LETTER BOX

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27978, 26 May 1956, Page 3

LETTER BOX

LANCASTER PARK SEATS “Your correspondent. ‘No. 4 Stand,’ does not attempt to justify the claim of Canterbury Rugby Union season ticket-holders to privileges at New Zealand Union matches. C.R.U. season ticket-holders pay (presumably because they get good value) for seats at club matches and privileges at Canterbury representative matches. This contract does not entitle them to privileges at New Zealand Union matches ahead of players and spectators in country districts. Your correspondent seems a typical product of the welfare State —a searcher for soft privilege, and a good grizzlcr when he does not get things handed to him on a plate.’’ —FLAT FEET ON THE BANK. SENIOR RUGBY “I wish to dispute the contention of your Rugby writer that the senior competition should be reduced to eight teams by the relegation of SunnysideSpreydon, Merivale. Belfast and New Brighton. There will always be some teams right at the bottom of the scale, no matter how small the competition. The standard of football in Canterbury has never been higher than at present, and changes do not seem to be necessary at the moment. “With the relegation of these clubs.

four of the remaining eight teams would be from ‘closed’ clubs: Tech- ’ nical, High School Old Boys, Marist, i University. This would leave only i four teams for senior players not con- ■ nected with those bodies. i “The four suburban clubs under at- . tack have all the expense and re- ; sponsibility of catering for the under- . weight grades (jerseys alone for these 3 teams are a major item). When these . boys go to secondary school the best 3 of them are required to play for the 1 school. They seldom return to the t clubs that taught them their first foot- ? ball, and thus clubs like Technical and High School Old Boys benefit gratuit tously from the efforts of these clubs ’ who are. at the moment, the ‘under dogs.’ “At least two of these clubs. Meri- ; vale and New Brighton, attempt a style of play which, even if it has not the f polish of the leading sides, emphasises r the use of the backs, and does not t rely merely on negative and scroung- • mg tactics. In this respect I feel that >' they compare favourably with teams - like Sydenham, whose style of pl .y . over recent years has been anything ■ but attractive, even though it has won i them a certain amount of success.”— . CREDIT WHERE DUR “Try Something": No space for discussion of Rugby tactics.