Rugby

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 20, 3 August 1949, Page 5

Rugby

WHAKATANE-ROTORUA SHIELD GAME WAS MARRED BY UNSAVOURY INCIDENTS

(By ”Kai ti tiro”)

Whakatane seems destined never to hold the Te Hurinui Apanui Shield again and after the game at Rotorua on Saturday followers of rugby in this Union must be almost convinced that this is the case. For years now this trophy has dodged the blue players although on many occasions they have produced the best team in the Bay of Plenty. But, such is the rugby game and irrespective of what may happen the true footballer must take his defeats with the same grace as victories. One may hope that for the good of the sport all players and followers will always do this in the future, come what may. But, unfortunately, this was not the case on Saturday when, of several unsavoury incidents, the worst happened after the game when the referee was mobbed by a crowd of spectators and actually struck twice. A disgraceful affair which should not have occurred, whatever happened on the field. A decision was given. The players abided by it and everyone else should have done so without such a show, of protest. It was an ugly scene, which did not help the affair and one which was not worthy of a game of football.

When this is started in sport it is time sport is stopped. To start such a scene is not worthy of a New Zealander and makes one think we are losing our sense of sportsmanship. It is unfortunate that Saturday’s match, one of the finest forward games I have yet seen in the Bay of Plenty, should have been marred by unfortunate incidents, which climaxed with the referee disallowing, what - every other person on the ground must surely have thought was a fair try to Whakatane. I must confess I am still completely baffled as to why the try was disallowed. At the 1/me, a few minutes until the end of play, both teams were equal when the ball came to Welch, the Whakatane fullback, who kicked, ran up and took the ball, passed into the forwards where it finally came out to Hurram at half. He whipped the ball to Rolfe who passed on to Ball. He then passed infield to Rolfe again, who went over to touch down, what I considered was a fair try, midway between the goal posts and the corner flag. He then got up and ran back to shake hands with the others of the team, leaving the ball on the ground. It appeared to me that the referee had awarded a fair try and I was certain that he indicated so -after he blew his whistle. So did everyone else on the field because most of the Rotorua players were behind the posts waiting for the kick at goal while Welch was looking round for a position from which to attempt the conversion. The touch judges both ran behind the posts. Then came the surprise. The referee appeared to change his mind and awarded a drop out 25 to Rotorua for, I found out afterwards, a knock on in goal. This is what is puzzling. When Rolfe touched down there , was no possible chance of a knock on. Both touch judges and spectators near the line verify this out, without exception, they consider there was no knock on, but a fair try. Rolfe himself is quite definite on that because he had hold of the ball with both hands when he crossed the line and when he touched down. The only time the ball could have gone forward was when Rolfe left it on the ground. By then'it must have been dead. The incident was unfortunate. If it was a blunder on the part of the referee then steps should be taken to rectify it and also to ’see that it does not happen again. One cannot imagine that any referee would change his decision under such circumstances as there is only one time when that can be done and that certainly was not the time. If, however, the /referee can honestly say that he believes Rolfe actually knocked the ball on in goal, then he is entitled to abide by his decision. But, unless he was right up with the play at the time he must find it difficult to admit this. The role of a referee is a difficult one. He is-only human and mistakes must be expected but it is his job to try and make as few as possible. Now days he rarely gets assistance from players and even less from spectators so that he probably works harder than any other person on the field. But that is no excuse. Too often a referee is let off with only the mildest criticism. He should have any serious mistakes pointed out to him for his own good and .the good of the game. If' he is unwilling to take it then his place is on the side line. Too often a referee has made or marred a match and one is inclined to think that Saturday’s game could have produced better football.

BAY OF PLENTY TEAMS TO MEET WAIKATO

Three Whakatane players and. four from Rangitaiki with one other as an emergency have been selected to play in the Bay of Plenty representative rugby team to meet Waikato at Hamilton on Saturday. B. McGougan (Whakatane) and M. Delamere (Opotiki) are not available because of injuries. Waikato has selected a formidable side and includes most of the players who have represented the province in previous matches this season. Also on Saturday Bay of Plenty juniors will meet Waikato juniors in a curtain raiser to the big game. The teams are:— BAY OF PLENTY Fullback: E. Welch (Whakatane). Three-quarters: F. Martin (Rotorua), N. Smith (Tauranga), S. Morrison (Rotorua).

Five-eighths: J. Goldsmith (Opotiki), K. Sullivan (Rangitaiki). Half back: L. Raureti (Rangitaiki) captain. - Back row: J. Ririnui (Tauranga). Side row: W. Moses (Rangitaiki), S. McLaughlan (Opotiki). Locks: H. Ranapia, P. Ratahi (Whakatane). Front row: J. Gabolinsky (Rotorua), Goddard (Tauranga), K. Woods (Rangitaiki). Reserves: Backs, L. Newdick (Rangitaiki), J. Parkinson (Opotiki), T. Kapua (Rotorua); forwards, B. Rogers (Rotorua), E. Moncur (Rotorua). WAIKATO Fullback: R. ■ A. Adam. Three-quarters: J. R. O’Hearn, C. M. Strachan, A. D. Paterson. Five-eighths: B. A. C. Cawley, T. Te Maari. Half back: H. A. Bain. Back row: A. E. Rowan. Side row: A. D. Robertson, R. Hinton. Locks: J. N. Carodus, K. G. Elliot. Front row: V. A. Ensor, J. H W. Seton, C. C. Vowles. Reserves: Backs, A. F. Bullick, K. S. Clark; forwards, L. Hamer, R. G. Fletcher.

Junior Teams BAY OF PLENTY

Fullback: R. Stead (Rotorua). Three-quarters: D. Shuster (Rotorua), G. Moore (Opotiki), H. Hudson (Opotiki). Five-eighths: D. Dunlop (Te Puke), J. Moore (Opotiki). Half back: Topiata (Tauranga). Back row: H. Brown (Opotiki) captain. Side row: D. Howat (Te Puke), D. Shuster (Rotorua). Locks: A. Pryor (Rangitaiki), M. Delamere (Opotiki). Front row: J. Kingsland (Rotorua), R. Civil R. Boynton (Opotiki). Reserves: Backs, J. McGuffod (Rotorua), M. Brown (Whakatane); forwards, Conway (Rangitaiki), L. Goodall (Whakatane). WAIKATO Fullback: D. Warner. Three-quar-ters: J. Roberts, B. - Beamish, C. Thomas. Five-eighths: S. Mcßae, R. Burgess. Half back: T. Pike. Back row: J. Clarke. Side row: M. Bush, J. Grbich. Locks: S. Bayly, W. Hallett. Front row: J. Graham, P. Nicol, S. Bavich.

Reserves: Backs, P. Kirk, J. Hadw ell; forwards, R. Patterson, J. Carter, R. Byrne.