RUGBY COMPETITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 7, 8 July 1931, Page 17

RUGBY COMPETITIONS

BACK TO OLD ORDER?

LIMIT ON ENTRIES

"I think that there is nothing more certain than'that next season there will be a reversion to the old order and a limit will be placed on the number of, senior teams," said the chairman, Mr. J. Prendoville, at the weekly meeting of the Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby. Union last night, when the matter of arranging tho draws for the five matches in the final round was again under consideration. The committee has found it no easy matter to draw up a schedule of matches which will be fair to all clubs, one of the difficulties to be faced being the possibility of one of the teams at present in the lower half of the points ladder finishing high up at the end of the season as the result of meeting only weak opposition in the concluding series. It was finally resolved to divide the senior A grade into two sections, while reserving the right to modify the scheme to enable teams at present in the lower section to be matched against the leading teams if necessary. ANOTHER SHIELD CHALLENGE. On 30th June the union received the following telegram from the Hawkes Bay Union:—"Hawkes Bay Rugby Union issue special challenge for Ranfurly Shield. Pleasa suggest convenient date, no objection to Wednesdays." When the matter, came before the committee last night the chairman referred to the difficulty that was being experienced in finding suitable dates tor all the season's engagements, including the final championship matches, and a possible game with. Wairarapft. The championship final might be played as a curtain-raiser to the North v. South match on 25th August, and Wairarap'a would be played at Wairarapa on 23rd or 30th September. On the chairman's recommendation it was decided to 'notify the Hawkes Bay Union that as all the available dates had already been taken, the only solution that could be offered was that Wellington should play Hawkes Bay at Napier on 15th August; the 'special challenge match to be played at Wellington on 26th September. ANNUAL COLLEGE MATCH. Permission was granted for the annual match between Wellington College and St. Patrick's College to be played at Athletic Park on Wednesday, 29th July. In the event o£ a postponement being necessary the game will be played on the following Wednesday. \ • A request that the annual match for the Myers Cup between the Hutt Railway Workshops and the Addington Workshops should be played as a curtain-raiser to" the Wellington-Canterbury representative fixture was held over till a later date. It was'" stated that it might be necessary to play a lower grade championship match as the early game. THE TRIP TO HAWERA. "Owing to a very heavy frost on the previous night, which did not thaw until late on the morning of the match, the ground was heavy ;and sticky when the teams took the field," reported Major T. J. King, manager of the Wellington team which played Taranaki at Hawera last Wednesday. "The game.resolved itself mainly into a duel between the Taranaki forwards and. the Wellington backs. The margin. of points somewhat flattered our side, as the sides were much more evenly matched than the scores indicate." Major King reported very favourably on the hospitality accorded to the visitors, and said he could understand why the conduct of Wellington players on tour had always been eulogistically referred to. " ' ' " SENIOR FIXTURES. The grounds for Saturday's senior A matches were allocated as follows:— Wellington v. Marist, at Athletic Park. Hutt v. Wellington College Old Boys, at Hutt. ■ " Petone v. University, at Petone. Miramar v. Berhampore, at the Polo Ground. Oriental v. Athletic, at Prince of Walea Park. '■■•-- . - ---■• -■-• ■--• Poneko v. Eastbourne, at Newtown Park. The fixtures for Saturday week arc as follows: —, Senior A. Hutt v. Eastbourne, at Athletic Park. Poneke v. Marist, at Hutt. Wellington College Old Boys v. Wellington, at Newtown, Park. Petone v. Miramar, at Petone. Athletic v. Berhampore, at Athletic Park, early. ',-'•■'. Oriental v. University, at Prince of Wales Park. Senior B. ' St. Patrick's Old Boys v. Jolinsonville, tt Johnson ville. Porirua v. Oriental, at Porirua. Selwyn v. Upper: Hutt, at Maidstone ' Park. ■ ■ ■;' •.■..•■ ' -.-■.■ Wellington College Old Boys v. Univer- . sity, ground to.be arranged. Hutt v. Onslc'w, at Hutt. Training College v.' Melrpse, ground to be arranged. '■:■_ . ■ ,