Praise For Rugby

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31987, 14 May 1969, Page 18

Praise For Rugby

Praise for the standard of Rugby in the senior competl. tion this season was expressed by several members of the management committee ot the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening.

‘‘lt the teams can keep it up we will soon draw the crowds back to Lancaster Park,’’ said the chairman ot the competitions committee (Mr J. Storey).

There were some good games to come, and interest would be intensified when the competition was spilt into two sections, he said.

“The play at Lancaster Park last Saturday (between Suburbs and Lincoln College) was as good as any in the world,” said Mr J. A. Coleman. ’’The forward play was just terrific and the tackling magnificent. Suburbs was six inches away from the Lincoln line seven times In three minutes. A good tackle means as much as a good try.” Mr R. W. Thomas said the gate takings at Rugby Park showed a 40 per cent Increase on the same day last season—and conditions were Identical.

“Is it the klck-into-touch rule that is making the difference or Is it that coaches and players are doing the Job better?” asked the chairman (Mr C. H. McPhail).

Mr Thomas said a significant feature of the lower grade games this season was that boys who were starting Rugby in the under-weight grades under the ktck-lnto-touch rule were catching and passing the bail much better than the 16 and 17-year-old players.