FOOTBALL

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXI, Issue 1450, 10 March 1931, Page 6

FOOTBALL

BETTERMENT OP SYSTEM. IN THE WAIKATO. As briefly referred to in Saturday's issue a special sub-committee of the I WaiKato Union submitted Suggestions lor the betterment of football in the \ Waikato, 10 a meeting ox the union on ! Friday evening last. For some considerable time vit has been fen, specially in Cambridge, that ways ana means shoul'd be lound of ! bettering the standard of play, and it i j was Miougnc by some in uaiuiji'iuge uiat ' the Taranaki club system might be an improvement on the present sub-union : arrangement operating in these parts. i The Taranaki system was placed before the Waikato Union delegates, but it did not meet with a major proportion of approval. Subsequently it was felt that some improvement might be effected and hence the sub-committee was set up to' consider the matter. In reporting on Friday night the comI mitteo indicated that the difficulty confronting the committee was the question as to whether the Hamilton Subunion would join in a championship I scheme. Without knowing what atti- : tude Hamilton would take up the comi I mitteo decided to submit alternate schemes as follows: — 1. With inclusion of Hamilton, the union territory to be divided into east and west sections. West: Hamilton, Taupiri, Raglan, Waipa; East: Morrinsville, Matamata, Putaruru, Cambridge, with a final to be played between the . winners of east and west sections on \ a ground to be decided by ballot. The finalists to share the nett proceeds (less . 10 per cent to Waikato Union) on a 50-50 basis; 5 per cent of all ordinary and semi-final gates to bo devoted to the Waikato Rugby Union. Each sub-, union to play home and away matches (except final) alternately. 2. Without Hamilton a competition between the other sub-unions on same principle as- No. 1. Five per cent of all ordinary and semi-final gates to be devoted to the Waikato Rugby Union. The championship to be for the Finlay Cup trophy, the winner each season to have its name engraved and to hold until the following season. In the event of a tie in any (or the) section the venue of the play-off to be decided by the Waikato Rugby Union, which may include a neutral ground. Sub-union matches to commence on the third Saturday in July and to be played each Saturday until completion of the competition, excepting when the Waikato Union is engaged in a home match on a Saturday. The draw for the season shall bo made by the Waikato Uniou not later than the last Friday in June. Nominations for the com- ' petition to be in the hands of the Secretary of. the Waikato Rugby Union not later than the second Saturday in June. The two members of the committee referred to consider that a scheme on these lines would be a big improve- . ment on the present Finlay Cup conditions, as half the sub-unions would get : two championship matches on their own grounds, whereas at present the j weaker unions are compelled, some-'-timos with the forclorn hope, to travel , each year. I The cup record shows that only half the unions have held the cup. The sug- ! gestod competition should assist subunions financially inasmuch as they will have at least one championship Finlay Cup match on their own ground each season. | • It was decided that the matter be j placed before the various sub-unions and recommendations be received at . the annual meeting of the union.