Football Club's Complaint To Union

Chronicle (Levin), 8 June 1949, Page 4

Football Club's Complaint To Union

Complainihg that the union's action had added' insult to injury, the Paraparaumu Football Clpb sent a de'egate to last night's meeting of the management committee of the Horowhenua Rugby Union to ask it to withdfaw its rCCent letler cautionirig the clUb for rough play ih a mateh between Otaki and Paraparaumu on Saturday, May 28. The action by the union . arose from a referee's repbrt in which it was statfed that the game had been very rough.3 "In fa-ct it was the roughfest I have ever referfeed," the referee, Mr. D. McMillan, -had said. On the evidence before it, the CGmmittee decided to cauaon both clubs that action would be taken if there was any further evidence of rough play. The Paraparaumu club's delegate, Mr. G. T. Clunie, said that it was the - union's place to protect the clubs rather than "push them down." The game had been rough and full of illegal tactics. Four Paraparaumu men had been seriously injured during the match. He could not understand the referee's report, nor his actions, continued ihe speaker. He had not taken any action when he should have. Mr. Clunie instanced an incident when an Otaki player chased the Paraparaumu Captain down the field, repeatedly striking out at him. "The captain waved his hands in the. air and drew thb referee's a:ttention to the fact that he' did ilb't have the ball. All the referee did was to stop the game and caution both teams." After a short dischssioh, during which Mr. Clunie retired, it was pointed out by the president, Mr. R. L. Robins on, that if the union" withdrew the letter as requested, it v^as going to place the blame on the referee and make out his report was not true. He felt that the referee had had good reaso'n to riiake such a repoi't, and . on . that eyidence the union had made its decision. Mr. Clunie was, he thought, taking too serious a viev. df the mat'er. Nn nftinn was ta.ken.