RANFURLY SHIELD CHALLENGES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27425, 11 August 1954, Page 12

RANFURLY SHIELD CHALLENGES

WANGANUI UNION’S LETTER POSITION IF CANTERBURY LOST TROPHY If Canterbury loses the Ranfurly Shield before it meets Wanganui on September 22 for the sfiield, the match against Wanganui will still be played. At last evening's meeting the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union agreed to meet three conditions put forward by the Wanganui union if a non-shield fixture was to be played. The Wanganui union in a letter said that in the event of Canterbury losing the shield the union would play Canterbury, but on three conditions. These were: (1) that the Canterbury union allow Wanganui travelling expenses as laid down in Rule 8 (b); (2) that the date does not conflict with any date that may be arranged by the union with the new holders of the shield; and (3) that the match will be regarded as a special one and will not interfere with the ordinary sequence of visits. _ ~ - z The president (Mr W. C. Dailey) said that the rule mentioned was that m the case of a special challenge, the challenging union would be entitled to 40 per cent, of the net gate after all ground and other expenses incurred in holding the match had been paid. Mr R. R. Masters said Wanganui s attention should be drawn to this rule, since if it was not a shield game the gate might not be very large and the expenses incurred in travelling to Christchurch might not all be met from its share of the gate. x It was agreed to accept these conditions but to draw Wanganui’s attention to the matters raised in the committee’s discussion. Benefit Match

Referring to the death of Colin Bailey, who died of injuries suffered while playing for Linwood against University in the senior second division competition, Mr R. W. Blazey said it had been mentioned that a benefit match might be played. It had been suggested that the Canterbury team play a team picked by Mr R. C. Stuart. The only drawback was that the only date free for the game was October 2, and by that time the union was supposed to be off Lancaster Park. He considered, however, that the cricket association and the Victory Park Board might, in the circumstances, allow the union the use of the park on this day. He also considered that, seeing that it was a benefit match, that everyone who entered the grounds should pay. Mr Dailey said a letter had been received from the Sunnyside-Spreydon Club suggesting that if a benefit match was not to be played, that clubs should each make a donation of £5. It was decided to ask the Victory Park | Board and the Canterbury Cricket Association if the union could have the park on October 2 for the match, and to ask Mr Stuart if he would pick a team. Mr R. W. Blazey reported that the secondary school competition had been completed and that Xavier College had been declared the winners. % Mr Dailey announced that the book compiled by Mr J. K. Moloney on the history of Canterbury Rugby footbalP in the last 25 years would be on sale at Lancaster Park on Saturday. Messrs W. S. Mikkelson and C. W. McKeegan were appointed managers of the Canterbury team to play Southland, Wairarapa, and South Canterbury. Two third grade A players who were ordered off during a match last week were cautioned by the management committee when they appeared to give an explanation of their actions. The players were D. Speedy, of University, and P. Gemmel. of the Christchurch Maori team. In a letter to the committee the referee (Mr C. A. Roper) said that during the match he had to warn both teams for late tackling and rough play. After a minor breach he ordered a scrummage and then found that two players -were about to fight. He blew his whistle, but this had no effect, and he blew it again. As he was going across to the players their team mates secured them. He said he ordered them off because he considered there might be further rough play. Speedy said he did not consider there was going to be a fight, and Gemmel supported this. Speedy said that neither had laid a hand on the other.