Team Coach To Be Dismissed; Player Cautioned

Chronicle (Levin), 12 May 1948, Page 4

Team Coach To Be Dismissed; Player Cautioned

Sequel to a disturbanee -'•at the Levin Park Domain on Saturday was the appearance before the management committee of the Horowhenua Rugby Union last night- of.the coach of the Punahau junior team and a player from the same club. ■The coach, Mr. J. T. McDonald, was alleged to have encroached on the playing field and- abused the referee of the game, Mr. L. G. Sayers, ahd th'e player, J. Kingl, was repbrted by the referee' have struck one of .his team mates, anct another opposing player. duririg thecourse "of the match. After the two men's versions of .the incidents were heard by the 'committee, it was decided that MciDonald be deprived of his position [ as coach, that his name be enterje'd on the committee's caution lisc, land that he be instructed to apologise to the referee. The player, Kingi, 'was cautioned. ■ ' ' Reporting the incidents to' the committee, the referee said that the match was marked by rongo pia, by Punahau, and after cautioning ■ two of its players for such piay, -.nci one for indiseriminate kicking, he had . ordered Kingi off for stmting another player. . "He was throwing punches in all directions and struck one of his team mates as well as an opponent," wrote Mr. Sayers. I -'Another player, W. Rimini, abused me after I had awarded.a try to Tokomaru," continued the report. "After the match .one of the spectators came on the field, abused me an'd wanied to ,fight lile. This marf, McDonald hadbeen doing a lot of criticising from the side line during the match, and if ^ome of the spectators „ had not taken him away there would have been an ugly incident. I wourd ask jthat strong action be taken in this xnan's case/' concluded the referee. A further letter in regard to the 1 incident was forthcoming from Mrv . F. G. Carrington, in a letter to the* committee. ' "After the referee had finalised the game, T. McDonaid adopted a very threatening attitu'de towards this official," wrote Mr. Carrington, "and had it not been for the very timely intervention" of Mr. Rangi Broughton, the police official present on the ground would have had to take action. . The feelings • of the spectators. and the players were very heated." ■ -Dealing first with the allegation against - the player, the commit(.tee diScussed 'the referee's report ; an'd later called in •Mr. Kingi to give his account of the alleged.happening. ' ' The Referees' Association took a firm view in the matter and were of the opinion that strong action be taken ^ said Miv Jv A. Zuppicich, delegate from the Refe^ees' Association. ' He had seen the incident as he was only five yards away, said Mr. J. C. McDonald. The incident occurred at a line-out. Kingi was on his knees and had got up with "his. back on to everything," said Mr. McDonald. "He was just gettmg up as any forward would and eaught one of his own chaps on ffche chest." - - « ■ It appeared that punches were thrown, said Mr. C. Wilkinson, and whether they were indiseriminate or otherwise, disciplinary action must be taken in the interests of football. Called into the room, Kingi said that he was not throwing punches. All he knew was" that they were all in a heap and two or three players were on top of him. "I- put my hands up and that's all I remember." / It appeared that Kingi did not recall much about the incident; said the chairman, Mr. A. Gillespie, but evidently he .had struck someone. Evidently pla'y was rough at the time and Kingi got up. in a wild3. sort of way, said Mr. D. Oliver ' Mr. Gillespie: A sort of sacks on the mill. - The game was described ,by others of the committee as a heated tussle. v

There was evidence in the referee'8 report that a\blow was struck and it was now a question of whethef it was intentional or not, said Mr. Wilkinson. The referee was certain that a blow _ was struck, ; said Mr. Zuppicich. Whether intentional or not, ar°ms were flying and that was not allowed in Rugby. The referee had issued two warnings to members of the team. Moving that Kingi be cautioned, Mr. E. J. Cook said that the breach was not a 'serious one and no one had been hurt. An amendment by Mr. F. G. Carrington that he be suspended for one playing Saturday, seconded by Mr. Wilkinson was lost. The Case Agairfst The Coach Referring to the case of the Coach, Mr. T. McDonald, a member of the committee, Mr. J; c, McDonald, said that he had seen the incident and had heard the referee' call out-to him, T'U see you after the match and have you on " To a chap so wrapped up m the game as McDonald it was not surprising that an argument developed. Mc-' had been on the a'sphalt and had not encroached on t.hp

field, added the speaker. "Later thmgs got very heated and I had to separate- the coach and the referee in. the dressing room after tfie game." • This was a very serious offence, said Mr. Zuppicich. The referee ' hiight not have been 100 per cent. ' and mighfc have done fchings which to the imagination of the crowd 1 y/ere wrong, but nevertheless that : T™~u> be J10 justification' for the - coach'i aetiohn. Th« r»f«rnn» mu*t']

be protected and supported by the union and if they were not then the union would • be "catching a fast express » train tOwardS' the destruction of the RefereeS' Association," continued ■ Mr. Zuppicich. "We're going to push this case as har.d as we can." At this juncture it was decided chat McDonald should .have the ipportunity of being heard as it •vas a very serious charge, and he vvas duly sent for. The referee had challenged him, said McDonald. "He said, T'll see you after the ■game/ and I said, "youil • do -me nicely/ The two teams heard us." The referee's remarks di'd not necessarily mean that he wanted to fight McDonald, "said Mr. Oliver. •Questioned by Mr. .Wilkinson, McDonald said* ne did not "chip" che referee during the game. Itwas after the game had finished chat the argument occurred. Mr. Wilkinson: Were you on the grass? Mr. McDonald: Yes. • Mr. Wilkinson: You know you're not allowed on the grass? Mr. McDonald: Yes. It seemed that the match was a rather heated one, during whica Dime Something must have be.on . aid to the referee that had ' lfed - up vO the remarks, alleged >:o have been made by the referee himself, aiS I4r. Gillespie. There were legal chanheis through which a person conld go d he disagreed with a tef>u;ee, said Mr. Zuppicich. The referees didn't .nind criticism. ' There was evidently something ieading up to all this, said Mr. Gillespie. "Yes, there was 'much block doing' by both teams," said another member. Moving that the coach be warned off all grounds for a period of 6wo years, Mr. Zuppicich said. that che offence was serious and would pcssibly have been more so if it had occurred on a baekblock ground. As there was no seconder to the motion, Mr._ Carrington seconded it pro forma. Some members expressed the opinion that such a sentence was too hard, while Mr. E. J. Cook said that some allowance must be made for. the type of person McDonald was. He was excitable and very keen on football. He would move an amendment that he be asked to apologise 4;o the referee. Supporting the amendment, Mr. A. Watt added the condition that he be placed bn" the union 's cautioned list and be deposed from his position as coach of the team. This was agreed to by the moyer of the amendment. On being put to vote the mhtion by Mr. Zuppicich was lost and the amendment Carried.