RUGBY

Evening Star, Issue 21662, 6 March 1934, Page 11

RUGBY

PREPARING FOR THE SEASON MEETING OF O.R.F.U. COMMITTEE The Management Committee of the Otago Rugby Union met last night, Mr ■I. Mitchell (president) in the chair. MONTECILLO GROUND. Mr D. -lolly reported that a deputation had waited on the Reserves Committee of the City Council respecting the state of the Montecillo Ground. The ground was in not much better order than before, and if played on this season would bo a quagmire. It was pointed out that the council had not fulfilled its promise in regard to the ground, and the deputation asked that something should be done towards carrying out that promise. Stones were found in the top-dressing which had been put on, and the ground was not properly graded. The union had contributed £2O towards the cost of the work. He did not think it would be fair to play on the ground this year. Members expressed dissatisfaction that the ground had not been put in order, and the opinion was expressed that the union should not hand over any donation till the work towards which it was given was completed. Mr Jolly said the Reserves Committee had promised to go into the matter, and let them know the result. NUMBER OF SENIOR TEAMS. The report of a sub-committee asked to consider the question of A and B senior competitions stated: — “ The sub-committee recommends that the senior competition remain as at present —the second grade be divided into two sections. At the conclusion of the first round a fresh draw be made for the senior competition between the top six teams, and an intermediate competition, consisting of the four bottom teams in the senior competition and the four top teams in the second grade A section be inaugurated and a shield presented lor this competition, the four senior teams not being eligible to win the intermediate shield. Ihe four bottom teams in second grade A competition will back to the •second grade B contest.”

Mr Harris, who presented the report of the sub-committee, said the idea was for the senior competition to start in the ordinary way. There were generally sixteen teams entered in the second grade, and it was proposed to divide them into A and B sections. At the end of the first round of matches the four bottom teams would be transferred to the A section of the second grade, and play the four teams there, while the four bottom teams in the junior A would be transferred to the junior d. It was a question whether the committee should bind itself to say that the four bottom teams of the senior grade should be transferred, it might be better to leave it to the discretion of the committee to say which teams and how many should go back. In answer to a question Mr Haul? said he took it that players m the loin senior teams which went hack would bo eligible for the representative side. Mr 'Cavanagh said that if the proposal were adopted they would have to alter their transfer rules considerably. He anticipated that at the end of a season there would be many players from the four senior teams transferred wanting transfers to stronger chibs tor the next year. Mr Harris said ' the sub-committee Imd been asked to report on the matter, and it was for the members ot tlic committee to approve of it or noc. Personally he was not in favour ot the proposal as it stood, but it seemed to be the best that could be evolved. My Baglcy said he thought the proposal was worth a trial, it would certainly make the senior competition in the second round more even. Let them try it for a season to see it it worked. Mr O’Shea, said that, speaking irom a 'club point of view, he thought that if the proposal were adopted they could not hope to get the members of the four senior teams that were put back out to train. , , .■ Mr Harris suggested that those tour teams would still have something to strive for in trying to hold their position in the junior grade. Another delegate suggested that the solution of the problem was to form a senior B competition, Mr Spudding suggested that some ot the weaker senior teams might favour a senior B competition provided they did not lose senior status. Mr Harris: 1 don’t think you will get any senior teams to go back in that way. , . . Air Spedding: Is not the whole argument to reduce the number of senior teams ? Air Harris said the sub-committeo was not asked to reduce the number ot senior teams. * It was pointed out that the matter liad been introduced by Mr lorler on behalf of the Port Chalmers Club. Mr O’Shea said the matter was discussed ten years ago. The competition was then divided into two sections, and the rock on which they broke was that the Port Chalmers team could not come up to scratch. Mr G. Sonntag said it had been considered there were too many senior teams. The idea was either to reduce the number or to evolve some scheme. It could be taken that the proposed scheme was the forerunner of some more drastic alteration to give clubs an opportunity of retaining their places in the senior competition. Mr Mitchell said the trouble in reducing the number would be winch teams weie to go back. ~ Air Grant said he thought tlvcy might give it a trial. He was of the opinion there were 100 many teams in the competition, but he was not prepared to say who were to go out. Air' Mitchell said he did not thinjj such a proposal would improve their football. What was wanted was that the teams should go out to play a game and not just to prevent the other fellow from snoring. In answer to questions. Air Harris said it was possible the eight teams in the senior competition would be very close, and perhaps only two teams would be put back. It was proposed to call the competition the intermediate competition, and not the senior B competition. The proposal of the suh-coin-rnittee would not make any junior chib a senioi dub. Mr Porter (Port Chalmers) said he wr.dcl prefer the matter to be decided by tire Management Committee that night, or that it should go before the annual meeting as a recommendation from the committee. The hope was expressed that clubs would be consulted before the matter was finally dealt with. Air Porter, as one of the prime movers in the matter, was called on to state his view, and he said he would consult the Port Chalmers Club about it. It was pointed out that any notice

of motion for the annual meeting would require to bo put in in a clay or two. It was agreed to hand the report to Mr Porter for his consideration. SCHOOL VACATION'S, It was decided to ask representatives of the secondary schools to meet the Flag Committee'to discuss the question of the arranging of matches during the school vacations.