Inter-Island League Matches Sought

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32076, 26 August 1969, Page 20

Inter-Island League Matches Sought

Seven remits, including one advocating the reintroduction of inter-island matches as annual fixtures, will be presented by the chairman of the Canterbury Rugby League Board of Control (Mr D. C. Wilson) to the national conference at Auckland on September 26-28. Members of the bosrd of control decided last evening again to support the interisland fixture, although a similar remit* was defeated at last year’s conference. Should the remit be adopted at the conference, the inter-island match would not necessarily replace the present annual match between Northern Zone and Southern Zone. Both matches would be played each season.

Two of the remits concerned age-group tournaments. Mr M. R. Clinton successfully suggested to the board that the matches In the 17-years national tournaments be of 80 minutes, not 60 as at present, and that set dates and cycles of venues be laid down for the 17 years and 19 years tournaments. Mr Clinton also put forward the remit that standard transfer and registration cards be provided by the New Zealand council for all leagues. Recommendations that the secretary of each leggue accomf>any the chairman, or the eague’s delegate, to annual conferences and that players be eligible for Kiwi blazers after

appearing in both matches of a two-test series were presented by Mr W. A. Whitehead and will be taken to the conference. At present a player qualifies for a New Zealand blazer after three home matches. Mr Wilson will also advocate that club players’ pastes do not gain admittance to any representatative match in any league in New Zealand. The only remit received from a club (MarietWestern Suburbs), that New Zealand Marist matches be regraded as firstclass games, was not supported by the board. Same Team The Canterbury team to meet Auckland in the final ot the New Zealand Inter-provincial tournament at Carlaw Park on Saturday will be the same as that which beat Waikato in the semi-final on August 16. The team Is:— B. Williams (ChristchurchEastern Suburbs); S. Wilks (Addington). S. Dunn (Papanui), B. W. Langton (Hornby). B. Bigwood (Papanui); R. S. J. Irvine (Marist-Western Suburbs), G. R. Cooksley (Christchurch-Eastern Suburbs); J. H. Fisher (Addington. captain). W. P. Noonan (Linwood). M. H. Mohl (MarlstWestern Suburbs); W. R. Robertson (Hornby). J. L. White (Addington): R. S. Walker (Papanull. Reserves: R. J. RaiStrick (Sydenham). R. J. A. MacKenzie (Marist • Western Suburbs). Training Show Grounds this evening. 7 p.m. —Advt No Match.—Because transport arrangements were not suitable it was decided to decline a request from Waikato that Canterbury play a representative match at Huntty on Sunday, the day after the Inter-provincial tournament final at Auckland.