FOOTBALL.

Evening Star, Issue 12867, 17 July 1906, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

OTAGO RUGBY UNION. The weekly meeting of the Committee o ( the O.R.F.U- was held last evening. The .president (Mr A. C. Hanlon) occupied the chair. • ' W Bridge*), referee in the second grade match Southern v. Piiates Second, reported that he hod oidered one of the former team off the field for roughly handling an opponent.—Player and referee to attend next meeting. The name of a Zmgari player cautioned by the referee (G. Gailaway) m the Dun-edin-Zingari match was noted. The Ravonsbourne Olub appealed against a decision by the referee in the match Dunedin Second v. Ravensbourne. A Dunedin player had kicked the ball back over his own line, and a Ravensbourno player, following up. had scored, but had not been allowed the try.—After hearing the referee's statement it was resolved to dismiss the appeal, on the ground that the boil is dead immediately the whistle is blown. Permission was granted to the University Club to play the hiveicargill Club at Invercargil] on the 25th inst., Mr G. C Thomson to act as manager. The Shag Point Club asked for an explanation as to the action of a referee (Mr R. F. Foster) in ordering a line umpire (Mr G. M'Killop) off the field during the course of a maich against Pahnerston on June 16. The cause of the trouble wae that the referee held that M'Killop had given a throw-m in favor of Shag Point instead of in favor of Patmerston. They could bring substantial evidence to show M'Kil lop's fairness.—lt was resolved that the referee be asked for a report. A letter was read from Frank Page, ordered off the field by Mx R. F. Foster in the match Palmer*ton v. Waikouaiii on the 7th inst.—Mr Campbell pointed out that the refer.« stated in he let-er that it was a ease for a caution. It seemed to him that a case which could be met by a caution was not a case for ordering off the field.— The Chairman said that, judging by the referee's letter, it seemed a most trivial defence.—On the motion of Mr Dev it was resolved that, seeing that the player in question had been ordered off the field and not allowed to take further part in the game, the Committee were of opinion that that was sufficient punishment. The Flag Committee, reporting on the postponement of the senior match Kaikoraa v. Dunedin, held that the Flag Committee only had power to postpone flag matches, but recommended that a rule be introduced next year giving the power of postponement to referees in fixtures other than senior ones.—Mr Duncan said that two years ago the Committee had advised the Referees' Association that referees had the power of postponing matches in cases'where the grounds were unfit to play on.—Mr Dey replied that the tiag ru<es were only framed and enforced from year to year.— Mr Campbd'l moved that the Referees' Association be written to informing them that the power of deciding Which grounds were fit to play on was leserved to them ; but the Committee would strongly urge on them that, unless under very exceptional circumstances, ail matches should be p'aved. The Chairman said that according to the rules the power of potponcmeut did not lie with the referee and captains. Postponements could only be decided by the Flag Committee. Asked if he ruled in that direction, the Cluiirman said that it did not rest with him to place an interpretation on the flag rules. It was only his duty to interpret rates governing the conduct of committee meetings.—After a long discussion it was decided to adopt that part of the Sub-committee's repoit placing the sole power of postponement in the hands of the Fl'g Committee.—On the motion of Mr M'Laren it was also resolved that, in view of the exceptional circumstances and the misapprehension of the referee as to his rowers, the match bs played at the end of tl'e flag fixtures. The Sub-committee appointed to consider the " country week " reported that a scheme had been drawn up on the lines suggested bv Mr Sincock at last meeting, and submitted to tlie clrbs and country unions interested. With the exception of North Otago, replies received bad been favora.ble. North doubted tlvir ability to send a team.—Further consideration deferred for a week. The Son-tMand Union' submitted dates as follow:—Oiaigo, at Invercargill, August 15; Otngo return match, at Dunedin, August 18; Wellington, Avgust 22; Auckland, August 25; Taranaki, Augwt 29; Cofltfrbrry. September I.—Dates as suggested by Southland agreed to. ° A complaint from Port Chalmers against the referee in the match Port v. Pirates was referred without comment to the Referees' Association. The oomph man t stated that he did not think that the referee in question was competent to act in senior football. Agreed that Mr Harris select the captain of the Otago team this year. O.F.A. An ordinary meeting of the Otaco Football Association was held last night Mr J Kmshe in the chair. After hearing'the re! eree (Mr W. Morrison) and the captains (Messrs D. Baillie and Boating) concerned in the protest by the Mornington Club against havmg had to play their match against Southern on Culling "Park when the ground was, aa they said, not fit to play on, the Committee decided that the match was properly played, that the appeal be dismissed, and that the 10s protest fee be refunded to the Morninjrton Club. The Town Clerk, Dunedin, wrote, in reply to the Committee's letter of 26th ult and the deputation that waited on the Reserves Committee, statin? that— (l) The acquirement of Forbury Park by the City Council is at present under consideration"; (2) the Association's request that road scrapings be placed on part of the Southern Recreation Reserve had been granted, providing the material were available; (3) the superinterdent of reserves had been requested to report re the drainage of the Asylum Ground; (4) the engineers liad been requested to remove obstructions from the Oval if possible.—.Received. With regard to the Culling Park difficulty, it was resolved that the Gronnds Committee wait on St. Kilda Council ai their meeting on Tuesday night.