WHAKATANE RUGBY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 23, 10 August 1949, Page 4

WHAKATANE RUGBY

Sir, —After seeing Saturday’s game at WTiakatane I can quite understand why Bay of Plenty has only had one player in an All Black team. Whakatane players know more about brawling than they do of rugby. Yours etc., A BRAWLER TOO. Sir, —It is time those senior players, who fought at Whakatane on Saturday under the guise that they were playing rugby, are told how little they know of the game. Next time the teams meet I would suggest that a ball be kept off the field and both sides be given permission to go for it. I don’t see any sense in bringing out a ball to a football match when it is so rarely used as. it is in the case of Whakatane rugby.

Yours etc., A RUGBY FAN,

Sir, —On Saturday I saw one of the best fights I have ever seen in my life when I saw the senior rugby match at Whakatane Field. It was a real good bout and I want both teams to know that I enjoyed their illegal tactics, including the punching, gouging and wrestling, even if most of the other spectators did not. It was a good show and although the football was about the worst 1 have ever seen the all-in fighting more than made up for it. The referee is' to be congratulated on his restraint in keeping his interference to a minimum.

After seeing Saturday’s effort I know now why Whakatane v ugby is at the low ebb it is at present. No really good sportsmen care to mix in a public fight so they keep out of the teams. Their places seem to be filled by individuals who have no idea how to play rugby and whose fighting technique is quite primitive. It is time club officials, rugby officials and referees took a firm hand on offenders, even if it means sending off all the teams. It is worth it to keep the game Mean.

Yours etc.,

FISTICUFF.