RUGBY UNION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 31, 29 September 1931, Page 4

RUGBY UNION

WEEKLY MEETING ALLEGED LACK OF PUBLIC SUPPORT DISGUSSED BY COMMITTEE McINTOSH SHIELD MATCH The management committee of the Rotorua Rugby Union held their usual weekly meeting last night'. In the absence of the presiderit, Mr. G. H. Mason, Mr. T. S. Robertson, took the chair. ' Mr. Robertson remarked on the lack of support received by football from the public of Rotorua. He thought that, to a great extent, this wab due to the shops closing day being Wednesday, as many supporters of the game were thus unable to be present at the matches. He mentioned the , case of onq enthusiast who had not seen a match played in Rotorua for this i-eason, although he was willing to assist the union by coaching during the week. The standard of Rotorua football was described by "Mtf. R. Webb as not sUfficiently good to draw a crowd. The players he said, were not fit enough to keep up with the ball and thus give a spectacular display. He also condemned the way the teams turned out. They took the field in any kind of "togs," short in number, and invariably came late. This, he stated, was sufficient to damp ,any enthusiasm that there. might be. Mr. Webb impressed on" the meeting the necessity for clubs dropping players unless they showed fitness and keenness for the game. That there was something lacking in the control of. the clubs, Mr. Robertson agreed. He said that only a few members ever go to club meetings and many of the players did not even know what their own club was doing. Mr. De Luen said -that as far as praetices were concerned the representatives would not attend because of the perpetual changes in the personnel of the team. "Praetices are of no use," said Mr. Webb, "because there are never enough players present to make up either a complete set of forwards or of backs. If even two of the more important positions could not be filled, there could be no combined work done. The only fixture to be played at Arawa Park on Saturday is a junior challenge match ' between the Tauranga Athletic Club team and the Kahukura team, for the Mclntosh Sliield. Kahukura are the present holders.