Attempt to avert default

Press, 26 April 1979, Page 44

Attempt to avert default

The Lincoln College senior rugby team has given notice 1 of its intention to default its night game against New Brighton. On May 9. But the , Canterbury union has i

decided to see if it can meet Lincoln College’s wishes and switch the game to next Wednesday night. Lincoln College applied for a change some weeks ago; its reason being that May 9 fell in the college’s holiday and with so many players away and on field trips it

would have great difficulty fielding a side. The union declined the request and said that the draw as published would stand.

However, on a unanimous vote the matter was reopened on Tuesday evening when the default advice was received. The club wrote a stronglyworded letter, suggesting that the placing of Lincoln College’s night game “could be a discriminatory action

against students in general and Lincoln College in particular.” After much discussion, the competitions chairman, Mr W. A. Russell, undertook to find out if any two of the opposing clubs drawn to play next week would be willing to switch to the following week. If not, then the general view was that nothing could be done. Some members feared that if a change was made for Lincoln College a precedent

I would be created that other i clubs would cite when they wanted a different date. ! There were also some • strong feelings about the » allegation that the ! competitions committee had • acted in a discriminatory ! manner when compiling the : draw. This was hotly denied i by several members and a : meeting will be called between senior members of : the union and officials of the club to explain the : matter.