RUGBY

Evening Star, Issue 23369, 12 September 1939, Page 4

RUGBY

O.R.F.U. COMMITTEE Tlio Management Committee of tlxe Otago Rugby Football Union held its weekly meeting last night. The president (Mr D. C. Jolly) was chairman. PAYNE TROPHY MATCH. The referee of the Payne Trophy match on Saturday between the premier teams of the senior competitions at Dunedin and Christchurch—Union and Canterbury College respectively—will be Mr D. Mackay. The line umpires for the match, which is to be played at Carisbrook, will bo Messrs J. B. Burton and H. _C. Williamson. The curtain-raiser is to be between teams representing the primary schools of Otago and Southland. Mr W. Stewart was appointed referee. OTAGO v. NORTH OTAGO, Mr V. G. Cgvanagh was appointed manager ,of the" Otago team to play North Otago on Saturday at Oamaru. RETURN MATCH WITH SOUTHLAND. The committee confirmed September 30 as the date for the return match at Dunedin between Otago and Southland. The New Zealand Union is to be written to asking that arrangements be made to release as many Otago players as possible after the second trial match on September 27. COMPETITIONS CLOSED. Taieri was declared winners of the senior subsidiary competition, which was declared closed. The club is to be presented with a trophy. Alhambra and Zingari were declared the winners of the second grade, section 2, and the fourth grade, section 2. competitions respectively on the recommendation of the Flag Committee. These competitions were declared closed. REPORT ON TOUR. The tour of the Otago team was the subject of a detailed report by the managers, Messrs A. H. Cameron and A. C. Haynes. They were of the opinion that had Otago’s backs < obtained more of the ball the side might have won the match against Wellington. The gate was the second largest for an mterprovincinl gaine at Wellington, the record takings being against Hawke’s Bay when that province was at its best a few years ago. The report detailed the interruption of the journey at Marton during the stage from Wellington to Auckland through the train being delayed because of slips. At Whangarei the around was very sodden. In this match Black distinguished himself at fullback. The Whangarei gate was the second biggest taken there. At Auckland the ground was in a bad condition also, and after 10 minutes’ play the players of each side could not he distinguished. As was the case throughout the tour the team was splendidly entertained. Incidentally, the action of the union in having a masseur with the team was fully justified. The Otago side was a model of good behaviour, both on and off the field, and was highly spoken of everywhere it went. After the Wanganui game the tourists went to Hawera, where the game was played against Taranaki. The managers’ report detailed the remaining matches against Canterbury and South Canterbury. The Timaru ground was the firmest played on during the tour. Both managers said they had travelled with several teams, but in tbeir opinion the conduct of this one could not have been excelled. Messrs Haynes and Cameron were thanked for their report. UNEDIFYING INCIDENTS. The conduct of certain West Taieri players and some spectators during the second grade match against Union at Outran! a fortnight ago was the subject of an inquiry. The referee, the coach (Mr Berry), and the captain of the West Taieri team (Mr Bathgate) wore present at the inquiry at the request of the committee. There were allegations of late tackling and obstruction, obscene language by a player, and questioning hy both spectators and players of the' referee s decision. „ . After discussing the charges fully in committee it was decided to strongly protest against the conduct of the players and the spectators, and to point out to the dub that the committee was not satisfied that all steps had been taken by the club to discover the offenders. If there was any recurrence of these incidents the committee would consider if any more matches would he played at Outram. The club js to be asked to have ropes along the sideline to keep spectators off the field. DEPLETED TEAM. The Pirates Club is to be asked for an explanation why only three of the C team assembled for the game on Saturday against Crncn Island, which was awarded the match,. SATURDAY’S MATCHES. The following arc the fixtures for Saturday. The games will commence at 3, unless otherwise stated:— Second Grade (Section I).—Zingari v. Training College, Tahuna No. 1 (Mr S. Butler). Third Grade (Section 2.). —Green Island v. University F, Green Island (Mr D. A. Kilgour); Pirates B v. Ravensbonrne, Ravenshourne No. 1 (Mr G. Procter) ; Taieri v. University F, Mosgiel No. 1 (Mr W. Baxter); Union v. Port Chalmers. Port Chalmers (Mr W. Flawn); Training College v. Pirates C, Oval No. 1, 1.30 (Mr C. Clark). Fifth Grade (Section 1). —Southern v. Alhambra A, Opoho No. 1, 1.15 (Mr I. B. Graham) ; Union v. Kaiknrai. Bathgate Park, 1.15 (Mr H. Hoskins) ; Dunedin v. Green Island, Oval No. 2, 1.15 (Mr F. Lowry) ; Pirates A v. Alhambra C, Oval No. 3, 1.15 (Mr H A. Mitchell). Fifth Grade (Section 2). —Alhambra B v. Pirates B, Opoho No. 2, 1.15 (Mr H. P. Dunn) ; Zingari v. Mosgiel Hisrh School, Montecillo No. 1, 1.15 (Mr R. Calvert 1 ; Ravenshourne v. Port Chalmers, Ravensbonrne No. 2 (Mr W* Connor) ; Technical v. High School, Littlebmirne Park, 1.15 (Mr R. Hedges). PRIMARY SCHOOLS. The following is the draw for tomorrow : Bantam Grade (Final) .—High Street v. Caversham, at Oval No. 1, at 2.30 (Mr F. Lowry). All players training for representative teams are wanted at Oval No. 3 at 2.30.