PLAYERS ORDERED OFF

Chronicle (Levin), 10 June 1948, Page 8

PLAYERS ORDERED OFF

Riigby Union Deals With Two Offenders Two players ordered off during Rugby games appeared before the .management committee of the Horowhenua Rugby Unlon on Tuesday night. One was. suspended for six club piaying Saturdays incluoive of last Saturday, and tne other foi one piaying Saturday, The first case arpse from the Punahau-Wander.efs junior match at Rugby Park on May 29, when the referee ordered off a Punahau player; J. Ngahona. Reporting the incident to the committee, the referee, Mr. F. G. Carrington, wrote stating that Ngahona had charged 'and defiberately struck an opposing player. The blow had been struck with such violence that the player had been rendered helpless for a full three minutes — the time Umit allowed by the rules for stoppages — and had had to receive attention from the St. John Ambulance representative. He also pointed out that the player had ndt been in pos'session of the ball when tackled.

Called by the committee, Nghahona said that he had run into the player ,at top speed, and that his action was not deliberate. He denied hitting the opposing player. In reply to a question from the chairman, Mr. A. Gillespie, Nghahona admitted that he knew .the rules, and that it was illegal to charge a man after he had releas«ed the ball. In repiy to a question from the Referees' Association delegate, Mr. C. E. Wiseley, he also admitted that he had been before the union last season' for striking a player. After the cvidence of Ngahona had been heard, Mr. Wiseley moved that in view of the fact that the player had been before the union before on report from different ! referees, he b.e ouspended for six club piaying Saturdays. Thi's motion was Rassd unanimously. "We trust that you will not come before us again," said Mr. Gillespie to Ngahona. "We will not tolerate actions of the nature reported tonight." That an Otaki-Rahui nlayer, L. Stackhouae,. had passed an insulting remark to him during the game on Saturday with. Wanderers, was made by the referee, Mr. F. G. Carrington, in a report to the committee. -

"I had penalised Otaki-Rahui for a scrummage infringement when Stackhouse remarked, 'He's playliig for Wanderers, anyhow,' " reported Mr. Carrington. "I asked him if he had passed the insulting remark, and he said, 'Yes.' " Called before the committee to explain the allegation; Stackhouse admitted the offence. • "What purpose could you' possibly have in making a remark like that," asked Mr. Gillespie of Stackhouse. "I'm afraid I can't say," replied the player. He added that he really did not mean the remark. He had just came up from under a scrum, where he had been kicked about a bit. He had no grudge against Mr. Carrington and was very sorry that he had passed the remark. After the player had left, Mr. E. J. Cook moved that he be placed on the caution list, and be made to apologies to the referee. The chairman said he would like to point out that remarks such as had been made were likely to upset the other members of a team. It also cast aspersions on the integrity of the referee. Mr. D. Oliver said a man -of senior rugby grading should be past that sort of thing. A player had no right to talk to a referee like that in front of a team, said Mr. C. Wilkinson. He was supported by Mr. Wiseley. Foliowing further discussion, an amendment was passed that the player be stood down for one piaying Saturday.