OTAGO TEAM HONOURED

Evening Star, Issue 22464, 8 October 1936, Page 5

OTAGO TEAM HONOURED

GOMLIMENTARY DINNER TO PLAYERS TRIBUTES TO FINE TEAM WORK Tributes to the individual and concerted work of the members of the Otago Rugby team in withstanding eight challenges for the Ranfurly Shield and to the loyalty of the reserves in attending regularly at practices were paid last night at a dinner at the Excelsior Hotel, Dr A. Perry (president of the' Otago Union) presiding. The members and the emergencies of the team, who were the guests of the Rugby Union, were each presented with a travelling rug. “The Otago Team ” was proposed by Dr Perry, who said the year had been the most notable in the history of the game in Otago, the team having defended the shield on no fewer than eight occasions. The members of the Rugby Union, ex-members of the union, and others present congratulated the team on its outstanding performance. The holding of the Ranfurly Shield was no sinecure either to the players or to the officials of the union. Before each fjamc there had been a feeling of tension and seriousness, which he thought detracted from the pleasure of the game, which ought to be a wholesome pastime. However, they held the shield, and he hoped they would hold it for some time to come. Referring to the play of members of the team, Dr Perry said there were two he would like specially to mention. Ono of them was Jack Taylor, who was undoubtedly the best fullback they had seen in all the games played in Dunedin this year. The game Taylor had played at Invercargill on a” ground that was half under water was the best, ho thought, ho bad ever seen. He congratulated Taylor on that excellent display, as well as on his other games. He would also like to mention Jack Horo. (Applause.) He thought that Mr Horc’s play in 1930 was better than in any previous season, good as his other games had been. He had proved a wonderful leader, and he had lead his team not only by word of mouth, hut by his own play. Mr Hore was now giving up football after a wonderful football career. (Applause.) Dr Perry said he would also like to speak of the emergencies. These men had_ not secured the full fruits of the interprovincial games, but they had assisted Otago more than perhaps was realised. The emergencies had trained assiduously and had been present on every occasion to fill a gap if it were necessary. He might say, in the words of ft... n'-’ct. as regarded the emergencies, that “ thev also serve who onlv stand

jui i ivit iii< would cmiHndo by spying tlr.it the playing ol' Hie game was ffipre than the prize and that it was

an honour in itself to play for Otago. (Applause.) Air Hore, in replying to the toast, said it had been very pleasing to him to he captain of such a very fine side. It had resisted eight challenges and had proved that Otago could play really good football. It was not so much the winning of the shield that counted as the way in which the games were won. Whatever small fooling might, have been displayed on the field, however, was soon forgotten after the match. He paid a tribute to the sporting spirit of the emergencies in standing by the team as tho.v had done. It had been no trouble to him to captain the side. The team’s success was due to n very largo extent to the, harmony and the team spirit that had existed among the players. The help of the Messrs Cavanagh, their coaches, had played no small part in the victories of the Otago team. Harry Simon had always assisted him, and thn members of the Otago Union had also played their part by encouraging the players (Applause.) Mr H. Sipioa proposed the toast of “ The Otago Rugby Eootball Union,” and congratulated the members of the union on the thought which prompted them to do honour to the members of the team in this way. Reasonable requests had always been met by the union, and happy relations existed between the officials and the players. In replying to the toast, Air S. G. Styche said the year had been a strenuous one. He did not think any other union in Mew Zealand was more in touch with the players than was the case in Otago. The union recognised that it owed a duty to its players, and it tried to do its best in this connection. It was a pleasure for the union to do all it could for the players, and mi excellent spirit always existed between ihctiK (Applause.) Mr R. W. S. Lotting proposed the toast of “ The Old Brigade,” and said he thought they would have to go a long way to find a better sot of men than those who had administered the game here since the inception of the union. 'Die speaker quoted from the early records, and said it would he seen that Otago had had very good teams right from the beginning. The team this year, he thought, would be remembered for its team spirit and camaraderie. Mr .Hotting paid a tribute to the administrators during tho years.

