FOOTBALL

Evening Star, Issue 12873, 24 July 1906, Page 3

FOOTBALL

OTAGO RUGBY UNION. "R»e Committee of tlie Otago Rugby Onion met last evening, Mr A. C. Haakm presiding. —Correspondence. — The Secretary of the Taranaki Union suggested Mr A. Downes as a suitable referee for the match Taranaki v. Otago.— The suggestion agreed to, the Otago . Referees' Association to be notified. Mr W. T. Facer, referee in the match Union Second ! v. Port Chalmers Second, reported that bo had ordered a member of the former team' off th"f field for illegal tackling.—lnquiry to bo held at next meeting. The Port Chalmers Club asked permission to recognise the inclusion of W. .Dougherty in the Otago representative team by a presentation of a travelling bag.— Granted. The Secretary of the Coal Croak C3ub asked that the. disquah'rication imposed last week on certain Coal Creek players bo removed, on the ground that it was their first year under O-R.F.U. rules, and in taking part in a certain tournament at Roxburgh on June 7 they were not aware of the risk they were taking.—lt was decided to write to the chib in question asking on wltat date they received copies of the Annual, and to forward the appeal to tlie New Zealand Union. Mr W. Shelion asked the Committee to fix a date for receiving a deputation from the Albion Club. The writer added that the proposed amalgamation of cricket clubs bad fallen through.—lt was . resolved to meet the club in question next Monday. The Roxburgh Club asked for permission to hold a. seven-a-side tournament on August 17, and also asked for the services of a Duncdm referee. —Permission granted. Mr C. O'Sullivan. referee in the second grado match Zingari v. Pirates, reported ■hut he had cautioned n member of each learn. He also reported a spectator for i)bscene language. —It was resolved to add !he names to the list of cautioned players, tlie spectator to be asked to attend at next meeting. Mr Wra. Bridges, referee in the second grade match Southern v. Pirates, reported that he had ordered off E. Campbell, of the former team, for roughly handling an opponent.—After inquiry it was decided to suspend the player in question for a, month. —Consequences of a tv •' Mr J. Duncan, referee in the senior match Alhambra v. Dunedin, reported that ho had ordered W. Johnston, of the former to;un, off the field for "playing the man" on the line-out. Mr Duncan stated that before the teams (<x)k tbo field he warned both captains as to his intention with respect to illegal play. The Player: The referee says that the man never had the ball. I have proof that he had. Dunedin were playing their ordinary scrum on the line-out., Paton jumped for the balL and I went for him. 1 don't think it was the tackle I was ordered off for. It was the way he squealed when he went down. Paton himself says he had the ball, and so docs the Dunedin captain. In answer to questions put by Messrs Campbell and Hutchison. Mr Duncan stated that Paton might for the bull, but he did not have it when he was tackled. ■ Mr Thomson asked Mr Duncan to say if, generally speaking, ho considered that Johnston played a clean game. | Mr Duncan replied that previous to { ordering Johnston off lie had given «four I free kicks for similar offences, and one of j these was against Johnston. Continuing. : Mr Dtmcan said that it- might have been "a '• fair tackle if the man had had the ball. The Player: I may say that Whelan, of the DoeDdin team, told nte that the ball! was never thrown out past Paton. It ' was only thrown in about live yards, and Paton was the man who was supposed to take it. i Mr Thomson: Did you make a state- ' ment to tho effect that you believed you ' were blamed for a lot of the Alhambra's ' dirty play? The Player: Yes. Since I came backno man au been knocked about more than I have. Continuing with reference to Paton, Johnston said : I never heard a man sing out .like that. [ don't think even a fourth ,grade player woukl have done so. To Mr M*Laren: I was not told off to mark any man. That is never dono in the Alhambra Club. Wo never mark off a man like that. Mr Campbell asked the referee if, in view of Johnston's explanation, he felt inclined to modify the charge. Was it possible that Johnston might have thought that Paton had the ball? Mr Duncan adhencd to his original statement. On the motion of Mr Thomson, seconded by Mr Hutchison, it was decided to suspend Johnston until tlie end of the season. '.Hie motion was carried without discussion. —General.— Mr. Campbell drew attention to the number of teams that defaulted in their matches, and instanced cases which had come under'his notice at Forburv. He sue. gested the advisability of disqualifying learn.-; that defaulted twice. " "" On the motion of Mr Wibron it was decided to play North Otago on September 6 with the Otago representative touring team. On the motion of Mr Campbell, .seconded hy Mr Dey, it was resolved to ask the New Zealand Union if a reply, had been received from the English Union with reference to the case stated twelve months ago touching the finality of the referee's word on suestions of fact. It was decided to invite tenders for the improvement of Sawyers Bav ground ou lines suggested in a report bv Mr Blair, and to inspect a ground at Tainui with a view to the possibility of acquiring, a freehold. Proposals for a " conntrv week" as submitted by a snb-eommitee consisting 0 f Messrs Sinoock, Dey, and Duncan were approved. Under the scheme it is proposed to invite representative teams from Vincent, Maniototo. North Otago, and South Otago to Dunedin. On Saturday, August 20, North Otago play South Otago, and Vincent play Maniototo. The winners in each match and the losers in each play off ou the following Wednesday, and on Saturday. September 1, a combined country team play a City representative team. " O.F.A. A weekly meeting of the above was held kst evening, Mr Emslie. (vice-president) in ihe chair. A letter was received from the St. Kilda uorough Council in reply to the deputation who had interviewed the Council with reference to fencing Culling Park. Amended tenders m accordance with suggestions offered by the O.F.A. were enclosed. The alteration in the proposed fencing was responsible for less saving than had°been exited, _ After a good deal of discussion, in which many vain attempts were made to scale the insurmountable financial difficulties in the way, it was resolved—" That the Executive. Committee of the O.FA. offer to pay the further sum of £22 10s, in consideration for an extension of the lease from thirteen to fifteen years, provided that if this offer be accepted the lowest tenderer be instructed forthwith to commence tho erection of the fence, to be completed by Ist September;/Or, in the alternative, that this Committee advance sufficient to complete the fence as a loan to the borough as against the first revenue to be derived from the lease of the park, the same to be refunded to the O.FJI. as received by tbe borough, and to bear interest at bank rates on overdraft until repaid." A letter was received from tbe Ritveir?bourne Club appealing against' a dedskm of the referee in their match against Mornmgton. It was alleged that several members of the Mornington team were satisfies that in the case of the .second goal awarded to them, the ball passed over the bar. Consideration of the dispute was possible only by permission, of the referee, who made a sportsmanlike and manly statement of the crrcumstances. In deference to his wishes it was decided that the matter be considered next week, witnesses to be tailed. A question was arsked by the Rosiyn delerate aa' to the eligibility of a certain player part in a .senior materi last Saturday.' M .•wa6--3*ateii *'^^»^jcTi'myi«eslaon

