-  From Trevor Rowse.


The cancellation of the men’s NPC series, due to be played in Invercargill, continues a long chapter of neglect of the southern centre.
  
Auckland men, for instance, sent below-strength teams there, in the past. In 1998-99 Auckland did not even send a team. It was the first and only time Auckland did not play in the nationals.

Yet Southland’s men, year after year, travelled all over the country to play, full of enthusiasm and keen to learn and to beat as many teams as possible.
  
Of course, in earlier times, life was easier for those associations near the centre of the country, with tournaments held in Wellington, Hutt, Palmerston North, Napier/Hastings and Wanganui. Even Christchurch was not so far.
  
Auckland and Southland had the long treks. Now there is North Harbour as a close trip.
  
But Eden, Ramblers and United, years ago, were determined to go to all the tournaments possible and raised the money. Eden went to Dunedin the hard way, by train and ship and train, with two members going by motor bike.
  
Eden and United set off to Greymouth for one national club series. United chased that title for thirty years before winning it.
  
Perhaps the way to attract teams is to go to holiday resorts such as Queenstown and Rotorua where it can become a family holiday.
  
It does not do much for the game in the extremities however.
  
But no one can tell a player how he or she can spend hard-earned savings. Life is not so simple now, even if there are grants available for some enterprising teams which never would have been thought of in earlier times.
  
Still, it is a sad day when a tournament is cancelled, especially when you examine Southland’s enthusiasm for the game over the years.