“IF IT’S not broken, don’t try to mend it!”
A veteran grassroots administrator in Hull has issued an impassioned plea for the BARLA National and Youth Cups to continue.
Rumours were rife at the recent finals at Featherstone that under the RFL’s National Community Rugby League proposals, the competitions will be ditched.
Alan Parker, who was among the founders of BARLA in 1973, is a highly-respected figure at the grassroots.
In paying tribute to Hull FC’s Sasch Brook and Rob Wilson of Hull KR, who have overseen the youth and junior scene under the auspices of the City of Hull and District Youth Rugby League for five years, he told League Express: “It’s been a great success, our playing numbers have greatly increased and a couple of new clubs have been formed.
“With the help of our two professional clubs they also brought back the popular Hull East versus Hull West games as well as development days for all age groups.”
However Parker lamented: “The big problem that we have in Hull, and possibly also in Cumbria, is that there is a big difference in the strength of teams in all age groups.
“We do not have enough teams to have more than one division. This problem does not exist in the Yorkshire Juniors and North West Counties Leagues.
“The only way for us to judge the strength of our teams is by playing against teams in other areas.
“This is where BARLA have been great for us by arranging Yorkshire (all ages) and National (Under 14, 16 and 18) Cup competitions, plus Plate competitions at all groups in the Yorkshire Cups.
“There were four games on each day at Featherstone, with very good attendances on both days.
“The so-called lesser players in the Plates had a great time and they were very proud to play in finals.”
He concluded: “BARLA chair Sue Taylor and her husband John again did a great job in running the events.
“You can deduce from this that the Hull League has been very happy with BARLA and if, as it looks, changes are made (through NCRL) we must not lose the BARLA Cups, with all their history.”