OTAGO RUGBY UNION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20338, 21 February 1928, Page 7

OTAGO RUGBY UNION.

A meeting of the executive of the Otago Rugby Union was held last night, and was a ttemled by Messrs D. M. Stuart (president, in the chair), 11. Harris, A. G. Cavanagb, W. J. Strong, S. G. Styche, W. Holden, A. Haynes, D. M. Spedding, \V. Alexander, >l. \V. Wootton, John Mitchell, W. Rcnnick, E. Bagloy, A. M‘Donnld. R. Procter, G. A. Nelson, Dr Evans, Mid Dr Perry. V MOTION OF SYMPATHY. “The Chairman said that members would have beard of the death of Mr Charles Speight with great regret. Mr Speight had been a life member of the union, and in its trying times had always been ready to give assistance. Some of thicr lending players were in the employ of Mr Speight, and there had never been any difficulty in getting them leave to play in matches. The death of Mr Speight was a great loss to the community. Ho was one of Dunedin’s best citizens. He would move that a letter of sympathy be sent to the relatives of the deceased. The motion was carried in silence, members standing. GENERAL. A letter was received from the New Zealand Rugby Union stating that the medical examination of members of the team to tour South Africa would be carried out by doctors in each centre. The executive was asked to submit the names of three Dunedin doctors whom it considered would make a suitable board.— It was decided to submit the names of Drs Evans, Perry, and Ilarty. It was decided to grant the Alhambra Club. the use of the Carisbrook Ground for its match . with Merivale on Easter Saturday, subject to the right to also grant its use to any other club for an earlier time if the executive thought it necessary. ANNUAL REPORT. The Secretary (Mr E. S. Wilson) submitted a dratt copy of the annual report to be placed before the meeting of delegates. It read as follows: In presenting the forty-seventh annual report your committee is pleased to state that the past year has been a most successful one in every way. We were favoured with delightful weather for onr flag matches though, unfortunately, towards the end of the season some of our importaut representative fixtures wore interfered with by bad weather. The public continues to take a keen interest in the game, and the attendances were maintained until the final match of the season. A pleasing feature is the large number ot . p i aJ j*:~ t j lkln ß P art in. the game, and £ieat dmiculty was experienced in securing siiihcient grounds to play all the matches ni the various grades each Saturday, and this could be arranged only by playing two . matches on nearly every ground. On numerous occasions two senior matches were arranged at Carisbrook. i>y the early hour in which our supporters rolled up to Carisbrook it was proved tliat they appreciated witnessing the two senior games. The various competitions tv ere keenly contested, the First Grade o™ P< ff, ltlon U°, VJng a most interesting w’ * £ esu it being m doubt until the last match Your committee desires to congratulate the University A on again Trainhm c’n Grada competition” Gnrk P!r ° ge A on winning the Second P™, ’ U,v ate l Aon winning the Third Pirates thcTff? n’ V ,e JAnirth Grade, Sixth Grade 1 ft l Grade ' and I>irat( - s the 00,n ™itteo desires .to congratulate i ‘ lloro and I). Lindsay on heino* team me « bc 'l of the Now Zealand Messrs 8 ° u r tb A fnca - also Messrs F It o*' Lindsay, A. Holden, T ui ! *, G. Sonntag, W. M’Clymont, . Heazelwood. J. R. Hindenach, and A. Marslin on being selected to play in the A,-w Zealand trial matches. Your committee has now up-to-date dressing rooms and bathroom accommodation for the players at Carisbrook, and these improvements are greatly appreciated by the players. An addition has also bc-n made to the stand which will provide accommodation for another 800 patrons, while further improvements have been made in raising the embankment round the ground. It is felt these improvements will add to the comfort and convenience oi our patrons, committee desires to congratulate the Domain Board on tho excellent grounds provided at East Park. We wore also fortunate in securing a ground at Logan I ark for a portion of the season, which greatly assisted tho committee in providing the necessary playing areas. Your comtrusts that in the coming season additional grounds will be available at Uogan Park, and thus relieve the position, as it is very difficult for some clubs to place teams in tho field at 1.50 p.m. To the Referees’ Association the best thanks of the union aro again due f-r providing referees for all grades. With the increasing number of teams each season the Referees’ Association’s task is be coming harder each vear, and your com mitteo has again to urge on clubs the necessity of inducing those players who are giving up the game to join the ranks of the Referees’ Association. To have good football it is necessary to have good referees and, therefore, it is the duty of those who have Rugbv at heart to assist the Referees’’ Association in its efforts to increase its membership. . . . It was decided that a separate report should be drawn up dealing with secondary and primary football. BALANCE SHEET. Tho Treasurer (Mr Nelson) submitted a comprehensive balance sheet. He said that tho receipts from, the flag matches came to £2748, tho highest amount that had over been received in one season. In comparison with last year, and taking into consideration their liabilities and assets, they showed a drop of £2lB on the year's work. This had been mostly brought about by tho few representative matches which had been . played in Dunedin last year, and the fact that the union had been put to considerable expense in sending Otago teams on tour. Accounts amounting fo £1942 were passed for payment. ANNUAL MEETING. It was decided to hold tho annual meeting of tho union on Saturday, March 01. THE SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR. SELECTION OF COOKE’S SUCCESSOR. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, February 20. Word has been received by tho Now Zealand Rugby Union that A. E. Cooke, the well-known Rugby representative player, is not now available for the trip to South Africa. The matter has been referred to tho chairman of tho Selection Committee and an announcement regarding Cooke’s successor will be made at the next meeting of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union.