SIDELINES

Press, 6 May 1983, Page 8

SIDELINES

SOME OF THE Christchurch senior rugby clubs need to look to their public relations. Five sides were not listed on the teams’ sheet which the C.R.F.U. gave away last Saturday, and two of them were playing at the bestattended ground, Rugby Park. The union’s secretary, Dawson Cunningham, says that all clubs have been asked to supply him with their team lists by Thursday morning, but some will not make the effort. He is not too impressed, either, with one coach who told him to “print the same team every week.”

THE LAST event for the season on the Canterbury Endurance Riders’ Club’s programme will be held tomorrow at Woodstock Downs, Oxford. A number of riders from other centres are expected to take part in the Johnnie Walker endurance ride which will cover 80km in the open section and 40km in the intermediate grade. Last year’s champion, “Digger” Hodgkinson, of Motueka, and Geoff Harrington, of Waiau, will provide stern competition for the successful Canterbury club trio of Barbara Fisher, Harvey Hay and Kevin James. The club has had an eventful and full season, with many 35km trail rides at Spencerville, Bottle Lake plantation. Little River, Halswell and Oxford.

FRANK CREIGHTON, that indefatigable promoter and sustainer of the "touch tens” style of rugby, is cock o’ hoop about the introduction of a national tournament in this growing branch of the game. It is proposed to hold the event in Christchurch at Labour week-end, and a fun run and other athletic activities using the facilities at Hagley Park are planned. As many as 1000 brochures heralding the tournament are to be distributed, and teams from Australia might be among the participants.

ADRIAN SHELFORD, one of Canterbury's most promising rugby league forwards, will be taking part in trials to select two national teams later this month. His first commitment is the New Zealand under 19 coaching school and trial at Hamilton between May 15 and 20. After that, Shelford is to join up with the South Island Maori squad for the trials to select the sides to meet Auckland and the British club, Hull, and to embark on a tour of Britain next (southern) spring. Shelford was a member of the New Zealand 17-years team in 1981 and last winter toured Papua New Guinea with the Junior Kiwis.