Warning Against Complacency

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31628, 14 March 1968, Page 15

Warning Against Complacency

A warning against complacency in the strength of Country Rugby was sounded by the chairman (Mr M. R. Barnett) at yesterday afternoon’s annual general meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Sub-Unions’ Association.

“We should all take a look at country Rugby,” said Mr Barnett. “Last year, our senior team may not have performed as well as some of us hoped for, but still performed creditably. Not all in the garden Is rosy however, and strength throughout the lower grades is needed.” Mr Barnett also felt the association should “speak strongly” to the Canterbury Rugby Union on Country Day.

The Country Day was last year moved forward to the Queen's Birthday week-end which meant a loss of local gate money to the sub-unions. “The Canterbury Rugby Union has had a hard season.” said Mr Barnett, “but we must let them know that we cannot operate on the sum of money they gave us this year. We rely solely on money from the C.R.U. for our finances.”

'. Under-20 Shield.—The meeting approved a change of rules for the Munro Shield (under-20) competition. A notice of motion, finally passfed. was that players in these games should have been un-der-20 on April 1. and shall not have played senior representative Rugby. The unsuccessful amendment was that the age limit should be under--19.

Selectors.—lt was decided to appoint two selectors to feach representative team, with the exception of the Colts side, which will be chosen by three. Sub-union matches will be played, in the form of trials, in May.

Second Attempt—Another effort by the Hurunui union to have the Southbridge .Shield (senior representative matches between sub-unions) contested on a challenge basis

failed. The Hurunui’s delegates said a challenge system would create greater interest as there were now only three sub-unions. Opponents of the notice of motion claimed weak sub-unions would not have home matches.