OTAGO RUGBY

Evening Star, Issue 25496, 29 May 1945, Page 7

OTAGO RUGBY

MEETING OF COMMITTEE Mr A. H. Cameron presided over a meeting'of the •Management Committee of the Otago Rugby Football Union which was held last night. REPRESENTATIVE FIXTURES. The dates submitted by the Cantor, bury Union for matches with Otago — August 18 at Duuedin and September 22 at ChristchurcJi—were approved. The Southland Union submitted the following dates for matches with Otago:—August 4 at Dunedin and August IS at Invercargill.—it was decided to accept the Duuedin date, but to suggest that the return match at Invercargill be played on August 25 It was also decided that senior matches should be played in Dunedin on the latter date. SUB-UNION'S OBLIGATIONS. The Southland Union wrote asking for suggestions regarding dates for its matches with the South Otago Subunion, which was expected to approach it shortly regarding this-matter. —Mr 1). C. -lolly said that the sub-union should be notified that it was expected to apply to the union before arranging matches with outside unions.—On the motion of Mr V. G. Cavanagh, it-was decided to write to the South Otago Sub-union stating that Southland had written regarding forthcoming matches with South Otago, but that no application for permission to play such a match had been made by the subunion. COUNTRY FOOTBALL. The Eastern Districts Football Subunion wrote stating that th'e season was now in full swing with four clubs —Palmerston, Dunback, Waikouaiti, and Seacliff—and that flag matches would begin on June 9. In the meantime friendly matches were being plaved. TRANSFERS. The necessary personal application having been received from M. M. Strawbridge, a transfer from Auckland Technical College to 'University was granted. A transfer from .Old Boys, Oamaru, to Dunedin was granted on the application of E. Nightingale. An application by A. W. Grayburn for a transfer from Victoria College (Wellington) to University B was granted. PLAY CURTAILED. Mr N. Larkins, referee in the fifth grade match between Southern A and Dunedin last Saturday, wrote stating that, owing to the severe weather conditions, he had terminated the game 10 minutes after the beginning of the second spell. At that stage Dunedin was leading by 22 points to 6.—Referee's action approved, and match awarded to Dunedin. GRADING OF JUNIORS. The Pirates Football Club wrote expressing regret that the committee had not found it possible to strengthen numerically the second grade competition, and suggesting that, in order to mate that competition worth while, at least two teams, excluding the Pirates entry, be regraded from the third grade. 'Failing this solution, the club suggested, that the teams now graded second grade be included in the third grade.—After discussion, the matter was referred to the Junior Advisory Committee for a report. GROUND MATTERS. The town clerk (Mr It. A. John-, ston) wrote in replv to the committee's letter relative to damage done to goal posts on council reserves, stating that the request that honorary rangers' should assist in the matter had been agreed to. —Noted. 'The Town Clerk also wrote notifying that the committee's application for the use of Ellis Park for school football had been granted on the usual terms, and that the application of the Dunedin Club for the use of the Caledonian Ground on Saturday mornings for the purpose of coaching schoolboys had been granted. No charge, would be made for the privilege.—Noted. Further letters from the town clerk notified the committee that the use of the Caledonian Ground had been granted to the Otago Football Association for the purpose of a representative match against Canterbury on June'l6; and that the attention of the University Students' Association had been drawn to the matter of unauthorised play by students on the North Ground when weather conditions had made it unfit for play. The association, the letter added l ; had offered to co-operate with the council in this matter.—Noted. The University Club asked for permission to play a match with Canterbury University College at Carisbrook on June 13.—Granted. Permission was granted to the John McGlashaii College first fifteen "to play Alexandra District High School at Alexandra on Juue 2. The Otago University Students' Association wrote in reply to the complaint regarding lack of hot shower baths at the Logan Park ground, stating that the fault had been adjusted and the showers were now working satisfactorily. WHO'S TO BLAME? Mr D. M. Spedding said that there were far more rubber linings arriving in Dunedin for Association foot-ball-and basketball than for lltugby, and something should be done to ensure a more equitable distribution. Mr Jolly: Who is to blame—the Council of Sport? (Laughter.) Mr Spedding said he intended to bring the matter before the next meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Council.