THE OTAGO FIFTEEN

Evening Star, Issue 23093, 20 October 1938, Page 22

THE OTAGO FIFTEEN

HONOURED AT SOCIAL EVENING “ONE OF THE GREAT TEAMS " “ They talk about the great tehms.of the ipast, hut the team that beat Hawke’s Bay on Carisbrook this year deserves to rank with the best of them.” said Mr A. C. Haynes, president of the Otago Rugby Union, at a social evening held in honour of this year’s Otago team, in the Carisbrook pavilion last night. Mr V. G. Cavanagh, sen., was in the chair. The team,' Sir Haynes continued, had set up a fine record, the. players had trained with an enthusiasm that was a credit to them, and they had played the game on and off the field. The province could be very proud of them. In congratulating the players, Mr V. G. Cavanagh, jun., said that Otago had a very fine administrative body in its llugbv Union, and the province’s Rugby reputation was sufficient advertisement for its work. However, the members of the union did not. work for praise; they received their reward in the progress of the game, the enjoyment of it by the players and the appreciation of it by the public. It was a pleasure for him to,propose the toast of the Otago Rugby Union. The toast was acknowledged by Mr Haynes, who paid a tribute to the enthusiasm and ability of two of the oldest members, Messrs Cavanagh, sen., and U. Harris.

Mr Ira Grant proposed the toast of the Otago team, which, he said, was a team on and off the field. That was the real secret of Otago’s success in Intel-provincial _ (Rugby. Mr F. W. Vorratli. captain of the 1938 team, acknowledged the toast, and in particular expressed the team’s appreciation of the coaching work of "Mr Cavanagh. sen.

Photographs of the team were presented to the members, selectors, and coach by. Mr Haynes. There was a lengthy and a bright toast list, to-

gether with a series of musical items. Community singing and musical selections by Begg’s Orchestra (conducted by Mr J F. Himbnrg) made the evening a worthy finale to a successful season.