RUGBY FOOTBALL

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23630, 6 May 1942, Page 3

RUGBY FOOTBALL

* .. LENGTH OF SPELLS DEFINED Under the rides of the New Zealand Rugby Union the' length of spells to be played in all matches, except international matches, is a matter to be decided by. the captains, the referee making the decision in the event of disagreement. Discussing this . rule last evening at the suggestion of the Canterbury Rugby Referees’ Association, tho management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union envisaged the possibility of t\vo teams, in an important match, going on to the field and playing spells of five minutes each. Mr E. A. Empson said the point had cropped up last year when two senior teams wanted to play short spells. The union ruled that the competition rules provided for 40-mlnute spells. ■' The secretary (Mr E. G. Mitchell) said the competition rules did not deal with the point specifically, but stated that all matches were to be played under the control of the general committee. Mr J. N. Clarke: We might get two teams going on to the oval and playing five minutes each way. Mr Empson: That is what they can do under the New Zealand Rugby Union rules. On the motion of Mr W. C. Dailey it was decided that in grades from senior to under 17 inclusive, spells of 40 minutes be played, and that in grades from under 16 down spells of not less than 30 minutes be played, except in exceptional circumstances. Representative Games Mr E. V. Phillips, president of the union, who was absent in Dunedin, advised that he .would endeavour to arrange representative matches with Otago. He suggested that the union should invite the Wellington Union to send a team to Christchurch at the King’s Birthday week-end. This suggestion was adopted. "This brings the number of senior teams to 15. I don’t know how we shall get on if we have any more,” , said the chairman, Mr W. Maxwell, reporting the entry of another service team, Infantry. in the senior grade. It was decided to give Infantry a point for the bye on Saturday and to redraw the competition the following week. RUGBY LEAGUE The following is the draw for Saturday: Senior: Lin. v, Rakaia Comb., at Syd. (Hamberger); Syd. bye. Heavy-weight: Add. v. Ara., at Ara., 2.30 (Thackwell); Syd. v. Dali., at Lin., 2.30 (Bateman). Light-weight: Lin. v. St. Jos. A, at St. Jos., 1.30 (Chick);-Ara. v. Wool., at Lin., 1.30 (Mathie); St. Jos. B bye. » —6 ASSOCIATION ANOTHER ARMY TEAM ENTERED The management committee of the Canterbury Football Association was Informed last evening that another Army team would be entered in the senior reserve competition. It was explained that the team was from a camp where facilities for playing Association football had previously not been granted. The committee discussed the shortage of jerseys, socks, shorts, and boots for Army teams. It was decided that little could be done to assist the Canterbury Patriotic Council in Its efforts to obtain equipment for the men, and it was stated that more was being manufactured.