Linwood fails to change draw

Press, 27 July 1988, Page 64

Linwood fails to change draw

Linwood’s repeated attempts to persuade the Canterbury Rugby Union to switch the semi-finals of the senior club competition away from August 7, because of the Canterbury v. North Harbour clash the previous day, have failed. In its third letter to the union, the Linwood club suggested the semi-finals be played under lights on

August 3 in fairness to all clubs. However, the convener of the competition committee, Craig Sullivan, informed the union’s management committee last evening that a Town XV was to meet Ellesmere that day. It was resolved to leave the draw unchanged.

Neil Blanchfield said that most of the commit-

tee members had heard comments about the date for the semi-finals. “It is a hotly debated question. Linwood could lose four players and that could be difficult leading up to a possible final with so many players out.” “The draw was put out a considerable time ago and it is unfortunate that we are only getting these types of comment now,”

said the chairman, Les Russell. “I know there are problems with it. But how much can we ask players to do,” questioned Mr Sullivan. “Let’s hope that the same problem doesn’t turn up again in future years. Sometimes I think clubs wait to see how many representative players they’ve got before doing anything about it,”