HIS week-end will ec the start of the Spunt Cup Competition which, in past years, has been one of the main attractions of the local rugger world. The present holders, the Durham Light Infantry, are away from Shanghai at present, being stationed in Tientsin, and therefore will not compete.
In past seasons it has been the custom that only the more senior of local sides played in the tournament which was conducted on knock-out lines.
This year, however, after much consideration, it has been decided that in view of the abnormal support given the game, and in order to make matters more interesting for both players and spectators, to grade twelve teams into two divisions, with the fifteens of each group playing each other. Two points will be awarded for a win and for a draw, the side with the largest number of points claiming the title of the division in which it is entered.
The winners of each division will also have their names inscribed on the trophy which will be held for a period of twelve months by the victors of the first division. has been divided into two sections of approximately equal strength, the winners of each group having to play off the final.
A cursory examination of the sides entered seems to indicate that the U.S. Marines will commence as heavy favourites to take the Cup, specially if the grounds remain hard. They are likely to receive very stiff opposition, however, from the other First Division aggregations and should a rainy period set in, then their fleetness of foot and fine handling will be more than nullified.
Nevertheless, whatever the conditions happen to be dui weeks ug the next three The grading of the sides is as fol- g lows: In the Second Division, it would Fmsr Divistox come as no surprise to see the Club Club 1st XV 2nd XV and Tung Wen College clash-French Forces Ist XV ing in the final, but the French and British Forces ist XV American second strings as well as U.S. Marines Ist XV the Police ma some startling TION pegon A" upsets.
The Area Details and the gun and Xv Sesforths are likely to suffer, as it Club 3rd XV is only to be expected that their Area Details better players will be selected for Sscow" Drvisow "B" the British Forces 1st XV.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.