FOOTBALL

Otago Witness, Issue 3859, 28 February 1928, Page 52

FOOTBALL

RUGBY

SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR.

WELLINGTON, February 20. Word has been received by the New Zealand Rugby Union that A. E. Cooke, (he well-known Rugby representative player, is not now available for the trip to South Africa. The matter has been referred to the chairman of the Selection Committee and an announcement regarding Cooke’s successor will be made at the next meeting of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union. OTAGO RUGBY UNION. A meeting of the executive of the Otago Rugby Union was held last week. Mr D. M. Stuart occupied the chair. A letter was received from the New Zealand Rugby Union stating that the medical examination of members of the team to tour South Africa would be carried out by doctors in each centre. Th' executive was asked to submit the names of three Dunedin doctors whom it considered would make a suitable board.— It was decided to submit the names of Drs Evans, Perry, and Harty. ANNUAL REPORT. The Secretary (Mr E. S. Wilson) submitted a draft copy of the annual report to be placed before the meeting of delegates. It read as follows:— In presenting the forty-seventh annual report your committee is pleased to state that the past year has been a most successful one in every way. We were favoured with delightful weather for our flag matches, though, unfortunately, towards the end of the season some of our important representative fixtures were interfered with by bad weather. The public continues to take a keen interest in the game, and the attendances were maintained until the final match of the season. A pleasing feature is the large number of players taking part in th e game, and great difficulty was experienced in securing sufficient grounds to play all the matches in the various grades each Saturday, and this could be arranged only by playing two matches, on nearly every ground. On numerous occasions two senior matches were arranged at C’arisbrook. By the early hour in which our supporters rolled up to Carisbrook it was proved that they appreciated witnessing the two senior games. The various competitions were keenly contested, the First Grade competition proving a most 1 interesting one, the result being in doubt until the last match. Your committee desires to congratulate the University A on again winning the First Grade competition. Trainin" College on winning the Second Grade, Pirates A on winning the Third Grade, Alhambra A the Fourth Grade Pirates the Fifth Grade, and Pirates the Sixth Grade.

Your committee desires to congratulate Messrs J. Here and D. Lindsay on being

selected as members of the New Zealand team to tour South Africa, also Messrs Messrs J. Hore, D. Lindsav, A. Holden, E. B btewart, C. Sonntag, W. M’Clymont, K Heazelwood. J. R. Hindenach, anj A. Marsltn on being selected to play in the New Zealand trial matches. Your committee has now up-to-dato dressing rooms and bathroom accommodation for the players at Carisbrook, and these improvements are greatly appreciated by the players. An addition lias also been made to the stand which will provide accommodation for another ftC'O patrons, while further _ improvements have been made in raising. the embankment round the ground. It ig felt these improvements will add to the comfort and convenience of our patrons. The Treasurer (Mr Nelson) submitted a comprehensive balance sheet. He said that the receipts from, the flag matches came to £2748, the highest amount that had ever been received in one season. In comparison with last year, and taking into consideration their liabilities and assets, they showed, a drop of £2lB on the year's work. This had been mostly brought about by the few representative matches which had been played in Dunedin last year, and the fact that the union had been put to considerable expense in sending Otago teams on tour. Accounts amounting to £1942 were passed for payment. It was decided to hold the annual meeting of the union on Saturday, March 31. BRITISH TEAM FOR DOMINION. LONDON, February 24. The committee of the Rugby Union has recommended to the International Board that it should send a team to New Zealand in 1930. ENGLAND BEATS FRANCE. LONDON, February 25. At Twickenham, in sunny weather, 50.009 spectators, including his Majesty the King, saw England beat France by 18 points to 8 points. IRELAND BEATS SCOTLAND. LONDON, February 25. At Edinburgh, before 60,000 spectators, and in ideal weather, Ireland beat Scotland by 13 points to 5 points. WARATAHS AT VANCOUVER. VANCOUVER, February 23. The Waratahs had an enthusiastic welcome on their arrival here. Saturday’s opening match will be against the Vancouver representatives. The ground is in perfect condition, and a huge crowd is certain. The second game will be against the University on Wednesday. There will be one game at Victoria before the visitors sail on March 7. February 25. The Waratahs scored a hard-fought victory over Vancouver representatives by nine points to six. Alarm and E Ford scored tries in the first spell, and Meagher oi.e in the second, while for the home side Davidson and Pinkham scored in the second spell, none being converted. . Ford was hurt in the first spell and retired. The struggle was a gruelling one throughout.