RUGBY RECORD ENTRY, 269 TEAMS, IN UNION COMPETITIONS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28870, 15 April 1959, Page 6

RUGBY RECORD ENTRY, 269 TEAMS, IN UNION COMPETITIONS

There was a record entry of 269 teams in the Canterbury Rugby Union’s competitions, which will open on Saturday, the convenor of the competitions committee (Mr J. Storey) told the management committee of the union last evening. This was an increase of 30 over last year, Mr Storey said. Most of the increases were in the underweight grades, but there was an increase of 12 teams from the under 17 grade up. The most notable increase was in the third grade, where there were 10 teams as against seven last year. Mr Storey drew the committee’s attention to the shortage of referees, especially for the opening round. On Saturday there were six referees controlling three games each, Mr Storey said, and 30 referees had two games each. In view of the number of teams the draw was going to be somewhat of a headache, particularly on wet Saturdays. It looked as if they might have to stop junior football on the days of representative fixtures.

The chairman (Mr H. C. Blazey) said that there had been a record entry each year for some years now. It certainly increased the oroblem, but the union was there to provide football and the problem would soon be solved. Later in the meeting Mr B. J Drake referred to the shortage of referees, and said that it had been the experience in the past to give referees two games in the morning to ease the situation. So far the referees’ association had had an unusual number of applications, including a few 18 years old. Because of the association’s policy in preferring older referees they had been asked to come back in a few years. Mr Drake said that they preferred applicants to be over 25

although in some cases applicants over 21 had been accepted. Mr Drake said he was concerned with the grave shortage on Saturday and he asked Mr Storey if he was using all the new referees. Mr Storey said all the new ones were being used, but a few of the experienced referees were not available.

SATURDAY’S DRAW

Postponements will be announced over 3YA at approximately 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Senior.—Alb v. Syd, LP Sth, 3 p.m.; Lin v HSOB, Rugby Pk, 3 p.m.; Mar v. Chch, LP oval, 3 p.m.; Meri v. Belf, Belf No. 1, 3 p.m.; New Bri v. Vars, Raw No. 1, 3 p?m.; S Sprey v. Tech 08. Sunny, 2.30 p.m.

Senior Reserve.—Chch v. Teachers’ Coll, Elm, 3 p.m.; Tech v. Vars B, Enr rd, 3 p.m.; HSOB v. Mar, Barr Pk, 3 pan.; RNZAF v. Vars A, Lane Pk oval, 1.30 p.m.; Lin v. Kai a. Kaia : 2.30 p.m.

Junior A.—Vars v. Meri A. Nth Pk 1, 1.30 p.m.; Chch v. HSOB, Sth Pk 20, 3 p.m.; Vars B v. S/Sprey, Sprey, 3 p.m.; Lin v. New Bri, Brom Pk 2, 3 p.m. Junior B.—Vars C v. Meri, Nth Pk 2, 1.30 p.m.; Belf v. Lytt, Sth Pk 22 3 p.m.; Chch v. Syd, Lane Pk Sth, 1.30 p.m.; Vars D (bye); Alb v. Mar, Sth P 14.

