IT has been hailed as a victory for common sense and the words ring true.

The decision to leave the North Midlands leagues just how they are is another example of the authorities at the bottom end of rugby's ladder listening to the people that matter and getting things right.

The draft plan un-veiled at the turn of the year proposed merging all three divisions and separating them regionally, but that would have seen clubs with just one season of competitive action under their belts playing experienced outfits.

Cricket score rugby is no good for anybody. It would not only drive away the new boys such as Greyhound, Chaddesley Corbett and Old Shrewsbury, but it would also prevent others following suit.

Figures released by the RFU have shown that rugby union has lost 15,000 adult players in the past five seasons so anything to arrest the decline is good news.

And contrary to following the lead set by the higher Midlands leagues, the North Midlands divisions have actually paved the way for progress.

Their smaller, more compact divisions are now in their second season of home and away rugby and their model is being followed by the others.

There can be no more grumbling that a side won a league because all of their toughest fixtures were played at home -- the best and most consistent team will prevail.

It is not a perfect solution as the previous blueprint proposed splitting the divisions regionally to cut down on travel expenses, but that is easily the lesser of two evils.

"Our decision does not alleviate travelling, but as North Midlands is such a vast county a certain amount of travelling is in-evitable," said the North Midlands RFU chairman of competitions Simon Peace.

"The only alternative would be for clubs to withdraw from the leagues and form locally based merit tables with no promotion or relegation -- but I think that would be regrettable."

Leagues are certainly here to stay and have helped lift the profile of the game -- any step back to merit tables would surely only hasten rugby's recent decline.

Thursday, March 23, 2000.