Sportsman’s Notebook VARIED PROGRAMME FOR SUNDAY CHARITY RUGBY

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28701, 26 September 1958, Page 5

Sportsman’s Notebook VARIED PROGRAMME FOR SUNDAY CHARITY RUGBY

In the last few years many charitable organisations in Christchurch have benefited considerably from the proceeds of charity days organised by the Police and combined Christchurch newspapers. This year the two organisations have chosen as charities the Christchurch Deaf Club and the Canterbury and West Coast branch of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society. Given the weather and the crowds experienced in. previous years, it is highly probable that this year these two bodies’ funds should benefit considerably. The main event of the day—the annual Rugby match between the Police and the Combined Newspapers—will begin on an unusual note. The teams will line up for the match at 3.20 p.m., and the referee (Mr W. H. Fright) will alight in the middle of the ground from a helicopter. Mr Fright will board the helicopter, the property of Airwork (New Zealand). Ltd., at Harewood. An excellent variety programme has been arranged before the game. This will begin at 1.45 p.m. The programme is as follows: 1.45 p.m.. march past; 1.55 p.m., wood chonping display by former New Zealand axemen; 2.5 p.m., Captain Ridgway and his performing lions, lioness and dogs; 2.35 p.m., Buckett’s Gym. Girls; 2.45 p.m., maze march, with the Christchurch Ladies Pipe Band supplying the music for marching girl teams; 3 p.m. marching team display by the School for Deaf team, Sumner, with the Sumner Band providing the music; 3.10 p.m., police dog display; 3.20 p.m., Rugby match begins. At half-time a drum major’s display will be given by the Christchurch Ladies’ Highland Pipe Band. The teams for the game are:— Police.—R. Currie; C. Lee, W. W Maloney, J. Brailey; E. L. McLachlan, R. Ayson; B. J. Preston; G. Riach, J. R. Wheeler, C. Jackson, J. Pierce, T. E. Longley, P. Stevenson, E. Clarke, K. Kennelly. Newspapers.—A. McKinnell; I. Sinclair, B A. Simpson, J. Beere: K. C. Sheehan, R. Dew; P. B. Vincent; F. G. Hobbs, J. Willie, R. H. Duff, M. Dick, B. Powell. D. Law, W Spicer, J. Haines. Line umpires for the game are well-known Canterbury representatives—M. J. Dixon, S. K. Henderson, R. M. Smith and A. E. G. Elsom. ♦ * # American League The opportunity for one or two New Zealand players to earn more than £lOO a ma|ch may be given by the formation in California recently of the American Rugby League. This suggestion has been made by Mr Ward B. Nash, the American secretary, in a letter received by Mr R. F. Rogers, a New Zealand Council member. The league, in its initial stages, wil] be composed of professional gridiron teams playing in the -few months before the opening of their normal football season. San Francisco and Los Angeles, strong rivals, will be the first centres to have clubs. Australia will also be approached for help. Mr Nash thinks it would be wonderful for one of the countries to assist San

Francisco and the other Los Angeles. In a photostat copy of another letter an American organiser said each player would be offered 300 dollars a game plus a bonus if the attendance was very good.

* * * Swimming School

Three young swimmers from each centre, with a maximum for New Zealand of 45, can attend the national coaching school to be held over Christmas, according to a circular from the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association. The school will be held in the Latter Day Saints College, Hamilton, from December 23 to January 9 at a cost of more than £l5OO. The nominations close with the national secretary (Mr B. O’Neill) on October 20. Two graded alternatives can be submitted as well in case the full number of nominations allowed are not received. Centres are also invited to send amateur coaches to observe the school. The maximum number in this case is 12. The cost to each swimmer is £34, of which the association will find £l5. No senior swimmer will be admitted to the school which is for juniors and intermediates only. The chief coach will be the Hamilton professional who formerly trained Miss Marion Roe, Mr R. B. Frankham. # * University Tennis The University tennis club in Wellington is in danger of losing its identity temporarily. For about a year it will have no courts when the new student union building is built on the present courts and it has to wait for new, ones on a new fllled-in area in Kelburn. It is possible that the players will have to be absorbed into other clubs for a time. saw N.S.W. Tennis Titles If present negotiations are suecessful, seven overseas countries will be represented at the New South Wales tennis championships which start at White City, on November 20. Players from the United States, Italy, the Philippines, Sweden, Brazil, South Africa and Spain may compete in the titles. Three countries, Italy, the Philippines and the United States will have their Davis Cup teams in Australia preparing for the inter-zone finals. The winner will play Australia in the challenge round in Brisbane on December 29, 30, and 31. ❖ $ « Surf Club’s Trip A new venture in surf life saving will be made this season if the Maranui (Wellington) Club’s proposed Australian tour by senior and junior teams is made. The dates of the proposed visit are not definite yet, but the club has made formal application to the New Zealand Surf Council for permission to travel. One of the strongest clubs in New Zealand, it has been busy during the last 12 months raising the necessary finance.