Sportsman’s Notebook MARIST LEAGUE CLUB MAY LOSE POINTS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29233, 17 June 1960, Page 7

Sportsman’s Notebook MARIST LEAGUE CLUB MAY LOSE POINTS

The. Australian Rugby League player, E. Barnett, may unwittingly be the cause of the Marist side losing four of its six senior competition points because of an administration oversight. Advice received by "The Press” from Auckland discloses that Barnett, who crossed from Australia to play for the Richmond club in Auckland, has not obtained a clearance from Richmond to play in Canterbury. He has played six matches for Marist, two of which were won.

Mr L. R. Huston, chairman of the Canterbury Rugby League, has said that if it could be proved that Barnett was still affiliated to an Auckland club, the whole matter would have to be investigated. There was also a strong possibility that Marist would lose the four championship points gained while Barnett was playing, if it was proved that he was playing out of order. The secretary of the Richmond club (Mr J. Renwick), has confirmed that Barnett was still a member of his club. “No approach was made to us, either by the Marist club or Barnett himself,” he said. Had Barnett applied for a clearance before leaving for Christchurch He would in all probability have been granted one, said Mr Renwick. He thought the Marist club was aware of its error all the time.

“That is quite wrong,” said the former Kiwi captain (Mr P. A. Smith), president of the Marist club, when this matter was referred to him. “The Marist club knew nothing of any of Barnett’s Auckland commitments until very recently. When he joined the Marist club he signed the ordinary registration form. Recently, however, I learned that he might have a commitment to Richmond and I advised him to write to the club to clarify the matter. I do not know if he has done this," said Mr Smith, * S * Water Polo Benefit

To supplement its touring fund the Canterbury Water Polo Board, with the co-operation of iceskaters and officials, has organised an ice show at the Centaurus road rink for Sunday afternoon. Demonstrations will be given by a number of New Zealand iceskating titleholders, including the national champions in junior figure skating, senior pairs, men’s

figure and freestyle, dancing and women's solo event. An icehockey match, the first to be played in Christchurch for two seasons, will be held' between New Zealand-born players and a team from overseas. Money raised will assist Canterbury water polo players to travel to Auckland next season for the national championships, and will also assist in building up a fund for the next tour of Australia by a New Zealand team. * * « Hope Gibbons Cycling Teams from the Avon, Papanui, and Timaru clubs will compete in the 25-mile race for the Hope Gibbons Shield on Saturday. The race will be held over an out-and-home course from Halswell to Little River, and the winning team will go to Levin on July 2 to compete in the national Hope Gibbons event. The event is virtually a time trial, with the teams going away at three minute intervals. Among the leading provincial riders taking part will be D. Wood and N Stuart (Avon), and C. Hibberd and J. Collings (Papanui), and the result should lie between these two teams.