Union will publish full rugby draw

Press, 25 February 1981, Page 6

Union will publish full rugby draw

A win, a loss and a draw — that was about how the rugbv I clubs of Christchurch fared (When recommendations they | made to last week’s annual meeting of the Canterbury union [were considered by the union’s management committee last evening.

The victory was in getting the union to publish before the first round of the C.S.B. Cup series the draw for the full 15 rounds. This was clearly approved on voices, although there were at least two abstentions. The first speaker was the chairman of the match committee,-Mr W. A. Russell’. who has been, a strong opponent in the past of releasing the full draw. ' -

He said, that he still .feared the effect on gates :.if one team got away to a commanding lead and he wondered whether,'the clubs had really .thought this matter through;-However, he was willing to give publication a try in view of the majority, support it had front the. clubs.

The recommendation which the committee turned down was one

seeking a delay from the previously determined starting date 4 for the senior A eoni-

The question was diseuased at some length, the majority viewbeing that with no free Saturdays available during the season and with Anzac Day being a Saturday this year there was no alternative but to stick to April

I was felt by some that a delay of would make little difference to ground condi. tions — hard grounds being one of the reasons put forward for. a later start — and nor was it felt that rugby was out of step with other winter sports in beginning too early. A third recommendation was for the free movement of players within a club between the- eenior A and senior B grades. Some members believed the rule* in this regard were flexible endugh, but on the suggestion of the chairman, Mr B. J. Drake, ths question wa, passed over to bbe permit-and rules sub-committee for closer study.