Under 20 Grade.—St. And v. Tech, St. And No. 1, 3 p.m.; Ch Col v. Lin C Col, 3 p.m.; St. Bede’s v. Vars A, St B, 3 p.m.; BHS v. S/Sprey, Str rd 1, 3 p.m.; Mar v. Vars B, Bur 2, 3 p.m.; New Bri v. Chch, Burwood No, 1, 3 p.m.; Alb v. Syd, Wai 2, 3 p.■*!.; HSOB v. Xav, Rugby Pk, 1.30 p.m. Third Grade.- Chch v. Var D, Sth Pk 23. 3 p.m.; \ rs A v. Tech, Nth Pk 9, 3 p.m.; KN. XF v. Tech Col, Wigram, 3 p.m.; Vt C v. Mar, Nth Pk 4. 3 p.m.; Vars B /. HSOB, St Al, 3 p.m. Fourth Grade.—Alb v. Lin, Sth Pk 19, 3 p.m.; Burn v. Teachers’ Col, Burnside 1, 3 p.m.; Chch v. Lytt, Lyttelton, 3 p.m.; Sumner (bye). Second Schools’ Grade.—Christs Coll v. BHS B, Ch Coll, 1.30 p.m.; Cashmere H v. St. And, St. And, 1.30 p.m., West H v. Xav C, Sth Pk 14. 1.30 p.m.; St. Bede’s v. Lin, St. B, 1.30 pan.; Papanui H v. Rangiora H. Papanui HS, 1.30 p.m.; Chch Tech v BHS A, Stra rd 1. 130 p.m. Under 18 Grade.—Alb v. New Bri, Beck Pk, 3 p.m.; Bel v. Syd, Nth Pk 2, 3 p.m.; S/Sprey v. Mar, Sth Pk 18, 3 p.m.; Burn v. Met, Burnside 2, 3 p.m.; ?hch Maoris v. HSOB, Nth Pk 7, 3 p.m.; Chch v. Lin, Bromley Pk 2, 1.30 p.m. Under 17 Grade.—Alb v. Mar, Sth Pk 16, 3 p.m.; HSOB A v. Syd, Syd Pk, 3 p.m.; Kai v. Pap HSOB, Kai 2, 2.30 p.m.; HSOB B v. Tech, Ensors rd, 1.30 p.m.; Hor v. Mer, Hornby, 3 p.m.; Lin (bye). „ Under 16 Grade, A Section.—HSOß A v. Syd. Waltham Pk, 3 p.m.; Lin A v. Mar B, Nth Pk 11, 3 p.m.; Mar A v. Chch, Sth Pk 17, 3 p.m.; Shirl BHS A v. Mer, Shirl BHS 2, 3 p.m.; S/Sprey v. New Bri, Raw, 1.30 p.m. Under 16 Grade. B Section.—Chch Tech v. Rice HS, Rice HS, 3 p.m.; HSOB B v. Shir BHS B, Shir BHS. 3 p.m.; Lin B v Rang HS. Rang- 2.30 p.m.; Mar C v. Pap HSOB, St. James Pk 3 p.m.; Lyt v. Bel. Nth Pk 3. 3 p.m. Under B>t 71b Grade, Preliminary Round.—Alb v. Mar B. Sth Pk 16, 1.30 p.m.; Chch v. Syd. Sth Pk 17. 1.30 p.m.; HSOB v. S/Sprey. Sth Pk 18. 1.30 p.m.; Hor v. Shir BHS. Sth Pk. 19, 1.30 p.m.; Lin v. Pap HSOB. Sth Pk 20, 1.30 p.m.; Mar A v. Mer. Sth Pk 21, 1.30 p.m. Under 7st 71b Grade, Preliminary Round.—Burn A v. Pap HSOB, Nth Pk 6, 1.30 p.m.; Chch A v. HSOB. Nth Pk 7, 1.30 p.m.; Lin A v. S/Sprey. Nth Pk 8, 1.30 p.m.; Mar A v. Mer, Nth Pk 9. 1.30 p.m.; Shir BHS A v. Kai, Nth Pk 10, 1.30 p.m.; Burn B v. Chch Tech, Nth Pk 11. 1.30 p m ; Chch B v. Hor. Nth Pk 12, 1.30 p.m.; Lin B v. Syd, Nth Pk 13, 1.30 p m ; Mar B v. New Bri, Nth Pk 12, 3 p.m.; Shir BHS B v. Tech Old Bovs. Nth Pk 13, 3 p.m. Under 6st 71b Grade, Preliminary Round. —Alb v. Bel, Sth Pk 16, 11 a.m.; Burn v. Cath Grammar. Burnside 5, 11 a.m.; Chch v. Lin A Sth Pk 17, 11 a.in.; Hor v. Lyt, Sth Pk 18, 11 a.m.; Lin B v. Mar B. Sth Pk 19, 11 a.m.; Mar A v. Mer A, Sth Pk 20, 11 a.m.; Mer B v. Sum. Sth Pk 21, 11 a.m.; New Bri v. Shir BHS. Sth Pk 22, 11 a.m.; S/Sprey v. Syd, Sth Pk 23, 11 a.m.; Tech Old Boys <b Under 6st Grade (Preliminary Round).—Burn A v. Chch A, Burn 1. 10 a.m.: Burn B v. Chch B, Burn 2. 10 a.m.; Hornby v. Kaia. Burn 3. 10 a.m.; Lin A v. Mar A, Burn 4. 10 a.m.: Lin B v. Mar B, Burn 5. 10 a m.; Lytt v. Mer A. Waltham Pk 1, 10 a.m.; Mar C v. Mer B. Burn 1. 11 a.m.; New Br v. Shirley BHS Burn 2. 11 a.m.; S/Sprey A v. Syd A. Burn 3. 11 a.m.; S/Sprey B v Tech 08, Burn 4. 11 a.m.: Syd B. bye. Under sst 71b Grade (Preliminary Round).—Albion v. Belf, Nth Pk 1, 11 a.m.; Cath Grammar v. Hornby A, Nth Pk 2. 11 a.m.; Chch A v Mar (Brynd), Nth Pk 3, 11 a.m.; Mar (Add.) v. Lin A. Nth Pk 4. 11 a.m.: Mar (Dall) v Mer B. Nth Pk 6. 11 a.m.: New Br v. Sumner. Nth Pk 7. 11 a.m.; Syd A v. Mar A. Nth Pk 8. 11 a.m.; Lin B v. Tech OB Nth Pk 9. 11 a.m.; Burn A v. S/Sprey. Nth Pk 10. 11 a.m.: Mar (Rice) v. Mer A. Nth Pk 11, 11 a.m.; Mar (Sockburn) v Chch B. Nth Pk 12, 11 a.m.; Mar (St Mary’s) v. Burn B, Nth Pk 13. 11 a.m.; Syd B v. Hornby B, Sth Pk 14, 11 a.m.

