SOUTHLAND GAMES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27082, 17 May 1949, Page 6

SOUTHLAND GAMES

DATES NOT SUITABLE

NO CHANGE BY OTAGO

A decision reaffirming a previous motion to play Southland at Dunedin on August 13 and at Invercargill on September 10 was made at a meeting of the Otago Rugby Union last night when a letter was received from the Southland union asking for the first match to be played at Invercargill.

“The Southland union wishes the dates to be August 13 at Invercargill and September 10 at Dunedin,”' the letter stated. i“Our reason for doing this is that the Southland union feels that with only one match in August (a Wednesday) compared with Otago’s three matches (two Saturdays and a Wednesday), we are being unduly penalised by your decision. “These Otago and Southland fixtures each year are regarded as our most-important fixtures, as you know, and we feel that it is our turn to have the first match. The fact that your union wishes to give us an early challenge is acknowledged, but we do not wish, to take advantage of it. If the two unions are not able to reach an agreement we intend to ask the New Zealand union to give a decision on the matter.” Members felt that it was not fair to ask the Otago team to play a match at Invercargill, return to Dunedin and play a game on the following Wednesday before leaving for the north on the next day.

A decision to send a party of 25, including 21 players, two managers, a coach and a masseur, on the northern tour with the Otago party, was made It was felt that a coach should be present as there would be further representative matches when the team returned to Dunedin.

Although it was an essential part of good football to see that the ball was scraped out of a ruck, it was seldom seen in competition matches in Dunedin, said Dr A. Perry. Usually forwards went in and tried to scrape out the man lying on the ground as well as the ball.

Dr Perry moved that the Referees Association be notified of the incidents of illegal and dangerous play in loose rucks in the Dunedin competition. The motion was canned. Transfers to. clubs in Dunedin were granted as follows: —C. M. McLaren from Poneke, Wellington, to Pirates; W. L. Hailes from Balfour to Training College; G. Hood from Alhambra. Dunedin, to Southern.

FACING FINANCIAL 1 LOSS

Special Correspondent INVERCARGILL. May 16.

“ Talcing the forthcoming tour Into account, It will mean a big financial loss if the games are played as Otago wants them.” said Mr Harold Strang, at tonight’s meeting of the Southland Rugby Union. September 10 did not suit Southland for the Invercargill game. Mr Leckie said the games were played' alternately, and it was Southland's turn to have the first game. Because Otago held the shield he did not think it made any difference. Last year Southland had readily given way to Otago because it was Otago’s centennial year. " The attitude of Otago is disappointing and rather surprising,” he declared. “If the two unions fall out over the matter it might destroy something built up over the years." It was agreed to send a deputation of Mr Leckie and Mr R. J. McEwan to Dunedin to put Southland’s position before Otago if an amicable agreement could not be reached.