OTAGO RUGBY UNION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23205, 1 June 1937, Page 5

OTAGO RUGBY UNION

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE A meeting of the Management Committee of the Otago Rugby Union was held last night. Mr J. B. Wootton occupied the chair, NO TRIAL MATCH Mr J. Pearson reported on behalf of the Selection Committee that it was not thought desirable to play a trial match on June 9. Mr Pearson said that the players had had to play on heavy grounds this season and it seemed probable that they would have lour months of football. Most of the senior clubs notified that they were disinclined to play on June 9. —It was decided that a full round of senior matches would not be played on June 9, but that an endeavour be made to play the match between University A and Pirates on that date. In the event of the University A and Pirates’ match not being played the Flag Committee, in association with Mr Pearson, will try to arrange another game. “ SWINGING AN ARM ” The referee (Mr J. Cornford) had reported to the meeting of the committee last week that he had cautioned a Zingari-RichmOnd player in this club’s game against Pirates A for striking an opponent. The committee had considered that the penalty was not sufficient to meet the offence and decided to ask the referee and the player to attend last night’s meeting. The rdferee and the player appeared before the committee. The player said that he had no recollection of hitting the Pirates youth, who was a great friend of his. If ne did hit his opponent it was a pure accident. The referee said that he saw the Zingari youth swinging his arm. but ■ as there was an element of doubt whether the blow had connected he had not ordered him off. He-had given a penalty kick against the Zingari l °The committee considered that on the evidence a caution had been sum* cient, and it was decided to place the Zingari player’s name on the cautioned list. SOUTHERN THIRD GRADE TEAM A letter was received from the Southern Club withdrawing a Third Grade team from the competition.— Referred to the Flag Committee. NOMINATION OF PLAYERS A letter was received from the New Zealand Rugby Union notifying that the date of receiving nominations of plavers to take part in the North v. South Island match and the trial games at Wellington had been extended to June 15.—Noted. PERMISSION TO BROADCAST Permission was granted to the Otago Football Association to broadcast the test match on Saturday. TRANSFERS S. J. M'Connell was granted a transfer from the Wellington Club to the Dunedin Club, and E. D. M'Dougall from the Albion Club. Gore, to* the Union Club. OTAGO B TOURING TEAM The sub-committee appointed to arrange the itinerary for the tour of the country of an Otago B team made the following recommendation:—August 7, play Eastern Districts: August 14. Maniototo: August 17, Vincent: August 19. Tuapeka; August 21, West Otago; August 24, South Tuapeka, The team is to return home to play South Otago on August 28.—The itinerary was approved. SPRINGBOKS’ TOUR The New Zealand Rugby Union wrote stating that Mr Riesop would bo the Railway Denartment’s representative travelling with the South African team. —Noted. GROUNDS IN BAD STATE It was decided to write to the City Council drawing its' attention to the bad state of the. North Ground, and asking if somethirig could be done to put it in better order. It was also decided, to ask the Works Committee to inspect and report on the Mosgiel ground, which it was stated was not in a fit state for play. At a later stage Mr H. Harris referred again to the state of the grounds He said that there was no doubt some of them were in a deplorable state. The union paid rent for the corporation grounds. During the summer the corporation had men working on the grounds, and as much was paid for their football grounds as for the cricket grounds. He thought they should write to the City Council drawing attention to the bad state of the grounds. No work was being done to them in the winter. The union had the lease of Carisbrook and it put a lot of work into it. and at the present time Carisbrook was the only really good ground to play on. Mr Harris then moved that a letter be sent to the City Council drawing its attention to the bad state of most of the grounds. Mr V. G. Cavanagh said that the cause of the bad state of the grounds was the lack of proper drainage. The City Council should get someone with knowledge to look after the grounds, as the Reserves Committee knew nothing at all about them, He would venture to say that the council had spent three times more on the Oval than had been spent on Carisbrook, and all they had at the Oval was a mud puddle for seagulls (laughter). The union’s Carisbrook ground was a matter for civic pride. It was time the public woke up to the fact that they are spending money on a ground which was a disgrace. . Mr I. Grant and the chairman also slated that some of the grounds were in a bad state. Mr A, H. Cameron said that they had not yet had a reply to the complaint of the deputation from the union which waited on the Reserves Committee. Should they not, he asked, await h reply? Mr Harris said that the deputation had waited on the Reserves Committee a fortnight ago, and they had heard nothing. The North Ground only wanted some sand on it. They were putting sand on Carisbrook every W lt k was stated that sand was being put on the Kaikorai ground, which was also under the control of the union. ' Mr Harris: The grounds are a disgrace to the city. , The motion was carried. NO MATCHES ON SATURDAY The Flag Committee recommended that only the senior matches be played on Saturday. In answer to a question, the chairman said that the reason why the * junior games were not being Played was that a considerable number of the grounds' were not fit for play* committee said that they would have a sufficient number of Saturdays to complete both their senior and junior games. There would be eight Saturdays up till July 24. Mr Cavanagh said he saw no reason why any matches should be played on Saturday. He thought it would be a good sporting gesture to the Football Association and also to their visitors from overseas if they played no matches on Saturday. Their games were set down to start at half-past j, and the Association test game at a

