Code loses schoolboys

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32633, 15 June 1971, Page 14

Code loses schoolboys

Canterbury Rugby league has lost 87 of its schoolboy players from last year’s 15 years grade. The schoolboys delegate to the Canterbury Rugby League management committee (Mr D. Kerr) told the meeting last evening that this year’s 17 years grsde had 87 fewer registrations than the 1970 IS years grade. "Several boys do not want to step up two years at ones snd I know of one boy who is now played under 16 Rugby union," Mr Kerr said. “A 16 yean grade might be the answer." The chairman of the executive (Mr M. R. Clinton) aaid It was a problem discussed every year. Inquiries revealed that only one club could have fielded teams In both the 16 years grade and the 17 years grade thia season. "We are not toeing the top boys," Mr Clinton said, “but ws still need the average boys to play against them.” Mr W. L Prendergast said that much of ths trouble was In the laxity of club administration of boys going through ths early grades.

REPRESENTATIVE TEAM The Canterbury senior second team to play Otago at Dunedin, on July 3 Is:— T. Rarati (Sydenham); M. Milan! (Riccarton), M. Cusack <Woolston). R. Taylor (HalaweU), T. Mahara (Papanul): R. McNlchol (Hornby vlca-capfaln), R. Tait (Papanul); M. Everlelgh (Hornby), R. Abercrombie (Unwood), B. Moore (Hornby); F. Endacott (Addington, captain), D. Barker (Shirley); W. Jeffs (Wooiston). Reserves: J. Wallace (Wooiston), F. Millward (Papanul). The manager is Mr D. C. WIN son.