Rugby Union Censures Three Players

Chronicle (Levin), 18 May 1949, Page 4

Rugby Union Censures Three Players

Three footballers were last night iensured - by ihe Horowhenua Etugpy Union's management committee for offending behaviour during matches. One was stood down for four playing Saturdays and the other two for one playing Saturday each. Describing an incident as the worse case of inddscriminate kicking he had ever seen, the referee oj. Sami'day s senior game between Athletic and Wanderers, Mr. D. McMihan, reported ordering off H. Lyver, of Athletic. The only good thing about it, he added, was that nobody was injured. Asked to exp.ain his action, Lyver told the committee that the man he was opposing was lying on his sideNwith the bad c utched in his arms. "I said, 'let go,' but he still he.d on to the ball. I kicked the ball with my toe three times. I could see the bal' plain.y.' I then stepped over him and tried to rooi the ball back. He still hel'd on and was still in possession when the whistle went." In reply ro a auestion from Mr. E

J. Cook, Lyver said that when try- ^ ing to rake the bal! back he realised ' that he could have hurt the other j player, as he couM not see the ball, J but' added that Jie other player ; should not have held on to it. ! For the Haowhenua Referees' 1 Association, Mr. J. A. Zuppicich j said that the referee's 'version was 1 that the other player had been given no chance to clear himself 1 of the- bad. $ Mr. Cook said that he took a serious view of the incident. It was not sportsmanship to wilf ully do anything that might hurt a player. I Mr. Zuppicich said, that players should realise that they could not go at the ball with the toe of the boot in such cases, although it was quite lega1 to ruck back. He moved that Lyver be stood down for four playing Saturdays. The motion was subsequently

passed and the president, Mr. R. L. Robinson, in informing Lyver of the decision, said that he had erred in kicking when thexe was a chance ; of the player being hurt. I Mr. Zuppicich said he wouM likej to compliment Lyver on the way he j had given his evidence. He said it was a clear and honest statement. Ordered off in a third grade game at Shannon on May 7, I. Her- j mansen was ordered to stand 'downj for one playing Saturday, the decision being retrospective as the' man h? d already lo'st one day. It was reported that Hermansen had struck another player, but as he was residenb in Welington was unable to attend the- meeting. Mr. Zuppicich said that Hermansen apparently retaiiated when he was tackled, but undefs'ood that he was normally a clean player. The referees were of the opinion that loose play should be stopped in the lower grades and recommended that the p'ayer be stood down for one playing Saturday. The player had darad the referee to stand him on the sideline and the referee had promptly done so, said Mr. Zuppicich when D. Pratt, of Shannon juniors, was reported to the committee for offensi^e language on the field. Pratt had been insolent to him when warned about it said the referee, Mr. L. G. Sayer. The player, when asked for an explanation, admitted that he had dared the referee to put him off. A motiop that he be stood down for two playing Saturdays, as recommended bv the referees' associption, was lost and an amendment that 'the period be one playing Saturdsv was carried. The president tond Pratt that the committee had been Jenient on this occasion. and warned him that the referee was the sole judge of fact and was in sole control. "If all players acted like vou did, the game would be a farce." he added. "The referee is not there for players to argue with."