THE RUGBY LADDER

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29222, 4 June 1960, Page 5

THE RUGBY LADDER

In reaching the top of the senior Rugby championship ladder this season, Linwood has played five of the six teams expected to do best in the senior competition, and on recent form only Sydenham appears likely to beat the leader before the end of the first round. If Linwood can survive this match, it has an excellent prospect of winning the championship. Hard Games Sydenham, as well as having to play Linwood, must still meet such other strong teams as Christchurch and Technical-Shirley. Christchurch, to whom Linwood suffered its only ’loss in the first six games, is another which has some hard games behind it and, apart from Sydenham, only Old Boys would seem to have a chance of beating it. Christchurch however, will be weakened by the absence of four of its players who are to tour the West Coast this week-end, and it is also likely that several will be required the next Saturday for the Canterbury team which is to play New Zealand Universities on its return from Australia. Marist, Merivaie, TechnicalShirley and University, four other teams which are not so far behind Linwood, all have some hard matches ahead of them. University has been hard hit this season by the demands of two overseas touring teams, but after next Saturday week should be at near full-strength again. It cannot, however, afford another loss on either of those two Saturdays when its team will be weakened even further by the loss of players to the representative team