League shield challenge likely to be declined

Press, 14 August 1980, Page 30

League shield challenge likely to be declined

By JOHN COFFEY Eastern Suburbs is unlikely to accept its invitation to represent Canterbury in the annual Thacker Shield challenge against the West Coast rugby league club champion, Runanga, at Greymouth on September 14. The club’s president (Mr R. Franklin) said yesterday that Eastern would not be available on that week-end because it conflicted with its annual end-of-season function.

Other mitigating circumstances have also been taken into account by the club’s emergency committee in making its decision. Eastern was most disenchanted after it was beaten, 10-6, by Runanga in the corresponding game last year. Its officials were critical of the refereeing of Mr Peter McKenzie, of the West Coast, and believed that considerable expense had been outlaid for no return. The choice of Eastern — which was the co-winner of the Canterbury premiership with Marist-Westem Suburbs — was made by the provincial board of control on Monday evening. Eastern had a superior points differential to Marist.

By doing so, the board invoked a new rule brought in at the last annual meeting. In previous years Canterbury has been represented by the championship winner, but the change was made to enable the successful club a longer time to prepare for

its challenge or defence.' Ironically, there would have been no tight dead-line this season, for the championship grand final has been set for August 31, 'two weeks before the shield fixture. The challenger could even be eliminated as early as the preliminary final on August 24. The board of. control, when choosing Eastern added a rider that Marist would be the substitute if Eastern was not able to travel to Greymouth. Marist’s coach, John Flanagan, confirmed yesterday that his side would be available.

Although Eastern has left some room for negotiation, Mr Franklin said that, in fairness to players in all of Eastern’s grades, -it could not change its presentation evening arrangements and accept September 14. - “The financial aspect also comes into it. We lost about $BOO last season to go over there and see a local referee rule out what would have been a winning try to us and then salute the home crowd as he left the field. It was very biased refereeing, but we realise that the West Coast league is the only body that can appoint a neutral official,” Mr Franklin said.

Any request for a new date is likely to fall on deaf ears. The New Zealand trial is at Auckland the previous week-end and Runanga has three players, Chris Menzies, Bernie Green and Ray Baxendale, involved.