FOOTBALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4397, 31 March 1922, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

NOTES FROM THE PLAINS. Enthusiasm is growing among the footballers on the Hauraki Plains, .and already the leather is being kicked around in spare moments. The Ngatea Club has already had its meeting, while other clubs are now getting busy, and everything points to a very successful season on the Plains this year. It is expected that four senior and four junior teams will be .in this year’s competitions. Last year there were only three clubs, Patetonga, Ngatea., and Waitakaruru. Turua is contemplating joining the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union, and the additional entry in each grade, the competitions .will be more interesting. For the senior competition there is a cup, and for t{he junior a shield. Though enthusiasm is by no means lacking, travelling is a which incurs considerable" expense on the playei's, and it may so happen that a young but promising player may. be lost on this acc.ount. This is a matter for serious consideration on the part of the union, which is to hold its second annual meeting at an early date. While it is admittedly essential for each club to have as many home matches as possible, it might be faupd desirable to play Patetonga-Turua, Patetonga-iWaitaka-ruru, and Turua-Waitakaruru matches on a centra) ground in order to incur as little travelling time and expense as possible. The clubs, however, may prefer to travel the full, distance once, so that the return match will be played on the home ground. The effort to inaugurates a referees’ association is a commendable bne, and the Union should do its utmost in this direction. It is said that there is a scarcity of referees in the Plains centres and that an outside referee will minimise disputes, but surely even a small- body of men can be found in the four centres to control. the four matches which will eventuate each Saturday. The expenses of obtaining the services of men from Thames or Paeroa is a big drag on. the clubs’ finances, and a local referees’ association would ob-. viate this. In another young district last season a referees’ association was formed,, and to ensure a uniformity ofi rulings instructional classes .were held, to the grfat benefit of Rugby in the district. Perhaps this method could be adopted on the Plains “Get them while they’re young,” is the motto in most athletic sports, and as far as can be gathered the Plains Rugby Union intends to dp its utmost to fdster school football this season. Last year an attempt was made to inaugurate competitions among the different schools, but it w.as found that the travelling expenses would be too great. It was a pity that some suitable scheme could not have been brought into vogue then, as there was an amount of £5 offered at Ngatea and another £5 at Patetpnga for the purchase of trophies-for the winning team. It has been suggested that this year the schoolboy competitions could be limited to a pne-'day event. Half-time —say', two quarterhour spells—could be played, so that the boys would not have an over strenuous time. Perhaps it could bo in the form of a knock-out competition, in’ which only a couple of matches would be necessary. It is the intention of the union to consider this matter. On Saturday two matches are set down, both being fancy costume games between married .and single men. These are to be played at Ngqy tea and Patetonga.