SYDENHAM PROTEST

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31763, 21 August 1968, Page 14

SYDENHAM PROTEST

Explanation Sought

A protest by the Sydenham Rugby club against the playing of R. Sommerville by the University B team in a D.C.L. Shield game last Saturday will be referred to the University club for an explanation.

This was decided by the management committee of the, Canterbury Rugby Union last evening. Sommerville is the regular half-back of the University A team.

In a letter to the union, the University club 'said it had been forced to play Sommerville in the B team because the regular half-back, M. T. Brown, was appearing for Canterbury B that day, the senior reserve half-back was injured, and the next four half-backs in the club were out of town. The letter was written on the day before the game against Sydenham. University B won the match, 16-11.

Mr C. L. Rhodes said the committee had decided last season that once a player had made one appearance for the A team he was committed to play for that side for the rest of the season. This decision had been made in 1964, but it was not in the rule book, said Mr B. J. Drake. The committee supported a motion by Mr D. B. Doake that the matter should be dealt with next week, and the University club should be asked for an explanation. Mr R. W. T. Thomas asked the permit committee to bring the appropriate rule before the management committee at that time.

Resignation.—Mr R. O. McDowell (Shirley Boys High School) resigned as secondary schools’ representative on the management committee. He has been appointed principal of Ashburton College. His replacement on the committee will be Mr W. T. McKeown (Christchurch Boys’ High School).