had not_ been registered by the dab who' had availed themselves of his services. With regard to the selection of a third grade team to meet tbo Kaitangata team on Saturday, August 4, it was decided to rail a, third grade captain from each dub to a sQeetl?g^s Qeetl ? g^?r,or to th « meeting of the Referees Club on Wednesday ni<dit It was decided to ask Mr'll.° A. Farquhareon to attend the meeting of the O.F.A. next Monday night. Official correspondence was received from the secretary of the N.ZJFA.--A. cheque for the amount of coupons received will be forwarded in due course. The tournament far the Brown shield will be held this year in Taranaki, next year in Auckland, and the following year in Duncdm The centra m which the contests are held will be required, to make all necessary arrangements. This year the Council will take the gate and pay tournament expenses. Of the surplus, 5 per cent, will be deducted, and the balance will be divided proportionately among the associations taking part. There is every probability of a Maoawstn Association affiliating and engaging in the tournament. It was mentioned, inter alia,, that in Taranaki there arc now seven distinct clubs. _Tho following will represent the Otago University in tharr match against- Invercargifl to-morrow:—Scannell, Ouray, Adams (captain), Maepherson, Daosey, Wi Re pa. Rorrie, Withers, MTliean, Foote, Tansey. Harrison, o'Oa.llaghan, Stewart, Thomson.