quarter to 3, so that there was not a sufficient Interval in the times if their phiyers wanted to see the Association game. Mr Cavanagh moved that no matches be played on Saturday. Mr W. Glengarry seconded the motioii. Mr Douglas Spedding moved as an amendment that the recommendation of the Flag Committee be approved. Mr R. W. S. Dotting seconded the amendment, which was lost by a large majority, , No games, therefore, will be played on Saturday. HARDSHIP ON PLAYERS Mr D. C. Jolly brought up a matter which he claimed was a hardship on players. Under the rules of the union a player who came to Dunedin from another province had to stand down for a fortnight before he could play with his new club. He thought that this rule was too drastic. He understood that the rule had been brought in to prevent clubs from importing players for a particular match. When, however, a player came from another province to Dunedin to live he should be allowed to play as soon as he arrived. It was pointed out that to alter the existing rule a special meeting of the union would have to be called, unless it were held over to the annual meetins, Mr Harris said that he had never been in favour of the rule, which, he understood, was not on the books ot any other union in the Dominion, voices: Oh, yes it is. Mr Spedding said that the Southland Union had recently called a meeting to have the rule deleted. , The secretary explained that no transfer could be granted by the committee, according to their flag rules, after July 17. , Other speakers spoke in support of deleting the rule, and it was decidea that the secretary note the matter and include it in the business for next annual meeting of the union. iEASTERN DISTRICTS MATCH In the Eastern Districts competition Palmerston will meet Dunback, at Dunback. Mr J. Aitchison has been appointed referee. SECONDARY SCHOOLS The following is the draw for matches on Saturday, commencing at Q 15 a m *—— ‘a Grade.—T.H.S. v. K.H.S. B, at Hancock Park (Mr D. Kilgour): 0 B.H.S. A v. B, at Littlebourne Park (Mr E. Murphy); K.H.S. A a bye. B Grade—O.B.H.S. A v. C.8.H.5., at Montecillo No, 1 (Mr R, Torrance); K.H.S. A v. 0.8.H.5. B, at Montecillo No. 2 (Mr A. Williams): K.H.S. B v. T.H.S., at Tonga Park (Mr J. Aitcheson); M’Glashan College v. Mosgiel D.H.S., to be played later. C Grade.—O.B.H.S. A v. K.H.S. B, at King’s H.S. ground (Mr A. Fleury); T.H.S. B v. K.H.S. A, at Tahuna No. 1 (Mr V. X. Kirby); C.B.H.S. v. 0.8.H.5. C. at Opoho No. 1 (Mr R. G. Ledlie); T.H.S, A v, 0.8.H.5. B, at Opoho No. 2 (Mr A, Morgan). D Grade.—T.H.S. v. K.H.S. B, at Tahuna No. 2 (Mr J. F. Egan); M’Glashan College v. K.H.S. A. to be played later: C.B.H.S. v. 0.8.H.5., at Logan Park (Mr A. N. Lawson). PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ GAMES The following is the primary schools’ Rugby draw for to-morrow:— B Grade.—Caversham v. Forbury, at Tonga Park. „ T , . r Bantam Grade.—Macandrew Road I v. Caversham I, at Bathgate Park 1" Musselburgh I v. Kensington, at Oval 1 • St Clair I v. Forbury I, at Hancock Park; Musselburgh II v. Forbury 11, at Tahuna Park; Caversham II v. Macandrew 11. at Bathgate Park 2; Normal I v. Momington, at Oval 2; Kaikorai v. High Street, at Montecillo 2; _ High Street II v. Normal 11, at Montecillo 1 : Arthur Street v. George Street 11, at Oval 3.