FOOTBALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14682, 13 May 1908, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

[Fkoii Oer Correspondent.] DUNEDIN, May 12. The Otago Rugby Onion is of opinion that three test matches should be piavtd against the British team, even if it meant the abandonment of the inter-island matches here find at Auckland, and playing all three games in Wellington. The matter will 'be definite'y decided at Thursday's meeting of the New Zealand Union. CANTERBURY RUGBY UNION. THE BRITISH TEAM'S VISIT. Tho committee of the Canterbury Piugbv Union met last evening; present—Messrs A. E. G. Bkodes (president), G. H. Mason. W. Walton, F, T. Evans. J. R. Evans, G. Scott, F. L. Murray, G. Matthews, P. Menzies; S. F. Wilson and W. G. Garrard (honorary secretary). The Canterbury Cricket Association, Limited, wrote, stating that it had appointed a sub-committee to confer with delegates from the Union on the questions of providing stand accommodation and regulating charges for the match against the British team. The Association declined to issue free pa.sses to ex-representative players, no other concessions of the kind having been given. Messrs Mason, Garrard and Scott were appointed to meet the Association's sub-committee, and they were requested to consider the question of passes to ex-representatives and tho closing of the Leicester Street entrance to Lancaster Park.

Captain M'Gee wrote, offering to sell to the Union the seating used in. the King Edward Barracks for £250, for use in Lancaster Park. Mr Mason and Mr Garrard said that the Union could probably make profitable use of the seating, and the offer was referred to the sub-committee previously elected. The New Zealand Rugby Union wrote, forwarding the itinerary of the British team, and asking the Union to state what it proposed to do to entertain the visitors, so that the entertainments could bs placed on the programmes to be issued. The team would arrive in Christchurch on May 28, at 10 a.m , and would leave for the south at 11.55 a.m. on the same day. It would return to Christchurch by the late express train from Timaru on Wednesday, Juno 10, and would stay till 7 a.m. on the following Tuesday, before going on to tho West Coast. .Mr Mason said he hoped no fixed scheme of entertainment would be decided upon, beyond a complimentary dinner. Past experience had shown that tho tastes of the players were notall suited by the programme arranged, and in this case particularly it was very likely the men would have private arrangements with .friends, preferable to any the Union could make.

It was decided, to leave the question in the hands of the Entertainment Committee. The Old Boys' and Christchurch Clubs were each fined os for playing men not on their lists. For a second breach the Giristchurch Club was fined 10s.

The following ore the grounds and referees for the Canterbury Bugby Union's matches for Saturday:— Senior Competition.—Albion v Merivale, East ground, Lancaster Park, Mr J. F. Peake; Canterbury College v Sydenham, West ground, Lancaster Park, Mr W. Pegley: Linwood v Christchurch, South ground, Lancaster Park, Mr F. T. Evans.

Junior Flag.—Christchurch v Merivale, Merivale ground, Mr T. E. Saxton ; Canterbury College v Albion, Canterbury College ground, Mr A. E. Fuller; Old Boys v Lmvrood, Linwood ground, Mr H. F. Garrard: Svdenham v Lyttelton, Sydenham, Mr J. T. Weston.

President's Cup.—Old Boys v Merivale A, Old Boys' ground, Mr W. Woods; Sumner v Old Boys A, Sumner, Mr F. Hickenbottom; Belfast v Christchurch B, Belfast, Mr J. Puddle; Sydenham A v Christchurch A, Christchurch ground, Mr H. E. Lawrence; Merivale B v Kaiapoi, Merivale ground No. 2, Mr T. W. Reese; Sydenham B y Ohristchurch, Christchurch ground No. 2, Mr R, Cockayne; Canterbury College, v Albion, Albion ground, Mr S. W. Binns; Linwood B v Richmond, Richmond ground, Sir H. Grammar. The seven-a-side tournament conducted annually by the South Canterbury Busby Union will be held at Timaru on May 25. At a meeting on Monday evening, the Management Committee of the South Canterbury Rugby Union suspended, two members of the Pirates Club until May 28. A junior player was disqualified for kicking an opponent while the latter" was on the ground, and the ether offender, a senior, for tripling. At a meeting of the Ashburton County Rugby Union, held en Monday evening, it was decided to postpone all _ matches set down for this week until the completion of the second round of the competitions, on account of the Ashburton County Racing Club's meeting. A special priae for a primary school competition was accepted, and the chairman and secretary were appointed to organise the competition.