OTAGO RUGBY UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 56

OTAGO RUGBY UNION.

The weekly meeitinsr oi the committee of the O.R.F.U. was held on Monday in the secretary's office, au' 1 was attended by Messrs Campbell (president), Sineock, Munro, Priest, Cavanaph. M'Laren, Wilson, Dunn, Dey, Macdonald. Harris, Hutchison, and Drs Crawford and HunteT. A letter was read from the secretary of the Dunedin Football Club complaining that during the Senior Grade match Dunedin v. Union, played on the North Ground on Saturday last, Clarke, full back for the former team, was struck on the face by a i spectator. The incident was reported to Mr Foster, the refereo, and the offender pointed out to him by the Dunedin captain, but the referee took no action in the matter. Complaint was also made that such conduct, together with the very bad state of the ground and the time wasted putting back spectators, was not what a senior team should have to put up with.—The Referee (Mr F. Foster) also wrote to thecommittee reporting the matter, but stating that he did not see the offence. He remonstrated with the person who' committed the assault, and endeavoured to find out his name after the match, but could get no satisfaction.—Mr Sincook said the Union Club had no official on the ground during the match, and he thought fcb-ere was no reason why spectators should be allowed inside the chains.—The President expressed the opinion that the Union Club should be written to asking them to appoint officials to see that tho lines were kept clear of spectators, and if it was. found that the ground could not be kept clear of spectators the union should consider the advisability of not playing matches on that ground. There was no doubt there was considerable* difficulty in keeping open grounds clear of obstruction by the public.—Tfc was pointed out by several members that there was encroachment on the Caledonian and other grounds, and an opinion was expressed that if the public persisted in encroaching upon the grounds referees should have power to stop tho gam© altogether.—lt was resolved, after discussion, that the Union Club be written to asking that club to appoint officials at senior matches on the club's ground to keep the ground clear. In response to a request from tlie Sbag Point Club that a Second or Third Grade bye-team should meet a team from the club at Waikouaiti or Palinorston on Saturday next, Dr Crawford was authorised to arrange, if possible, for a University team to go up to Waikouaiti, the union to pay travelling expenses. A letter was received from the Green Island Club stating that a Zingari-Richmond player who was understood to be under suspension for two years played against Green Island on Saturday.—The secretarywas instructed to reply that no player of the name mentioned was on the books as having been disqualified during the past two years.

A letter was received from the New Zealand Union re passage and date of arrival in Wellington of the Otag-o section of South Island representatives. — Approved. The Southland Rugby Union wrote that until replies were received from northern unions the dote for the annual match could not be suggested^ also requesting the O.R.F.TJ. to agree to Wakatipu, Wallace, Mataura, Awarua, and Invercargill electorates being included in Southland boundaries. — Secretary to reply that Otago boundaries are the provincial boundaries of Otago. The Pirates Club was granted the use of the Carisbrook Ground for June 3 on the usual terms.

The Balclutha Club made a request to have fixtures arranged. — To be requested to bring the matter up at a future date. A letter from the Upper Clutha Club was received' protesting against the decision of the referee in the match Ban n ockbar n vUpper .Clutha*— Referred ;to referee for at report, Clutha Club- -to send in necessary deposit • fee. A letter from th 6' Railway Locomotive Club with regard to* the dressing room at Montecillo was referred to the ZingariRiohmond Club.

An application was received from the Zingarr-Richnaond Club to play the Athletics on the Caledonian Ground on Saturday. — The Flag Committee to arrange with the Zinguri-Rickmond to play the match

Ji Athletics on Monday and with Uhi■versity on. Saturday. The inquiry into the action of Green in playing as a. substitute in the Zingari-S-ichmond match against, the Alhamhra was continued, and after Green hdd explained liis action and evidence on the matter had been considered, it was resolved that Gr&^n Ibe considered a member of the Union Club for the present season. The Hon. Secretary of the Kaikorai Football Club wrote, re the match Taieri Rovers Second v- Kaikorai. played at Mosgiel last Saturday, and. which- resulted in favour of fthe_ former team by 6 points to 5, that the Kaikorai ,Clu3> protested against the match being a-warded to the Taieri Rovers, on the ground ilia* the latter played the following players, who "were graded as First Grade or ordinary Second Grade: —J. Thompson, Melhalski, and M'lnfcyre. It was pointed out that this Taieri Rovers First defaulted in their roatoh on -Saturday, and that these players afterwards- took part in a match in the lower grade. —Resolved that the Rovers Club l>e -written to and asked to give an explanation. " • Mr Dey called attention to a wrong impression tnat had'irot abroad in regard to ■fche -union's action in regard to the Chrisiiaa Brothers' School players, and he said some very- unfair reflections had been made upon the action of the president. —Messrs Sin cock and Dunn also spoke on the matter, and the President.said all that had been done -was ix> recommend the-Schools' Association to put the Christian Brothers' players a- grade higher, as they were too big for -school competitions. The Christian Brothers' thereupon, at tho next meeting, sent in a letter intimating that they wished to - -withdraw from Rugby football alto-g-ether. and the matter was then referred to,the Schools' Association. And on this subject he desired it to go to the public that it was not the High School First Fif•teen that was playing in school competitions, bul the First Fifteen of the High School Juniors. The High School had one team playing in the Third Grade and one in cthe Fourth, and these boys were smaller than the boys who were playing in the Schools' Fifteen. He felt certain of the fact that the big boys playing in the Christian Brothers* team had a good deal to do •wiih killing Rugby football among the schools. ( ! i ' . ' ] ; , ' ' ] • ! , ' j "