Senior rugby under way

Press, 28 March 1979, Page 38

Senior rugby under way

New Brighton and Belfast, the two teams which won trophies at the end of last winter, will meet in the first round of the senior rugby competition, for the C.S.B. Cup on Saturday week. New Brighton sprung the surprise of last season by winning the premier C.S.B. Trophy, while Belfast, for the third time in four years, won the D.C.L. Shield, a competition for the 12 teams below the top four that play off for the C.S.B. Trophy. As is customary, Lancaster Park oval will be left a few weeks before it is used for club rugby. New Brighton and Belfast will meet in the main game at Rugby Park, Marist and Christchurch providing the cur-tain-raiser.

The other games of the first round, all beginning at 2.45 p.m., are Albion v. Lincoln College, Middleton Park; University A v. Sydenham. Sydenham Park; University B v. Suburbs, Ham; Burnside v. Merivale-Pa-panui, Denton Oval; Hornby v. Linwood,. Linfield Park; Shirley v. High School Old Boys, Lancaster Park South.

The Canterbury Rugby Union has also announced the full draw for the first round of night games, which begin on April 11. This year there will be two games, not just the one of previous years, at Denton Park each

Wednesday night in the early part of the season. By announcing the night draw well in advance, the union hopes to eliminate the problems that have arisen through clubs not having enough prior notice. The night-round draw is:—

April 11, Hornby v. Shirley and Christchurch v. Suburbs; April 18, Burnside v. Sydenham and Albion v. Marist; May 2, Linwood v. Merivale-Papanui and Belfast v. University A; May 9, University B v. High School Old Boys and Lincoln College v. New Brighton. In each case the first game will begin at 6.15 p.m. and the second at 7.45 p.m. If bad weather should force the postponement of night games, those games will be played on the first Wednesday night after the scheduled completion of the night round.

The president of the Canterbury union, Mr R. W. Thomas, said yesterday that while most season ticketholders had exercised their right to rebook seats, any unsold season tickets would be available for public sale as from tomorrow. “With the visits of the French and Queensland sides to Christchurch this year, the early indications are that the demand for seats will be heavy,” said Mr Thomas.