Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 1937. ROUGH FOOTBALL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 245, 28 July 1937, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 1937. ROUGH FOOTBALL.

The fact that the Ashburton Rugby Union has had occasion this season to inquire into the circumstances of the ordering off of four players on the ground of rough play indicates the necessity of adopting a firm attitude in regard to offences against the rules of Rugby- R. is gratifying that for at least the two previous seasons the drastic step has not had to be taken, but that fact, so far from mitigating the cases into notice, intensifies their seriousness. Rough play on the part of even one player can spoil what would otherwise be a good match. introduction of the element of rough play, if not checked at the outset, spreads trouble as a poison quickly infects the whole body. Players who are ordinarily clean participants, who go on the field from pure love of the game, are naturally tempted to retaliate against unfair tactics and a whole team may thus become demoralised. The finer points of play are forgotten and the standard suffers accordingly. Thus from the point of view of the footballers themselves it is desirable that no discordant note be introduced. If football in the County is to be maintained at a standard that will bring honour when our teams are pitted against outside fifteens every subversive influence must be eradicated. So much for the game’s sake. There is the further aspect of public support to be considered. If the Union is to fulfil its object of fostering the game among as large a section of our young people as possible, it must have the support of those whose playing days are over, for the provision of the funds necessary for carrying on the work. If that support is to be counted upon, the play must be attractive in all respects. Hence it is incumbent upon the Union to allow no loophole for undesirable tendencies to creep in. Flagrant breaches of the rules should be dealt with severely; offenders should have to submit to penalties that really are penalties and not incidents to be regarded lightly. An authoritative statement of the Union’s determination to ensure clean sportsmanlike football will remove at its birth a tendency that, if allowed to continue unchecked, may harm what is at present an excellent record.