COLLEGE-SCHOOL MATCH.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18108, 25 June 1924, Page 8

COLLEGE-SCHOOL MATCH.

REV. E. C. CROSSE'S LETTER RUGBY UNION SATISFIED. The Management Committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union last night had before it another letter from tho Re;. E. C. Crosse, headmaster of Christ'; College, regarding the College-High School match. Tho Rev. E. C. Crosso wrote stating that since the Union's deputation to him he had learned that Mr Lancaster., headmaster of the Boys' High School, was opposed to tho match commencing at 1.30 p.m., and consequently in deference to his wishes, mere than anyone else's, he had decided to reconsidci his decision so as to play on Wednesday, July 2nd. He could not, therefore, claim that this further concession was made to meet tho wishes of tho Union, although he was glad that would have such an effect. _ At the same time, he thought it his duty to point out that in consenting to play on a Wednesday he was not in any way pledging himself to do so in th-j future. His own opinion, .as the. Union doubtless knew, was that thesj inter-school matches ought to be regarded as independent of club fixtures, and once the public had forgotten that they were ever public events there ought to be no difficulty in securing this.. "I cannot too strongly insist," he wrote, "that in my opinion it is a* much in your interest as mine to dispe' the opinion still held by some that, the first College-High School match necessarily represents the high-wate" mark of secondary school football in Christchurch. Not only has this idea already been disproved in fact by St. Bede's winning the competition last year, but it is quite unfair to the other schools concerned. Football enthusiasts who follow the fortunes of the viirious schools will surely admit that they should also be regarded as starting from scratch. To stress one match, therefore, at the expense of the others, would ultimately operate unfavourably on football in "the secondary schools which, I believe, will always remain the strongest supporters you have of the ideals we share in common." The chairman (Mr S. F. Wilson) said that as he had taken Mr Crosse's previous letter, to the Union as final, ho had not gone with the deputation which waited on that gentleman. Mr G. P. Payne, who, with Mr A. E. McPhail, had constituted the deputation, said that the letter just read represented the views Mr Crosse had expressed to him. | Mr McPhail stated that he would like to express thanks to Mr Crosse for the manner he had received the deputation.. "I still think he is a good 'sport,' " he said. Mr Crosse, he continued, did not embarrass the Union nor tread on its toes. The chairman said that if anyone thought Mr Crosse was not. a Rugby enthusiast he had only to go along tho Riccarton road. and see hundreds ' of boys from the College playing the game. Mr Crosse had his own ideas as to how the boys should play in matches, and up to a point the speaker agreed.'with him. It behoved the Union to assist both schools as much as it could. It would be as well for the Union to suggest to the' Primary Headmasters' Association to inform the masters of primary schools that owing to lack of accommodation at the College .ground the boys should not be let out early because'there would hardly be room for them.

On tho motion of Mr McPhail, seconded by Mr Payne, it was decided to send a letter, of thanks to. Mr Crosse in connexion with the matter.