11 replies to this topic

[RobL]

I had a call from Knaresbrough union club yesterday, they are looking for friendlies, said they had tried to get in a merit league but were too late or something so are now after friendlies. I dont have contact details but am sure they are on the web.

[tim2]

I had a call from Knaresbrough union club yesterday, they are looking for friendlies, said they had tried to get in a merit league but were too late or something so are now after friendlies. I dont have contact details but am sure they are on the web.

How can you be too late to get in a Merit League?

I knew things would go downhill when I stopped running it.

[Marauder]

How can you be too late to get in a Merit League?

I knew things would go downhill when I stopped running it.

Because the powers that be have taken away the ethos and spirit of what your baby stood for.

I pointed out in another thread, about half of the last team we put out contained players who played their first game of rugby league in the merit league, uinlike some we do attempt to move new players up the scale of standards & without the merit league and how well it was run we would never have been able to do this because it allowed us a couple of weeks of breathing space.

The main problem we have with playing all year round rugby is the change over period and most players don't know if they are playing or not until the last minute.

I suspect that the new rule changes will force Yorkshire based teams to join the Castleford and district BARLA run summer competition which is run very similar to how the merit was run.

[RobL]

How can you be too late to get in a Merit League?

I knew things would go downhill when I stopped running it.

i dont know anything, i just thought i would pass the message on athat they are after games, I dont have much on myself at the moment.

[bowes]

How can you be too late to get in a Merit League?

I knew things would go downhill when I stopped running it.

Because it's not a merit league. They've kept the merit league brand name but made it into 2 normal leagues (albeit small development ones)

[bowes]

Though I'd add it was run properly last year, though one man was expected run it himself on top of his full time job which as Tim will tell you is hard. So I helped him out with tables etc.

But this year it's under new management, not sure who's running it to be honest

[Marauder]

Because it's not a merit league. They've kept the merit league brand name but made it into 2 normal leagues (albeit small development ones)

So it's no longer a merit league and all it has done is stopped the development at the lowest level, the level that allows teams to say i'll have a go at that.

By not allowing or giving people/players the chance to dip their toes into the rugby league water we maybe halting little acorns.

[RobL]

hey i didnt mean for all this, i was just letting people know there was a team after games.

[bowes]

So it's no longer a merit league and all it has done is stopped the development at the lowest level, the level that allows teams to say i'll have a go at that.

By not allowing or giving people/players the chance to dip their toes into the rugby league water we maybe halting little acorns.

It's a difficult situation as the likes of Scunthorpe and Haworth Park can't manage the higher standard of the RLC but want a more structured season. But for the reason you mention I think the old format is preferable. Also a fixed 8 game season would seem a bit much for the likes of Scarborough A unless they've done a major recruitment.

[Marauder]

It's a difficult situation as the likes of Scunthorpe and Haworth Park can't manage the higher standard of the RLC but want a more structured season. But for the reason you mention I think the old format is preferable. Also a fixed 8 game season would seem a bit much for the likes of Scarborough A unless they've done a major recruitment.

The new way of thoughts has cut the stragglers out of the game aswell as the overspill (not quiet good enough) players who you can guarantee turning up.

I can remember one straggler turning up at Marshland Rangers (Moorends) who turned out to be Widnes/GB legend Joe Walsh

[Pottsy]

It's a difficult situation as the likes of Scunthorpe and Haworth Park can't manage the higher standard of the RLC but want a more structured season. But for the reason you mention I think the old format is preferable. Also a fixed 8 game season would seem a bit much for the likes of Scarborough A unless they've done a major recruitment.

Maybe they should set up a merit league for clubs who don't want to commit to a structured season or want to cater for novice players. Oh.....

[Marauder]

Maybe they should set up a merit league for clubs who don't want to commit to a structured season or want to cater for novice players. Oh.....

Thats a brilliant idea.