SOUTH OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21018, 6 May 1930, Page 6

SOUTH OTAGO.

BALCIOTHA DISTRICT NEWS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) BALCLUTHA,' May 5. RUGBY FOOTBALL. The uncertain state of senior football in South Otago this season was manifest On Saturday, when Clutha I found itself in the position of being unable to raise a team to meet Romahapa-Owaka on the Balclutha ground. When a club cannot muster a team to play on its own ground the position must be serious indeed. The Second Grade team, however, was able to muster in full strength, and went to Owaka, there to meet Romahapa-Owaka II and to score its second victory this season, the score being: Clutha 10 points, Romahapa-Owaka nil, .Other matches resulted: Star 25, Clutha Valley nil, played at Stirling; South Otago High School 12 v. Crescent 111 3, played at Kaitangata. ■ An attempt to improve the present unsatisfactory position of football in South Otago by wiping out the Second Grade and haying only the two grades (First and Third), was adopted by the Management Committee of the sub-union on Saturday night. This is a drastic step, but one that the peculiar circumstances called for. and the union will have the support of all followers of the game in its determination to elevate the standard of football It is expected that there will be at Teast 10 teams in the competition now, with resultant better football. All previous fixtures are cancelled, and a new draw will be made at once. SUB-UNION MEETING. A meeting of the Committee of Management of the sub-union, held at Balclutha on Saturday night, was attended by Messrs E, Moore (president), A. M'Leod, G. Hay, A. Barron, J. Lyall, W. Jolly, J. Cameron, J. M‘Noe. and the secretary (Mr R, Culbert). , Mr G. Moore (Crescent) was also in attendance. Several clearances were applied for. The president reported that the practice of sub-unions elsewhere was to grant all clearances, but that the sub-unions reserved the right to bring a club from Second to Senior Grade if they considered the club strong enough. In explaining why Harraway’s clearance from Clutha to Star bad been held over, Mr Moore said there was a doubt whether it was worth while carrying on with the senior fixtures. It appeared there was really only one senior team (Toko). The time had arrived, he said, when the union should consider playing only two grades. At present it appeared as if Second Grade was the standard of football in South Otago, and this was /wrong. Discussion among those present indicated that there were practically only two senior teams (Toko and RoniahapaOwaka). and the opinion was expressed that if oil clubs were brought to one grade, better football would result, and more interest would be' taken in it by the public. It_was then proposed and seconded and carried unanimously, that all Secoud Grade teams be elevated to Senior Grade, and that only two grades be played. One

of the reasons advanced for the change was that in South Otago, at least. Second Grade football had become better than First Grade. It was also pointed out that at present senior players were being transferred to junior clubs, which were thus being built up at the expense of the senior clubs. It was further resolved to play two sections —north and south, and that the Second Grade age limit be 19 years, making it identical with the present Third Grade. The drawing of new fixtures was felt over until definite entries could be received from Clutha and Romahapa-Owaka. The following clearances were approved of:—B. Harraway, Clutha to Star; Mit chell, Otago University to Valley; J Kerse and F. Simmers, Waikoikoi to Valley; H. Herbert, Toko to Waitahuna; Eric Wayne, Christchurch to Romahapa; T. Kitching, Heriot to Toko. The president reported on the conference held at Alexandra, and said it had Been very successful. Country Week Would be held in August (first week), When South Otago would play Eastern Districts, (Palmerston) in Dunedin. West Otago would play South Otago at Balclutha on August 23. and the South Otago ecven-a-side tournament would be held bn August 30.—The president Was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. The secretary was instructed to write to Eastern Districts (Gore),, asking them to submit d date for the annual match with South Otago at Balclutha. The secretary mentioned the matter of medals for the primary schools’ tournament, and it was decided that the unioij hear the expense of these up to the value of about £6. » _ The question of holding d dance on the night of the seven-a-side tournament was discussed, and it was decided to hold such a function, a committee to be set up later to conduct it. The secretary’s action in forwarding footballs to Owaka, Waipahi, and Lovell’s Flat Schools was approved.