SOUTHLAND’S CHALLENGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27450, 25 July 1950, Page 8

SOUTHLAND’S CHALLENGE

Curtain-raisers Arranged MANY SUBSIDIARY FIXTURES No fewer than 19 grounds will be required for matches arranged in conjunction with the visit of the Southland team for the Ranfurly Shield match against Otago on August 5. This was stated by Mr E. J. Kerr, chairman of the Flag Commit.tee, at last night's meeting of the Management Committee of the Otago Rugby Football Union, at which the president, Mr H. G. Munro, occupied the chair. Mr Kerr said that if ground conditions permitted, there would be three court?in-raisers" to the shield match against Southland —at 10.45 a.m. Southland and Otago primary schools' A Grade representative teams would play, at noon, the first fifteens of the Marist Brothers’ High School (Invercargill) and Christian Brothers’ High School would meet, and the third curtain-raiser betwen Otago and Southland Third Grade teams would be played at 1.19 p.m. Arrangements had been made for the cur-tain-raisers to be transferred to other grounds if necessary. Second fifteens from the Christian Brothers' and Marist Brothers’ High Schools and the Otago and Southland primary schools’ B Grade representative teams would meet at Bathgate Park Mr O. Knox was appointed manager of the Otago Ranfurly Shield' team for the Southland match. Date for North Otago Game The arranging of a match between a strong Otago side and North Otago, at Oamaru, was further deferred to the next meeting, the chairman of the Flag Committee, Mr E. J. Kerr stating that a date could not be decided on'until the Canterbury Union suggested a date for the Payne Trophy match between the premier teams of Otago and Canterbury. Mr Kerr said that a date had also to be fixed for the match between an Otago team and a RSA team. It was decided to write to the Canterbury Union asking it to suggest a date for the Payne Trophy match, the North Otago Union to be advised why the decision had been deferred. Canterbury Team’s Visit Information was received from the Canterbury Union that the Canterbury team would arrive from Invercargill by the night express on Sunday, August 13. Canterbury will play Otago on August 16 and leave, the following day for Timaru. Its tour comprises matches against Southland, Otago and South Canterbury, the Otago game being a Ranfurly Shield Challenge. School Matches The King’s High School was granted permission to play the following matchesr —First XV v. Gore High School, at King's. August 8; junior XV v. Palmerston District High School, at King’s, August 8: junior XV v. Alexandra District High School, August 15; second XV v. South Otago High School and third XIV v. South Otago High School second XV. at Balclutha, August 16. The Christian Brothers’ High School was granted permission for its first XV. and two junior teams to play matches against St. Kevin’s College teams at Oamaru next Monday. Junior coaches Mr A. A. Tyrle, of the Zingari-Rich-mond Club, was appointed coach of the junior representative side to play Southland at Invercargill on August 19. Mr W. Stewart, of the Pirates’ Club, was appointed coach of the Third Grade representative team. South Otago Request The South Otago Sub-union wrote seeking a game for its Third Girade representative side against an Otago Fourth Grade team or one of the leading Fourth Grade teams, possibly as a curtain raiser to one of the shield games. Tile suggestion was referred to tjie Junior Advisory Committee; Match with Wanganui A request was leceived from the Otago Hunt Club that the starting time of the Ranfurly Shield match between Otago and Wanganui should be delayed from 2.45 p.m to 3.15 p.m. A letter from the secretary of the club, Mr C. R. Caffin, stated that the club had altered the date of its race meeting from September 2 to September 9 because on the latter date there had been no shield Rugby game, but since then Otago had accepted a special challenge from Wanganui. The club had decided to start its first race at 10.30 a.m. to allow those patrons who wished to go to Carisbrook to witness the first five races and then proceed to the football. The union decided to accede. to the Hunt Club’s request.