Clubs Disagree On Player’s Clearance

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31678, 14 May 1968, Page 18

Clubs Disagree On Player’s Clearance

The Sydenham club had been told that Shirley would not grant R. G. Scoringe a clearance to play for any other club and it decided to “force Shirley’s hand by arranging for him to play for our senior team,” the Sydenham secretary (Mr J. S. C. Heaney) told the Canterbury Rugby league board of control last evening.

Mr Heaney said that his club had written to Shirley seeking a clearance, but “when no reply was received inquiries were made and Scoringe was told verbally by, I believe, his last year’s coach, that he was going to play for Shirley and nobody else.

“This situation appeared to me to be tantamount to dictatorship and, as I could see no reason for Shirley to refuse the transfer, I contacted the board’s secretary (Mr D G Gaynor).”

After Mr Gaynor had informed Sydenham that the emergency committee had decided to leave the matter to the full board, Mr Heaney said that his club decided to play Scoringe and N. G. Mattison, another Shirley player. Slay Lose Pointe

The chairman (Mr D. C. Wilson) said that he had informed the Sydenham club that it would lose any competition points that it gained by playing Scoringe and Mattison. He said that the players required a clearance and

that the onus of arranging these rested on the club's shoulders. Mr J. Anderson said he understood that the matter would be settled before the next round. In his letter Mr Heaney refuted allegations that hit club had "poached” players from the Shirley club. "This has never been our Intention, but we would be foolish to turn away the services of a good young player asking for membership." Referring to Mattison, Mr Heaney said he had understood that a transfer was not necessary when a player had not played Rugby league for 12 months. He said that he understood the board had agreed to the clearance and that he was not advised to the contrary by the registrar. A letter from Scoringe to the board was ruled out of order. He said that he wished to apply for re-instatement and that he had played only one game for Shirley last season, when his Rugby Union team. Mairehau, had a bye. He said that he now wished to play senior football tor Sydenham. When the applications for membership were received for the two players, the board decided to hold them over until clearances had been arranged by Sydenham and Shirley.

Players Suspended Two senior second division players, T. B. Kennedy (MaristWestern Suburbs) and B. Venus (Papanui), were suspended until they appear before the board's judiciary committee next Monday evening. Mr J. Anderson reported that Kennedy and Venus had not been able to attend last evening because of business commitments. Kennedy was ordered off for abusing the referee and Venus for fighting on Saturday.

Training Squad The Canterbury selectors (Messrs E. Butts, D. L. Blanchard and W. F. McNaughtan) announced the following squad: C. R. Schwass (Papanui), B. Tager (Hornby), R. Andrews (Sydenham), R. L. Lanauze (Addington), B. L. Williams (Kaiapoi). L. P. J. Brown (MarlstWestern Suburbs), B. W. Langton (Hornby), G. R. Cooksley (Eastern Suburbs), R. Walker (Papanui), J. L. White (Addington), A. F. McNaughtan (Addington), M. H. Mohi (MarlstWestern Suburbs), A. W. Thompson (Papanui), R. Cotter (Addington), B. L. Gillman (Addington), E. Bennett (Eastern Suburbs), K. Neiman (Hornby), W. P. Noonan (Linwood).

Training Show Grounds, Wednesday, 5.30 p.m. Any player not available, ring Mr Butts. 519-175.