Students To Discuss Senior League Status

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32367, 5 August 1970, Page 11

Students To Discuss Senior League Status

A meeting between officials of the University Rugby League Club and members of the Canterbury board of control on August 17 may mark the first step towards the promotion of a university team to the senior grade.

Patrick became the first university player to win New Zealand honours when he played in the first test against Australia last season and he regained selection for the first international against Britain at Auckland a month ago. His Otago University ciub-mate, Toleafoa, was forced to withdraw from the New Zealand under-23 tour of Australia last year.

However, the club’s president (Mr E. G. Blazey), said yesterday that the theme of the meeting would be university’s future in the code rather than a specific discussion on possible senior grading. “I do not think we are quite ready for the senior grade but we could be next year. We want to know what the board expects of us and what would happen if we did apply” Loss Of Players

The movement of players between universities in the course of their studies makes it impossible for club officials to evaluate accurately the potential strength of their first XIII from one season to the next.

“We lost about five players during the last off-season but their replacements were good

enough to improve the side. “There is no doubt that if We will probably lose another we did prove strong enough three later this year but for for promotion we would gain all we know Trevor Patrick more players from the univerand Tola Toleafoa might sity and probably students transfer here,” Mr Blazey now playing with other said. clubs,” said Mr Blazey.

University entered a team in the Canterbury Rugby League’s competitions for the first time last season. It performed most creditably but was forced to defaut from the major championship preliminary final because of its inter-university winter tournament commitments. This year, two teams were entered in the grade.

Mr Blazey said that a major requirement to be met would be victory in the second division championship. At present, University leads Papanui by two points in the competition and is assured of a place in the major championship semi-finals.

Relegation Match The league’s constitution gives the board of control full jurisdiction over the composition of the premier grade. It appears most improbable that two teams would be pro moted—as Addington and Kaiapoi were in 1964 —because the other junior clubs, Riccarton, Woolston, Halsweli and Shirley, have little or no chance of contending the second division grand final. 'The most appealing alternative, should University con sider itself worthy of elevation next year, would be a promotion-relegation match against the lowest senior team before the start of the season proper.

However, there would be much sentiment about the possible fate of University’s opponent. At present, Christ-church-Eastern Suburbs trails Kaiapoi and Sydenham by two points. Sydenham is the only club to have participated in every senior championship since the code’s inauguration in Canterbury in 1913; Kaiapoi has improved considerably after not having won a game in 1969; and ChristchurchEastern Suburbs has recorded wins against Kaiapoi (twice, with a draw in their other meeting) and Sydenham during the season. All three have larger playing strengths than University.