OTAGO RUGBY LEAGUE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20522, 25 September 1928, Page 14

OTAGO RUGBY LEAGUE.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. The weekly meeting of the Otago Rubgy Football League executive was held last evening. Mr T. M. Gillies presided. There was some discussion in regard to the finish of the Maxwell Cup competition. It was pointed out that if Christian Brothers won next Saturday's game that team and Pacific would he equal with 10 points. Christian Brothers had a bye through journeying to Christchurch last week to play against the Marist Club for the Gore Cup.—The chairman said the position could not be altered at this stage, and if Christian Brothers won, then the names of both teams would be engraved on the cup this year. •It was decided that the final game in the Maxwell Cup competition be between Christian Brothers and Pacific, to be played on the Caledonian Ground on Saturday afternoon. Mr E. Watson was appointed referee;

It was resolved that the. Christian Brothers A and B junior teams play a match on the Caledonian Ground on Saturday afternoon prior to the final game between the two* leading senior teams for the Maxwell Cup.

Mr Watson- referred to several breaches of the rales which had occurred during the tour of the Otago team.—• It was decided that the secretary write to the Auckland Referees’ Association requesting that a statement of the correct rulings be forwarded to the league. Mr H. Divers, manager of the Otago touring team, said he had been very anxious to learn something of the administration in vogue in the other centres. He was satisfied that Otago lacked the proper administration of the game. Mistakes had been made, and these mistakes would have to be guarded against in the future. They had learned by experience that' when international or interprovincial teams visited the Dominion a team should not be sent on tour. In Auckland it was found that the public look little interest in the match against Otago, because it was the general opinion that the Auckland selectors had not chosen more prominent young players. The Auckland team consisted of men who had represented New Zealand against the English team, and the Auckland public was somewhat tired of seeing these men on the field of play. Had the selectors chosen the promising young Auckland players to meet the Otago team, the game would have been far more interesting and it would have been a far better inducement to both teams. The Otago men had made a good showing under the circumstances.

In regard to the code in Wellington, the position there was very unsatisfactory. He had given a good deal of thought to the administration of affairs in Wellington, and had conferred with the New Zealand Council on the matter. They would have to get the administration in Wellington thoroughly established for the success of the game. If they could get Wellington placed on a sound footing it would be the making of the game in New Zealand. He would submit a proposition in regard to the Wellington administration to the Otago League in due course. This proposition would involve financial assistance from the Auckland and Otago Leagues. The game was in a very sound state in -uintly and Taupiri, and while the code was very progressive on the West, Coast, there was a lack of organisation.

In referring to the visit of a New Zealand team to Australia next year, Mr Divers said that unless the right thing was done the Otago League would have to do something to block the tour. There had been some difficulty with the selection of the New Zealand team, as was proved by the recent visit of the English team. The South Island had been neglected, and this must not occur again. The council was now coming to its senses, and he hoped there would be an entirely ditferent administration in the future.

In regard to the recent tour of the Otago team, Mr Divers said the players had behaved themselves as men. All tbap players had been very loyal to him, and they were a happy family. The Otago League and the players who went on tour would profit by the experience. Mr E. Watson also reported on the tour. Tire Otago team had done very well, and had given a fine exhibition of the code in every match. The games on the West Coast had proved very hard, and the Otago men were still feeling the effects when they played against Canterbury. Several of the Otago men were brilliant, and were <piite up to Xew Zealand representative standard.