RUGBY FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20432, 12 June 1928, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE, The weekly meeting of the executive of the Otago Rugby Football League was held last evening. The president (Mr T. M. Gillies) occupied the chair. A letter was received from the secretary of the Junior Management Committee of the Canterbury Centre, advising that the committee was unable to make arrangements regarding financial assistance to send an Otago junior team to Christchurch, as the ground and the gates on the date of the England and Canterbury match will be under the control of the New Zealand Council. It was hoped that the Otago team would visit Christchurch. —The Chairman said the executive could not do anything further in connection with the matter, as it had been decided to send the junior team to Christchurch. Another letter from the secretary of the Junior Management Committee of the Canterbury Centre stated that the northern officials would be asked to select a suitable team to oppose the Otago boys. At the present time the Canterbury Junior Management Committee had more entries than during the previous years, and it was hoped that in the near future the Otago League would be in a position to enter a challenge for the South Island schoolboys’ championship (Norman Cox Cup), which was at present held by the Christchurch junior champion team.—Consideration of the letter was left over in the meantime. The Secretary of the City Club wrote under instructions, in reference to referees. The club requested that, owing to the number of new players who had been attracted to the League game, additional and efficient referees be appointed to control senior matches. —The letter was referred to the Referees’ Association, with a request to furnish a report. The Chairman said the executive was indebted to Mr Divers and the secretary for the work carried out in connection with the arrangements made for the visiting English team to play a match at Invercargill on August 22. The staging of the match in the south would give the people an insight into the League game, and would probably prove beneficial to the future of the game in Otago. The chairman also mentioned that Mr 11. Thomas had given the executive every assistance in bringing the necessary arrangements for the match to a successful issue. Considerable interest was being taken in the visit of the English team to Invercargill, and there was every indication that the match would prove a financial success. Several members of the executive would travel to Invercargill to confer with the various local bodies and make arrangements for the reception of the English and New Zealand teams. Mr H. Divers mentioned that the New Zealand Council met every two weeks, and he suggested that the secretary write immediately requesting that a summary of the business transacted be forwarded to the Otago League with as little delay as possible.—The secretary was instructed to write to the council on the lines of Mr Diver’s suggestion. Mr F. Turnbull said it would be advisable to decide on what date the season should close in regard to the playing of chib matches. The present round would be finished on June 30. After that date it would be nccessaiy to hold two trial matches in order to select the touring team, and, if found necessary, a knock-out competition could be arranged between the senior teams. Such a competition would occupy the attention of players for several Saturdays.— The question of the finality of the senior and junior competitions and also the question of providing matches for September was left in the hands of the Flag Committee to submit a report to the next meeting. A request from the combined banks for the use of the Caledonian Ground on June 14 for the purpose of playing the annual match was referred to the Caledonian Society with a recommendation that it be granted. SATURDAY’S MATCHES. The following is the draw for. Saturday’s matches:— Senior Grade.—City v. Christian Brothers, Caledonian Ground, 2.45 p.m. (Mr E. Watson) ; Pacific v. Kaikorai, Oval, 2.45 p.m. (Mr G. Packer) ; Athletic, a bye. Junior Grade.—Kaikorai v. Pacific Chisholm Park, 2.45 p.m. (Mr T. M'Mahon); Christian Brothers v. Athletic, Caledonian Ground, 1.20 p.m. (Mr White).