Footballer Suspended For Three Saturdays

Chronicle (Levin), 4 May 1949, Page 4

Footballer Suspended For Three Saturdays

Following an incident in the Foxton -Rahui senior game al Foxton on Saturday, the Horowhenua Rugby Union's- management committee, at a meeting last night, decided that a Foxton piayer, ■ NBrown, be stoo'd down foj tlxree playing Saturdays. In his report to the committee the referee, Mr. 33. McMillan, said that during the game he had ordered Brown to the side iine for indiseriminate kicking. After B. Wallace had been "tackled with .the ball, Brown had rushed into the ruck and kicked indiscriminalely. Wallace was injured as a result of a kick in the back and had to be faken from the field on a stretcher, "It was Brown who kicked Wallace," added the . report, - "but I would not say Brown did so intentionally." Mr. McMiPan went on to state that he had p ayed with Brown and refereed games ,in which he had taken part on numerous occasions, and felt sure that Brown would be the last player "to put in the dirt." In this instance he had ordered Brown off for dangerous play. Brown to d the commi tee that at the time he was not aware of the reason why he was sent off the field. Afterwards he had asked the referee and was told that it was for dangerous play. "I did not mean to kick the player," he said. "When, he was tackied he Was on the ground with the ball under him. At the momen, that T went to kick it he turned on his iide and gathered it- in again." When Brown had left the room, the presiden:, Mr. R. L. Robinson, remarked that it looked as if the player had just lost his head. Other members, however, were of the opinion that a penally should be imposed on Brown, as he had oesn ordered off for indiscriminate ' kicking. Mr. A. Watt stated that Wallace had said that the ball hr- d been free of him when he was kicked. Mr. D. J. Oliver said that he was certain the p ayer should not have gone aboiu. getting the ball the way he had. Wallace's injuries were fairly extensive, and he would be out of the eame for a considerable time. Brown, on the other hand, seemed to be a fairly decent type of piayer and he would rnove that he be s.ood down for one playing Saturday. Mr. Watt immediately moved an amendment to the effect that Brown be stood down for six playing Samrdays. This was lost for want of a seconder. Mr. C. E. Wiseley then moved an amendment to the effect that Brown be stood down for three p-aying Saturdays and that he be warned. This was finally carried by the meeting as the motion.