RUGBY COACH WARNED

Chronicle (Levin), 15 May 1947, Page 4

RUGBY COACH WARNED

iDkfei Ate Of Referee Cqhcfrn that a mab with such pp,g sefvtqe-'abd interest in rugby football should come before the union on such a charge was expressed hy the - ptresident Pf the Horowhenua * 'Rugby ** Fdotball Union, Mr. A. Gillespie, at Tuesday qight's meeting of the management • committee, when Mr. N. H. Kingi," . coach qf the Punahau seajn, appeared ' to repjy to an accjjsation that he had afejused a refqree at the conclusion of a recpnt match. It was stated hy Mr. Gillespie chat Mr. " Kingi * had been a staunch suppqr&er of the uoion since 1911, during which period he had himself -been a repr.esentatiye on the management committee and a member of the referees' association. • The refeKee, Mr. L. ,G> Mayers, reported in a letter' to the union that at the conclusion of the game between, Punahau and Ath(etic jnnioxs at pugby* Park, Mr. kin'gi had come on to the field and' qpesrioned his decision in stopping the game. The abus,e Mr. Kingi had .used had been quite unealled for, because * full time had been played as" agreed by the two capiaiigs. Mr. Sa-yers had recommended that strong action be taken. By way pf explanation, Mr. Kingi said the -game had been scheduled f o start at 2.45 p.m. Both teams were still waiting at 2.55 p.m. and he had asked who was refereeing ihe match. The referee had arrived soon after and the game had started at .two minutes after three. At half-time he had noticed that the game on the other grpund, which had started at 2.45 p.m., was still in progress, and he asked the captain'lwho had stipulated the length of the spells. The captain said that the referee had suggested two - 30-minute spells, and he and ihe Athletie capt.ain had agreed. .SQOh after an Athletie player had been awarded a try following a knock-on, and his team had " lost confidence in ihe referee. |'I have every right to 'ask the 'referee the'. time, because it is my .duty to ihe Punahau Club to keep its confidence in me." Mr. C. E. Wiseley: The referees' association maintains that this ease is in the same category as the previous one, but as it Was a young referee and the abuse had come from Mr. Kingi, with his knowledge of rugby, then it was most unealled for. As it happened befqre the clubs were notified of what steps would be taken in eases such as this, the referees' association feel that it should be * •dealt with in the same manner as the last cas.e. Mr. Gillespie: The captain has some measure of control on the ground. Mr. V. J. Bateman : In regard to ihe referee's lefter' it seems that ;he main thing is the abuse of the . referee after the game. Mr. Kingi: I did not abuse him • gfter the game, it was at halftime. when I asked him what right he had to make a set time. Mr. Wiseley: You said, "what .right have ypu to make a set time." Mr. Kingi: Yes, and the captain qaid that the referee had suggested two 30-minute spells. Mr. Wiseley: The time suggested by the referee was agreed to by the two captains.

Mr. .J. D. McFarlane: Did you see any others abusing the referee? Mr. Kingi: Yes, others . were abusing the referee as well as me. I wasn't the only one abusing him. Mr. Kingi was then asked to leave while a decision was reached. Mr. Gillespie said that the case before the committee was not as flagrant . as. tlie previous one. Mr. Kingi "had. been great supporter of the union sihgO 1911. Following discussion Mr. E. Copk moved that the union disapprove qf Mr. Kingi's actions and point out to him the union's previous motion, to the effect that any recurrence would result in the su.spension of the club during the union's pleasure and the wifhdrawal of the coach's ticket. This was seconded by Mr. C. Johnspn and carried.