NIGHT FOOTBALL

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1933, Page 6

NIGHT FOOTBALL

AN EXPERIMENT AT SYDNEY,

SYDNEY, November 9,

There were only a few thousand spectators at the opening round, of the sight football competition, promoted night football competition promoted ! by the New South Wales Rugby Lea- ; gue in aid of its players’ retention fund, at the Royal Agricultural Ground on Saturday. The secretary Mr H. R. Miller, stated that the gate takings were £l3l, and it was hoped to clear expenses for- that night. There was evidence, especially during the entertaining University-Wes-tern Suburbs match, that those present enjoyed the novelty of Rugby League football played at night on a wellgrassed, brilliantly illuminated arena, with the teams attired in white . : or read jerseys, arid the hall of a chrome hue. The teams were reduced to. 1L a aide, and with rules specially framed to keep tlie play moving, there was scope for speed football. The players were fortunate .to experience a cool night, and to find the turf, springy after recent rains. They had no- difficulty in sighting the ball, either dn the air or on the ground; indeed, except for the introduction of special rules, they played as they might have played in the daytime.

The opening, match between Uniygrsty and Western Suburbs, proved fa'st and exciting, and as.the players left the field they were accorded a round of applause.

Officials and players keenly debated the prospects of success of night football schemes. It would appear that the financial success of such a competition either at the present time or toward the end of the summer., would depend largely- upon the presence of more players of the clever type.