Larger premier league competition likely

Press, 1 December 1987, Page 56

Larger premier league competition likely

By JOHN COFFEY As many as 12 teams might participate in the Canterbury rugby league premier competition during the first half of the 1988 season. A recommendation to that effect was presented by the Canterbury board of control to the annual senior officers’, conference last week-end. The board Is expected to decide on the format later this month. The nine clubs which now have premier status, and any junior clubs, can qualify for the top grade by being able to field premier reserve and two age-grade (23-years, 19years, or 17-y6ars) teams in addition to their first XIII. Mr lan Jenkins, the board’s chairman, said the expectation was for a 12-aside roundrobin taking in the first 11 weeks of the season. At that point clubs would be divided into two groups of six for two more rounds before the top

four contested the championship play-offs. Clubs which started in the premier grade in March and then failed to fulfil the qualifications when other grades began some weeks later would be subjected to a fine of “about $800,” said Mr Jenkins. An advantage of the expanded competition was the “taking away of any need for promotion-relegation." The board, however, would reserve the right of entry if more than 12 entries were received. While acknowledging that the New Zealand Rugby League had recommended Canterbury have eight premier clubs in a review of the sport throughout New Zealand, Mr Jenkins said his board did not intend to implement its parent body’s sugges-

tion. To criticisms from some sources that a bigger premier grade enabled clubs to adopt a complacent attitude and risked a further lowering of standards, Mr Jenkins said “that has yet to be seen." ' “The board has to make the decision and will be in the not unfamiliar position of having to stand Or fall by it,” he said. Other observations made by Mr Jenkins after the meeting of provincial and club administrators were: Regular Sunday club football — “still opposition from some clubs, rather than strong opposition from all clubs.” 23-years grade: “eight of the nine premier clubs indicated they could field teams. A 23-year grade would be given priority over the pre-

sent third grade.” _ \ Clash of commitments: the board of control’s remit preventing Canterbury representatives appearing for their clubs might, if necessary, be modified from three to two “whole days” before the representative match. Use of video evidence at judiciary hearings: a Hornby proposal that the board pui> chase equipment would not be practical, said Mr Jenkins, because “one camera can only cover one incident from one angle In one game at a time." Similarly, not all clubs had video equipment, and some would be given an advantage. Transfer stand-down: Addington’s wish that the fourweek transfer suspension be abolished drew Utile support from other clubs.