RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22370, 6 April 1938, Page 5

RUGBY FOOTBALL

SENIOR GRADE TWO MATCHES ON OVAL EACH WEEK ENTRY FROM AIR FORCE LIKELY Two first grade Rugby matches will be played, state of the ground permitting, each Saturday on the Lancaster Park Oval this year. This decision was made by the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening, on the recommendation of the competitions committee. There will probably be an addition to the, list of first grade teams, the rapidlygrowing colony at the Wigram aerodrome numbering many players of first grade standard from all parts of the Dominion. The newly-formed Air Force Club Intends to enter teams in the Canterbury Rugby Union's competitions, and it is expected that its first team will he at least of average first grade standard. ' ’There were present; Mr J. K. Moloney (president). Dr. W- S. Seed, Messrs A. E. McPhail, E. V. Phillips, A. I. Cottrell, K. I. Armour. E. M. Todd, A. Duggan. W. A. Britten. W. Maxwell. J. T. Burrows, D.

I. Macdonald, W. C. Dailey. V. L. Jensen, R. R. Masters, and R. W. Britton. Reporting on behalf of the competitions committee, Mr E. V. Phillips said that with the possible inclusion of an Air Force team, there would be 11 teams in the first grade. The playing of two matches on the oval had been tried last year, and although one or two clubs' had objected at first, there had been little trouble. The practice was usual in Dunedin, and the committee was of the opinion that it could be done here. The holding of a curtain-raiser, of course, would be subject to the state of the ground. Mr W. A. Britten approved the recommendation, which was adopted without dissent. The committee also reported that the only application for Easter matches in Christchurch related to the annual Meri-vale-Alhambra fixture. Matches for next Saturday between Sydenham and Temuka (Lancaster Park Oval) and Technical and Athletic were approved. , . . The Old Collegians Club was granted permission to play Ashburton Old Boys at Elmwood Park on April 9. The Albion Club was granted permission to send a team to Dunedin to play the annual match with the Southern Club at Easter.

SELECTION OF N.Z. TEAM TOURS OF ISLAND FIFTEENS NOT FAVOURED Provincial tours by the representative teams of the North Island and the South Island, suggested by a member of the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union as an additional aid to the selectors of the New Zealand team to tour Australia this year, found little favour with other members of the committee at the meeting last evening. The proposal was put forward by Mr E. V. Phillips, who argued that matches between the North Island and provincial South Island teams, and between the South Island and leading provincial teams of the North Island, would be a big attraction to the Rugby public. After these tours the selectors would be in a most favourable position to select their teams for the North v. South match. Mr J. K. Moloney (president): I think the selectors could do better with one match. They seem to get progressively worse as they go on. An objection to Hie scheme would be the difficulty of players getting time ofT, said Mr V. L. Jensen. “The games would be a draw, certainly, but the selectors would be covering ’’the same ground twice,’’ he said.

Mr A. I. Cottrell considered that players were going to find it more difficult in future to obtain leave for taking part in trial matches. Football had made a big call on players' time in recent years. Two selectors from each island will pick the respective island teams this year, Mr A. E. McPhail explained. After these teams have been chosen a sole selector will take over the selection of the New Zealand team and of the teams for any necessary additional trial matches.

RUGBY LEAGUE REFEREES FOR SATURDAY’S GAMES G. NEPIA TO PLAY FOR RAKAIA As the New Zealand Rugby. League team to tour Australia will leave on May 31. club matches will start earlier than was previously expected. Referees for Saturday’s preliminary round have been appointed as follows:—Sydenham v. Addington. at Sydenham Park, Mr H. A. King: Waimairi v. Linwood; at Papanui, Mr W. Thompson: Hornby v. Rakaia, at Rakaia, Mr P. Kirton.

Mr R. A. Drury, treasurer of the Canterbury Rugby League, yesterday received definite advice from G. Nepia that he will be able to play from Easter Saturday onwards. He will play for the Rakaia Club.