TEAMS ENTERTAINED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26545, 21 August 1947, Page 8

TEAMS ENTERTAINED

OTAGO FORWARDS PRAISED The two teams were entertained by the Otago Rugby Football Union in the Henry Rose Pavilion after the match, the president of the union, Mr R,JW. S. Botting, being in the chair. The Mayor, Mr Cameron, extended a welcome to the visitors. Proposing the health of the Auckland team, Mr Botting mentioned Auckland’s P ar * ticularly fine record in Ranfurly Shield matches, and said that its players had done nothing to dim the lustre of its previous achievements in that days match. The outstanding features of the game in his opinion, said Mr Botting, were Auckland’s splendid effort in the first spell, when the challengers looked as if nothing could stop them, and the truly amazing effort of the Otago forwards in the sec.ond spell. Mr G. Orrell, manager of the Auckland team, and chairman of the .Management Committee of the Auckland Rugby Football Union, said that he considered Otago thoroughly deserved its win. Auckland had put all it had into its effort and had done its best, but its best had not.been quite good enough for the day. v Mr F. R. Allen, captain of the Auckland team, congratulated Otago on its outstanding win, and proposed the health of the winning team, the reply being in the hands of the Otago captain. Mr R. R. Elvidge. The toast of the referee was proposed by Mr E. York, assistant manager of the Auckland team, and replied to by Mr L. Walsh (Canterbury). Mr T. Pearce, a member of the Management Committee of the Auckland Union, and a former representative player, said that the outstanding feature of the game was the work of the Otago forwards. Expressing appreciation of Auckland’s generous tributes, Mr Botting said that it should be a matter for serious thought by the Zealand Union and the New Zealand selectors that Otago and Southland, which had put up great performances against two teams supposed to include the cream of New Zealand Rugby players had only two forwards between them in the New Zealand team in Australia—L. Connolly and C. W. Willocks.