SCHOOL RUGBY MATCHES

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23086, 31 July 1940, Page 4

SCHOOL RUGBY MATCHES

PLAY ON PUBLIC GROUNDS SUGGESTED UNION REJECTS PROPOSAL A suggestion that secondary school football matches in Christchurch should be played under the control of the Canterbury Rugby Union and on the union’s “charge grounds,” was rejected as impracticable at the meeting of the management committee of the union last evening. The secondary schools, it was stated, took the view that the intense public interest that would thus be engendered in (he matches would not be ,in the interests of the school players. The discussion arose when a letter was received from the sports master of the Christchurch Boys’ High School asking for a grant from the gate receipts at the match against the Waitaki and Christchurch Boys’ High Schools at Rugby Park last Saturday. This was required to meet the expenses of the match and to assist toward the expenses of sending a team to Waitaki next year. Mr E. V, Phillips considered that the proceeds ot such matches should not S° to only one school. The union, if it encouraged these matches, could build up a fund from which primary and secondary school football could be assisted. The Auckland Rugby Union had recently adopted a system of playing all secondary school matches on its own charge grounds. “Members can remember when the School v. College match was played at Lancaster Park and attracted big crowds. ’ said Mr Phillips. Schools’ Independence The secondary schools in Christchurch must be conceded their independence of action, said the president (Mr J. K. Moloney). “As for playing on charge grounds, some of the schools would hold their hands up in horror. I do not think you will get far with that proposal here.’’ He added that it did not matter where the matches were played as long as the best possible spirit could be kept in the game. “However, if you can get Christ's College to play on Lancaster Park you will be knighted,” he told Mr Phillips amid laughter. ‘•■They played on a charge ground in Dunedin on Monday,” replied Mr Phillips. “A case of doing in Rome what Rome does," said Mr Moloney. Father C. Callaghan considered that whatever was done in the disposal of the funds the union should not expect anything except reasonable charges for the use of its facilities. The secondary schools looked to Ihc union for very little assistance, and he thought the schools concerned should receive the benefit of the fund. Whether in return for such assistance the union should ask the schools to play their matches in public was another matter. “The attitude of the schools is that it is not in the best interests of the pupils to have so much interest in their games. It unsettles them in their school work,” he said. Mr V. L. Jensen moved that the school be granted £9 expenses and £ls travelling expenses for next year’s visit to Waitaki, and on Mr A. I. Cottrell’s suggestion added that the remainder of the gatetakings be held in a special school fund. Mr W. A. Britten: What if another school wants to travel south and asks for a grant? Mr Jensen; We are making them a grant out of a fund they themselves have created. Other schools arc not concerned in the fund. The motion was carried. ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETS The Management Committee of the Canterbury Football Association at its meeting last evening received advice from the New Zealand Football Association that Canterbury was next in the order of challenges for the Football Association Trophy After consideration ot a letter from the Otago Association it. was agreed to support the abandonment of the South Island schools’ tournament which was to have been held, in Dunedin, because ot the excessive cost in present circumstances. The following draw, with referees, was approved for next Saturday:— Senior (Hurley Shield), at 2.45 p.m.— Rangers v. Nomads, at Richmond Park (Mr L. Doherty); St. Albans v. Air Force, at Wigram (Mr R. C. Neville); Celtic v. Thistle, at Spreydon (Mr W. J. Kelly); Technical v. Army, at English Park (Mr A. C. Porter). Senior Reserve (knock-out competition), at 2.45 p.m.—Air Force v. Working Men’s Club, at Wigram (Mr F. Cope); Technical A v. Thistle, at English Park, at' 1 p.m. (Mr N. Billcliff). Davey Shield match: Technical B v. Rangatira, at Ensor’s road No. 1 (Mr C. Sweeney): friendly match, Lichfield v. Rangers, at Hagley No. 2 (Mr J. Brown). Juniors, at 2.45 p.m.—Marldon v. Ad-' dington Territorials, at Hagley No. 3 (Mr W. Mann); Nomads v. Celtic, at Hagley No. 1 (Mr T. Mathie); Western v. Marist. at Hagley No. 4 (Mr A. Pritchard). Third Grade, at 2.45 p.m.—Nomads v. Matchless, at Bromley (Mr L. Fleet); 'Technical v. .Marist, at Ensor's road No. 2 (Mr D. Richardson). Fourth Grade, at 2.45 p.m.—Thistle v. Technical, at Malvern (Mr C. H. Worters): Nomads v. Linwood. at Linwood (Mr D. Douglas). Fifth Grade, at 1.15 p.m.—Technical v. Marist, at Ensor's road No. 1 (Mr C. Sweeney): Nomads v. Celtic, at Spreydon (Mr P. Helsdon), Sixth Grade, at 1.15 p.m.—St, Albans v. Marist, at Malvern (Mr K. Johnston): Hornby v. Western, at Hagley No. 1 (Mr T. Mathie): Technical v. Thistle, at Hagley No. 3 (Mr T. Gottermeyer). Seventh Grade A, at 1.15 p.m.—Linwood A v. Hornby, at Wigram (Mr L. Voysey): St. Albans v. Celtic, at Hagley No. 4 (Mr E. B. Harris); Technical v. Linwood B, at Bromley (Mr L. C. Johnston). Seventh Grade B, at 1.15 p.m.—Marist B v. Nomads, at Richmond Park (Mr C. G. Smith); Marist A v. Rangers, at Linwood (Mr A. Walker): Thistle v. Celtic, at Hagley No. 2 (Mr C. E. Keys).