Fall In Junior Rugby Teams Due To One Club

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30388, 12 March 1964, Page 17

Fall In Junior Rugby Teams Due To One Club

Mr J. O. Hattersley attributed the fall of team numbers from 203 in 1962 to 181 in 1963 to the decision of one club not to enter any under five stone grade teams when he presented his report to the annual meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union’s Junior Advisory Board last evening. He said that there had been an increase in the number of under-age teams.

Mr Hattersley said that it was the attitude of the union to get as many players and as many teams as possible. In his opinion the club made an error in dropping its under five stone teams.

Mr Hattersley said that 21 representative matches had been played for 13 wins, seven losses and one draw. The rise in strength of the country sub-unions was good to see and that the improvement extended to the senior grade. Mr Hattersley said that more support was needed for the schoolboys' enclosure at Lancaster Park for international matches. He asked the delegates to do their part and sell the tickets to the boys. The delegates decided to recommend to the Junior Advisory Board to abolish th seven-a-side tournaments It was decided that several games tai a short time were too tiring for the younger players. A recommendation that

new age cards with a wam-i-g concerning over-age players was carried unanimously. The warning will state that anv player who is over ate will be stood down, that th" team will lose all points, and that all cards must be in before a team can take the field.

An earlier motion that birth certificates replace age cards was lost. Mr Hattersley said that there had been little trouble until last year. Another delegate said that he had proof that in one grade last season 10 of the 13 teams contained over-age boys and that three teams continued to play these boys after a warning had been issued. New Grades The delegates recommended that under 11 and under 13 grades be set up if enough entries are received. These grades will cater for the younger players who have to play in a high grade because of their weight. It was decided that the under five stone grade will be for players of 10 years of age and under. A motion that grades be limited to 10 teams was heavily defeated. The following management committee was elee'ed: Messrs J. Coleman. J. Ditford. G. Booth, J. Burrows, B. Rudkin. S. Husband, O Noonan, C. Roberts. E Ormandy, C. Hoe, J. Torrence, W. Cowles, and G. Couch.