TO THE EDITOR

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 186, 24 May 1939, Page 3

TO THE EDITOR

GRADING OF RUGBY PLAYERS

Sir, —The OpotiJd Rugby Union is to be commended upon its decison to introduce the grading of players cf clubs under its jurisdiction. The decision although rather belated is a very . essential one if football in the district is ever going to make any progress. It is admitted of course that some teams,' for the time being, will suffer so far as the loss of their star players aje concerned, yet in the best interests of the game sacrifices

must be made. As an onlooker at recent matches played, it is quite obvious that there is a large number of players taking part in junior football who have Jong ago forfeited their title of being classed as only fit for junior football, and while they continue to play junior football, the ranks of the senior teams are weakened and good material badly required in big ' football is lost. There are also prominent players in the ranks of the third grade players who are quite capable of Idling the vacancies created in the ranks of the juniors through the promotion of the latter to senior football. There is ample material available for the formation of another 'senior team and sufficient toi strengthen the ranks of some of the present senior teams who repeatedly have to call -on players from among the juniors to assist in. fielding a, full team, a sorry state of affairs. The football public dees not look with either favour or pleasure at a game played between two teams of scratch players. The principal objectors to the grading system are to be found chiefly among club officials and) all sorts of excuses' and statements are being made, but no criticism of a constructive nature has been brought to bear on- the matter. The impression one

gains is that, with all due respect to the objectors, be they club officials or otherwise, -‘"pot- hunting” is the principle involved and not the developing of the good old game of Rugby football. . The writer wishes the local union every success in its effort to boost the game, and feels that it will benefit both in better and brighter football as wed as an increased football public's appreciation. PRO BONO PUBLICO. RUGBY SENIOR MATUH Sir, —The referee in Saturday’s senior match is to be congratulated, firstly on his excellent exposition and control of the game as played at the reserve. and secondly on his tolerance of the conduct of one player who was ordered off in the latter part of the game. The player in question can have no valid excuse for his conduct, the referee having had occasion to warn him, previously. No doubt the matter wid come before the Kughy f Union executive and the player m question wid he summarily dealt with and whatever the penalty administered it wid require to be of such a nature that a re-occurrence of the offience will not be likely to happen • again. This is essential if football rs to be kept clean. It- is to be hoped that the ol-fc-nder fully realises that he has brought his team and the officials oi his club concerned, more or less, into disrepute. ONLOOKER.