PAEROA RUGBY UNION.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4729, 25 July 1924, Page 2

PAEROA RUGBY UNION.

(To the Editor!. air —Will you please allow me space to state what appears to be a weakness or want of forethought on the part of the Paeroa Rugby Union. The position of the senior competition practically shows that the victor of the Ni thertou-East contest will be the ultinu.tv winner of the competition. At the last meeting of the last meeting of the above Comimttee it was decided that .this match be played at Netherton next Saturday. The main reason. I understand, being that the Netherton players are mainly connected with the farming industry, and as the cows are coming in they would not be able to get a team together, at a later date. What consideration is extended to the East Club I Several of tin ir player shave been injured, and it is generally understood that tlie final round of the competition is played in Paeroa. On Saturday next the junior representatives of Paeroa ■meet Waihi at Paeroa, and several members of the junior grade of. the East Club are included in the team. As tlu senior team has the right to call upon its best junior members to play for the higher grade, such would probanly spoil the selection of the junior representatives. I am pleased to state that the senior team, rather than cause any of the juniors to lose their cup has decided to forfeit the game to Netherton rather than call up th< juniors. The Union is badly in need of funds, and with the psotponeirent of the senior match mentioned they would derive funds from East senior players, who would turn out to see the representatives play Waihi. West Club is to play at Hikutaia, and again the nUion is throwing away more funds that would otheiwise come to its account. The above excuse given by the Netherton representative carries little weight, as were the few players from Netherton who. are so affected chosen to play in a representative team I hardly think the excuse would stop them. Further, the meeting of the above two teams at Paeroa would gc tas big, if not biggci, gate than the East v. West match a few weeks back, more especially as it is the deciding point of the competition. The Union appears to be assisting the Netherton Club as much as possible and at the same time crippling the chance of East by : (1) Giving them little time to find reinforcements, as it was understood that ibis match would not eventuate for three weeks ; and (2) giving them no chance to call up their bset jun- ■ tors. Were the East Club to withdraw rfom the competition it would be just what the Union deserved, and there is a', pop; ibility of West Club doing likewise, as they iiave no chance of winning and to journey to Hikutaia is only personal expense to the team. Experience has, or should have shown the Union tiiat the gate takings at Netherton and Hikutaia are not worth troubling about. I am informed that one delegate can at Union meetings turn the business of the meeiing in his club's favour, even though there is a majority against it. Hoping that 1 am not taking, up tc much of your space. A WEST SUPPORTER.