Under sst Grade (Preliminary Round).—Burn A v. Mer A, Nth Pk 1 10 a.m.; Alb A v. Syd A. Nth Pk 2. 10 a.m.; Kaia v Chch A, Nth Pk 3, 10 a.m.; S/Sprey A v. Hornby A, Nth Pk 4, 10 a.m.; New Br A v Cath Grammar A. Nth Pk 6, 10 a.m.; Mar A v. Lytt A, Nth Pk 7, 10 a.m.: Belf v. Lin A, Nth Pk 8. 10 a.m.; Mar (Brynd) v. Tech OB A. Nth Pk 9 10 a.m.; Burn B v. Mer B. Nth Pk 10. 10 a.m.; Mar (Rice) v. Svd B. Nth Pk 11, 10 a.m.; Mar (St. Albans) v. Chch B Nth Pk 12. 10 a.m.; Lin B v Cath Grammar B. Nth Pk 13. 1 oa.m.; Alb B v. Lytt B. Sth Pk 14. 10 a.m.; Mar (St. Mary’s) v. Sumner. Sth Pk 16. 10 a.m.; Mar (Add) v Tech OB B Sth Pk 17. 10 a.m.; Mar (Dall.) v. S/Sprey B, Sth Pk 18. 10 a.m.: Hornbv B v. New Br B. Sth Pk 19. 10 a.m.; Syd C v. S/Sprev C. •=th Pk 20. 10 a.m.; Burn C v. Mer C. Sth Pk 21. 10 a.m.; Burn D v. Mer D ’th Pk 22. 10 a.m.: Hornbv C v. Chch C, Sth Pk 23. 10 a.m.: New Br C v Lin C. Burwood 10 a.m.

Please watch Saturday’s "Press" and Friday’s "Star” for alterations to this draw.