FOOTBALL

Evening Star, Issue 18281, 22 May 1923, Page 3

FOOTBALL

o.r.p.u. The,weekly meeting of the Maiwcemont Committee of the O.R.F.U. was held Inst evening, Mr W, J. Wilson. (president) being in the chair. GENERAL. It was decided that the match, Otago Returned Soldiers versus Canterbury Returned Soldiers bo played on Saturday, September 8. The Secretary reported that the gate receipts at Oarisbrook on Saturday amounted to £124 15s 2d. The total gate receipts for the day were £165 19s Id. '• The Secretary reported that, in reply to a letter from the North Otago Subunion, he had written stating that before a player could be transferred from one club to another he had to give the notice required under the union’s by-laws, even if bo had not played during the previous season.—The secretary’s reply was -approved. . The Secretary of the New Zealand Rugby Union wrote asking for the nomination of a selector for the South Island team this season.—lt was decided to nominate Mr D. M. Stuart. (There axe five selectors for each team.) Tho Dunedin Club wrote withdrawing its fourth grade B team. —It was_ stated (hat this would now cause a bye in that section. —The matter was referred to tho Flag Committee. E. Geary was granted a transfer from Taieri Rovers to Port Chalmers Club, Tho South Canterbury Union wrote stating that it favorably considered the proposal to arrange a junior representative match. The fixing of the date would be left in tho Otago Union’s hands. DOW’S CASE. The referee (Mr A. J. Haubl in the Kaikorai-Pirates match forwarded a written statement in regard to his ordering off the field Dow (a Kaikorai forward). Mr Haub reported that before he went on the field ho warned each team that when a man had got rid of the hall ho would not allow an opponent to tackle him and pull him down if there was reasonable time -after tho man had got rid of the ball. Ho first cautioned Dow for holding a player outside the line. Later Dow repeated his tactics of collaring a man and holding him, thus not allowing the man who was held to put his team on side. He then ordered Dow off. The offence might not be very serious, and no doubt "Morgan (the player held) was not hurt, but he had warned the teams before they went on the field, and trusted the present case would be a warning to them to plav the hall—not the man. Mr Haub attended the meeting, and said he had nothing further to add. The referee then "having to leave, the President said the committee could _ decide the case upon the letter before it. Dow later appeared before the meeting and the letter was read to him. He stated that ho had not heard any warning given to the teams before they took the field. As regards the first offence, he did not know that the Pirates man was outside the touch-line. In tho second case, he had made a diving tackle at Morgan. He did not know that Morgan had then cot rid of the ball. Maybe he had held Morgan a second too Ion", but be dvd not know that he had parted with the ball Mr St. J. Dunne moved : “That, in the opinion of the committee, the penalty of having been ordered off is sufficient for the offence committed.” Mr J. Mitchell seconded tho motion. Mr M'La-ren moved as an amendment: “ That Dow be suspended for two playin" Saturdays.” He considered that the committee should not let such an offence pass when they had a referee with sufficient backbone to order a man off. The plaver, be contended, could quite well nave avoided running into Morgan and putting him down. Theamendrnont was lost on the voices. The motion was then carried. Messrs M’Daren, Styche, and Strong asking that their names be recorded against it. ' O.F.A. The executive of the Otago Football Association m-et Inst night, Mr E. J. Anderson presiding. APPEAL FROM MAORI HILL CLUB. Tho Maori Hill Club wrote appealing , against a decision of tho referee in the j Mount Zion v. Maori Hill match on Saturday, It was stated that the referee awarded! a throw-down instead of a. goal, when the ball, after being headed by a Maori Hill player from a corner kick, struck the referee and was deflected betueen the posts. It was decided to ask the referee to explain. APPEAL TO N.Z.F.A. PENDING. The Seacliff Chib wrote advising that it had appointe-d Mr R. Brown as its delegate on the executive. I Simo discussion followed. Mr Brown’s 1 eligibility to sib on tho committee was j nuestionecl, it being pointed out that, as ■ delegate from the Referees’ Club, lie had been absent without satisfactory explanation from three consecutive meetings, thus : forfeiting bis seat. ]

The Chairman stated that in his opinion according to the rules, Mr Brown could not hold office again this season, and a motion to that effect was carried.

On being apprised of the executive’s decision, Mr Brown stated that ho would appeal to the N.Z.F.A.

GENERAL BUSINESS,

The Y.M.O.A. Club applied for permission to travel to Christchurch to play the Y.M.C.A. there on Juno I.—Permission ■was granted, subject to the manager's name being submitted and approved. Xije Secretary of the Timaru Football Association wrote asking for a visit from an Otago team.—The letter was received, and the secretary was instructed to write stating that no representative team was at. present tonring, hut that the request would bo given favorable consideration later on.