas. The King Country delegate advised that his association had agreed to the proposals and after a full discussion the other delegates decided to call meetings of their Associations this week with strong reccommendations to support the proposals put forward by the Waipa Association.

Instructive Film A most interesting and instructive film, “How to Play Cricket”, was screened at the Te 'Awamutu College last evening to local cricketers. A fair attendance witnessed the screening and all expressed appreciation of the gesture of Messrs Baigent and McGhie for allowing them the opportunity of viewing the film. Produced by the Auckland Cricket Association and featuring all phases of the game demonstrated by such well-known cricketing: personalities as Arthur Mailey, W. J. O’Reilly, M. Wallace, I. B. Crombe, Ken James, H. Vivian, D. Rnuntree. A. M. Mathieson and others the film is a worthwhile effort in the interests of those players who

are not fortunate enough to have the services of an experienced coach. Opening Delayed Unfavourable weather conditions caused the Waipa Cricket Association to abandon the opening of their season last week and the first series of games in both A and B sections (not senior and junior as stated last week) will commence to-morrow. Several teams held practices when conditions improved last week.

The Empire Games In arranging its date for the Empire Games at Auckland in February, New Zealand has closely followed the procedure adopted for the 1938 Games in Sydney. The Games will be officially opened with the athletic events at Eden Park on the afternoon of February 4, and will be closed on the following Saturday. Days on which the events will be staged are:— Athletics, February 4,7, 9, 11; swimming, February 4,6, 8, 10; boxing, February 8,9, 10; wrestling, February 4,6, 7; weight-lifting, February 6,7; fencing, February 6 to 10. The Faster Game

In English League cricket the pace is so hot that not half the England test team would get a paid place in ?. club side. This is the opinion of Ralph Hadley, an English writer, who has been watching cricket in the professional Yorkshire and Lancashire leagues. Says Hadley: “If you think the sort of batting that Hutton has been showing us in test matches is cricket, you’re being fooled . . . My advice to you is go north, young man. Go north to Lancashire or Yorkshire and see some real cricket—not to Old Trafford or Headingly, but to Rishton, or Bacup, or the Alexandra Meadows, Blackbum, where you can see 400 runs scored in four and threequarter hours’ batting.” Queen of the Track “Mrs Fanny Blankers-Koen is not to retire from athletics at the end of this season,” writes Jack Crump in “World Sports.” She hopes to compete in the European championships in Brussels in August next year. Whether she continues in 1951 depends on how she retains her form. Jack Crump failed to see any signs of deterioration in her style or speed during her recent /tour of Eire, when shja won every race she started in with ease. The Queen of the track is described as a delightful personality. Her willingness to compete in. two or three races at a meeting, by way of contrast to present tlhe prizes at a local dance—and to do it all with charm and innate modesty—has endeared her to everyone who has met her.