LEAGUE RUGBY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 114, 19 June 1914, Page 2

LEAGUE RUGBY.

LOCAL AND OTHERWISE,

To-morrow, unless the elements say otherwise, the Thacker Shield Competitions will be advanced another stajge. City, a fast improving team, will be called on to face the hitherto unbeaten Sydenhamites. Without wishing to throw cold water on the hopes of the City men it may be said that Sydenham should register another win : sa-fely enough, though the writer would not be at all surprised if the margin of points at the.finish i s not a large one. City as yet have not won a match, and they deserve every praise for their grit and perseverance,. On the far. ground Addington and St. Albans will engage. On the occasion of their first meeting the former "put it over" the northern suburb men rather heavily, but to-mor-row they, ought to have ( a far different task, provided St. Albans can reproduce their form of last week against Linwood, who were very lucky to win. By the way, it is to be hoped that the games will be started up to time., On not one Saturday yet has either senior match been commenced to the scheduled hour. Sydenham set a good example last week, inasmuch as the whole team was but in the field waiting .for :the kick-off some'time before theif opponents,. .. ' . .-,.:-. . ' A keen interest is being taken among the juniors'in' the Liriwood-Federal game td : mbrrow on St. Albans Park. ; It is reported to W the matcli of the season. ' , ■;...., ~-..•■■• - I.:

1 The'Liriwbod'Club is holding, a progressive euchre party arid dance ori Fridav, July 3. One of the most noticeable features of the League game locally is the hearty support given by the fair sex, to whom players and spectators alike have reason to be grateful during the half : time interval in the senior games at the Show Ground. Every week sees an energetic committee of ladies busily' engaged 1 in .the tea rooms, and theiT action in providing refreshments. is the subject ;of imueh favourable comment. On a cold, dismal day such. as|.' Saturday Jast,the cu,p that clieers was, highly .acceptable to all, hot excluding members of the "fourth testate.'-' The ladies to whom League sup-porters-owe a debt of gratitude • are Mes'daitneS'Ste'verisori, Flatmari, Garrard, Milne, Mbylfe, Hartigan, : -Misses'Jones, Piescdtt', Murray, "Stevenson, arid IFreeman. It should not be "omitted to! state th'att ladies ( provide l the tea andedibles entirely' themselves, and . this makes , the obligation to them doubly heavy. ' " I I3SF bTHER PARTS. The Wellington League is desirous of improving its financial position this year 1 ,'' and' to that end has decided to 'discontinue paying- its players 10/- per day when travelling. present the only trip the Wellington League I 'has in view is the visit to Auckland on August 22. > .The sum of. £36 was the Wsllihgtoh' League's share, of the proceeds from its recent match against: Hawke's Bay. The Lower Waikatd League is very desirous of receiving direct affiliation with the New Zealand League instead of; remaining as at.present a sub-league to Auckland, states the "New Zealand Herald." In making its application to the New Zealand Council, the Lower Waikato League stated that it now had 112 players in the field each Saturday and the prospects of the game in'the district were growing, brighter every day." There'were at present'a first and second grade competition, and the advisability of starting a third grade competition- would be discussed at the next meeting. The league also pointed but that" its representative team w&s : a strong one, as wa!s demonstrated by-the fact that eight men from the 'district were included in last year's country team, and that the Waikato League had made a very creditable showing against New South" Wales. Being a sub>union ef the Auckland League, Lower Waikato had not the same opportunity as other leagues of securing matches with touring representative ' teams, nor of getting its players into the front rank of New Zealand football. In N conclusion; the sub-league's letter stated: that it was recognised that a number of small leagues having direct affiliation might not be beneficial to the game, but the Lower Waikato district was: one which would before long be one of the strongest in New Zealand. After some discussion for and against direct affiliation, the council decided that it would consider the application favourably if the Rotorua arid Hamilton Leagues combined with Lower Waikato. ;

MEETING OF REFEREES' ASSOCIATION.

The Canterbury Rugby League's Referees' Association met on Monday evening, the chairman, Mr A. R. Brunsden, presiding over a good attendance of members. The rules submitted by the subcommittee were discussed at length,; and with alterations and additions ; were adopted. The election of officials for the season resulted as follows: —Chairman, Mi- A. R. Brunsden; secretary and- treasurer, Mr H. Garrard; general committee, Messrs C. J. Pearce, W. Campbell, and L. Hobbs; delegates to Canterbury League, Messrs A. R. Brunsden and W. Campbell. A motion that all members jmeet every Monday, fortnightly, was carried. Mr Stevens gave a practical illustration of signal methods for denoting scores, penalties, etc., which gave: general satisfaction. -~ ! '

It was decided that each and every member must pass a practical ; arid theory examination in rules of; the game, and subject to approval of two members appointed. . ' A universal ruling was and in future games all members will confirm to a uniformity of rulings and 'decisions. ■'•;::

The regulation uniform to be 'worn was fixed as white knickers or trousers, white jersey or sweater.