Sir James Hutchison, who replied to tlio toast, said lie could claim lo have seen an earlier Otago team than anyone else in the room that night. As a youngster at school he had seen an Otago team play in Wellington in 1877. Ho thought that tho only survivor of that Otago team was Hr A. V. Smith, fncludod in the Wellington team of that year was Aft - Allan Bishop, who had resided in Dunedin for some years. He had also seen an Otago team play in Wellington in and on that nccasion Sir Henry Braddon. Bob Gidbraith, and four Allans of the Taieri elan were in the Otago team. The speaker said that the record of the Otago team this season had been very gratifying, but lie had to admit that on the occasions when Otago met Auckland and Manawatu lie had had mo-

incuts of uneasiness. The speaker re--1 erred to the fine games played by Taylor at full-back, and mentioned tlie play of the other Otago backs. He said he would not mention any of the Otago forwards. They were indeed an admirable pack, and were of uniform sound playing ability. It was quite true that they might have a team which was better than any other team and yet have no member of it of outstanding excellence. With all respect to the New Zealand selectors—he noticed they had ono with them that night—he would venture to suggest that more members of the Otago team had been worthy of selection for New Zealand than had been selected, not only on the performance of the team as a whole, hut on their work as individual players. (Applause.) Otago had not quite its share in the New Zealand team it should have got. (Applause.)

Mr Crosby Morris also replied to the toast. He said the public of Otago had been very pleased with the performance of the representative team this year. Its success had been due to its very fine combination. Groat changes had taken place in the game since the early days. Speaking of Jack Taiaroa, who had been referred to by Mr Dotting. Mr Morris said that he was an individualist. Passing was nut much known then, and Taiaroa scored his tries by his strength and determination. He was pleased to see that the hard kicking of Hie Otago forwards which used to"’ohtain in the old days was not now indulged in. As regarded the adminis-

tration of the game in Otago, he thought they were very fortunate in the men who controlled their football. When he was a player he, too, had thought that the members of the Otago Rugby Union wore a lot of old fossils—(laughter) —but he had later changed his opinion. The speaker referred to the work Mr If. Harris had done for football in Otago and New Zealand. Mr Harris always took a very fair attitude in any business that came before the union. The speaker said that he thought it would bo a good plan for the union to consider the construction of a new stand at Carishrook in place of tho old pavilion, and that it should place in it a'memorial to Mr Henry Rose. Air Rose had really secured Carishrook Ground by his financial assistance, and he had done a great deal for both cricket and football. (Applause.) Mr A. C. Hanlon, K.C., also replied to the toast of “ The Old Brigade.” He said lie had first played football at Port Chalmers, and went on to give some amusing reminiscences and anecdotes of the game. Ho thought it a fine idea that Mr Rose’s name should ho associated with any new building at Carishrook. Tho speaker also paid a tribute to the line services of the secretary, Mr E. S. Wilson.

Mr H. Harris proposed the toast ot “ The Coaches,” Messrs V. 0. Cavanagh, sen. and juu., and paid a tribute to the great part they had played in tlie success of the Otago team. Mr V. 0. Cavanagh, sen., in responding, said he was very proud to be

connected with Otago football. He spoke strongly against any change in tho rules of the game as laid down by the English Rugby Union. Mr E, H. Campbell proposed the toast of “ The Otago Selectors.’’ Mr Pearson, in replying on behalf of the selectors, said that as regards the representation of Otago, some of tho players who might have been considered for higher honours had not been available. He praised the good work of the trainer ot the team. Air “ Snowy ” APQuoen, and said that his attention to the players had been of great assistance.

Tho chairman then presented each member of ihe Otago team with a travelling rug. During the evening songs were given by Afessrs Arthur Macdonald and E. Murphy, Air Alf. Pettitt played the accompaniments.