IRISH-FRENCH GAME SPOILED BY REFEREE

Chronicle (Levin), 13 April 1946, Page 8

IRISH-FRENCH GAME SPOILED BY REFEREE

Commenting on the game between French and Jrish teains in Dublin on Januarv 26, "Orito, " in the Iri.sh Press, stated that the French team they thouglit so hanuless had given Irisli Rugby a* rare sliaking. He continued, "Altiiougli defeated by a point — a dropped goal to a penalty goal — vve were well beaten, and no adequate exeuses can be offered for our defeat. We may take consolation that it was by onlv a point that we went under, but it inight as well have been a dozen. We were liberally dosed with the medi eine whicli we have handed so often to English. sides. The French knevv little about Rugby as we play it. As an attaeking forco they hardly existed, but there was nothing they didn't know about defensive and destructive tactics. "As a spectacle the game was really an appalling affair. It was bad euough to have defensive tactics on top all through; it was worse to suffer an Irish defeat through these tactics; but what put the ' kybosh ' on niatters was the referee, who not onlv made sorne extraordinary deeisions, but also blasted away so imich on his wliistle right through the game that hc almost overshadowed tlie pipers' band which came on the field at half time." Capt. E. R. Wimsett, of Palmerston North, who was at that match, said the referee appeared to be one of those who consider the game has been designed for the rules. Ile gave an indication of Mr. H. G. Latliwell's work when he said that there were 10 long blasts of the whistle before the players got out of "the referee 's hold" and the game commenced. The kiek-off did not go the

required 10 yards and a whistle-blast which could have been lieard in Eng land brought the teams baek for the scrum. There were nine more hairraising blasts before the game really got under way. Capt. Wimsett said that refereeing in the Irish match was in striking eontrast to that of Mr. C. II. Cadney, of Leicester, who gave a wonderful display in-' the match between the Kiwis and Scotland. It is interesting1 to note that the • bands which played at Ihe Irish match were the Garda Siotehana Band and the Pipe Band of an Iufantry Battaiion. The Band of the 1st Battaiion,' rine Royal Scots (The Royal Regime'nt), and the Pipe Band of the Queen Victoria School played for the International match. in Edinburgh, ,