Rugby Football

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 86, 8 October 1938, Page 27

Rugby Football

PROMOTION AND RELEGATION

NEED FOR REVISION OF SYSTEM

The past Rugby football season in Wellington should be the ■'■ last tinder which the methods of conducting tlie championship competitions provide for promoting teams half-way through the competitions and then determining the relegation of teams on the performances in the second round. As has been pointed out previously, the system is not a very satisfactory one; in fact, it must prove most unsatisfactory for some clubs. What is really wanted is a senior competition limited to those clubs which prove beyond doubt that they have senior players worthy of tlie name, and have the necessary strength behind the senior teams. There should, of course, be no bar to clubs reaching senior status, so long as their playing strength merits it. It is gathered that the Wellington Rugby Union's management committee is alive to the position, and from its deliberations there should be brought to light something that will place senior football in Wellington on a higher plane.

clubs in Wellington. That it is something of a nightmare was stressed by Mr. Joslfnj^,at ; th^annual smoke con-, cert of the Pirates Football Club. He' spoke of the difficulties of his own j club in the senior second division, and the need for a clear and unequivocal statement from the Wellington Rugby Union. The concern of the Pirates Club can be appreciated when the amount of its assets is considered. Although the club has not been very successful from a playing point of view, it serves a big district and--'the? teams in the lower grades kept all their engagements with a fair amount of success. It was pointed out that it was more "than possible that another season may see as many successes as there have been failures in the past. Of course, this has happened before with other clubs, and it can happen with the Pirates.

Mr. J. N. Millard, chairman of the Wellington Rugby Union, was at the function, and he indicated to the large gathering that the Rugby Union was not.likely to do anything that would upset the prospects of a club with, such a district and facilities behind it as Was the case with Pirates.

However, it is to be expected that the Rugby Union will before next season give a lead as to what should be done' by way of bringing about a more satisfactory position in the matter of status for clubs.

Taranaki at Hawera and Wairarapa; W. S. Brien (Oriental), v. South Canterbury and Canterbury; J. W. Fleming (Eastbourne), v. Taranaki at Wellingi ton- and Otago; J. L.* Griffiths (Poneke., v. Taranaki at Hawera and Hawke's Bay; K. Guy (Athletic), v. Taranaki at Hawera and Hawke's Bay; H. R. Pollock (Petone), v. Auckland and Southland; E. A. O'Brien (Poneke), v. Taranaki at Hawera and Wairarapa; JR. Paterson (Wellington), v. South Canterbury and Canterbury; I. R. Carter (Petone), v. South Canterbury and Canterbury; R. Knowles (Petone), v. South Canterbury and Canterbury. One game: V. Calcinai (Poneke), v. Wairarapa; A. C. Kenny (Johnsonville), v. Taranaki at Hawera; C. E. C. Robins (Marist Bros Old Boys), v. Taranaki at Hawera; G. W. Thompson (Wellington), v. Wairarapa; D. Thomson (Athletic), v. Wairarapa. For the "B" engagements the list is:— Three games: L. Bishop (Athletic), M. McG. Cooper (Wellington), J. Jones (Petone), R. J. Kemp (Hutt), D. A. Stevens (Wellington), and R. H. C. Wild (University). Twb games: W. F. Berry (Eastbourne), v. Marlborough and Manajwatu; G. Burton (Hutt), v. Marlborough and Manawatu; I. R. Carter (Petone), v. Marlborough and Manawatu; K. Guy (Athletic), v. Manawatu^ and Wanganui; W. Crisp (Poneke), v. Marlborough and Wanganui; R. Knowles (Petone), v. Marlborough and Manawatu; A. Lambourh (Petone), y. j Manawatu and Wanganui; H. R. Pollock (Petone), v. Manawatu and Wanganui; D. Thomson (Athletic), v. Manawatu and Wanganui; C. W. Tindill (Athletic), v. Manawatu and Wanganui; J. A. Wareham (Marist O.B.), v. Manawatu and Wanganui. j One game: W. S. Brien (Oriental), v. ! Marlborough; F. Foley (Hutt), v. Marlborough; W. Kilmister (Hutt), v. Marlborough; D. F. Potter (Hutt), v. Marlborough"; J. N. Clayton (Petone), v. Wanganui; A. C. Kenny (Johnsonville), v. Wanganui. N. Burns was in the southern touring team, but contracted measles (as did some others) and did not play on the tour.