FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 560, 15 July 1909, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

WELLINGTON RUGBY UNION,

A SERIES OF INQUIRIES. A meeting of the Management Committee of tho Wellington / Rugby Union was . held last evening, and; was attended by Messrs. S. Brown (chairman),'J.-Bums, W. Perry, J. Sweeney, P. Peters, J. O'Sullivsu,. and J... Price. It .was deoided to send a message of condolence to the family of, the' late Mr. W. H. Hales, father of two prominent ex-members of the committee.

Tho fourth and, fifth-class teams of Polhill Clitb wore withdrawn from the championships. I The secretary of St. John's Club wrote objectI ing to the'match against Upper .HutUbeing ■replayed, but the'committee decided to adhere to its previous resolution- on the matter. Mr. J., P. Firth, who wrote a fortnight ago. complaining of the style: of play adopted ,by.:,ateam opposing Hie college boys,'stated that th-6- college, team, playing-' Polhill last Saturday, used even more dash than on the'pre-vious-ioccasion, but .their strength was always used for-a legitimate purpose. He considered that such "exhibitions did much for the'advancement of Rugby, football. Mr. A. W. Mollor, referee at last Saturday's fourth-class- match, Old Boys v. Oriental, at East's No: 4,' wrote that he "had ordered off E. Jenkinson (Old Boys) and- E... Patterson (Oriental).- for fighting. Jenkinson stated to the oonimittoa that;Patterson struck him on being tackled, and he'retaliated. It was; "more ■in-fun than-anything else," the ground being very wot. 'The committee adjourned consideration until the referee could attend, .and- informed'the players that they might continue playing in the meantime.,. ..' - An allegation having been made against; one of-the Tramway Club, the evidence by-Mr.' Gilbert..'Hewitt .was heard to the effect that the player .in question had admitted having received -£2 from a -tramway player for his: services on the field. It was .further/alleged that he-had-declared; that a: guarantee had been given him. of a job^within a fortnight. Mr.- E. H. -Minifie,. secrecy of the, Tramway Club, endorsed what was. stated in the club's letter' that,: at the .match on June 30, bad language had I>een used by n spectator to one-of the players, in the presence ofladies. ocoupyiug the- grandstand." The spectator alleged that the-, player, had : been' paid to play,.;but this' the club donied 'absolutely. Evidence as to what happened on the ground was tendered by Messrs. C. Patbhett (chairman of "tho Tramway Recreation Club)," D. Peoples, W; G. Talbot; J. o'Sullivan,:and G. Perkinsoa (captain of the Tramway team). The last-inamed was emphatic in his denial of the- accusation regarding the receipt of money for play-, ing. 'It was stated' that the .football club, could not influence any appointments. - The spectator in .question admitted having : used one or two improper words, at the matoh'/but he-still-alleged that the player had.stated that he had received £2. for playing. He had soveral witnesses whoni'.he,cbnld bring- to support; his-statements: .. Th'e'-.club 'representatives as-" serted that/no moneys wero paid to players. After discussion;.'; thfr committee decided' to warn the spectator 'off' all grounds,', and deferred further -action until, the _ principals should | appear, and tender explanations. 1 ,- v ■'•■Mr.v-'Cf.',Butler, referee ; in- the Karori-St. Jahies third-class matoh at Karori, last.Satiir-' , day, attended; in support of the allegation concerning the.: language'and '-encroachment of spectators. He stated that other referees had mentioned the Karori spectators : to him'adversely. The-committee'decided to -write:-to Karori 'Club .pointing out-that -their-conduct-was not' considered to be air that',could be desired, and that the-committee adhered to the' terms of their, previous caution....-'.. :'" Mr, T. H. Jones, referee in the Poneke-Mel-rbse senior match at the Athletip'Park last Saturday;' wrote that he had had occasion-to order J; W.-Murphy (fielrose) off-the field for. striking Tilyard (the opposing half-back) in' ,-the'face.-' Only a-few minutes previously, the referee added, he had given ■ Murphy-the benefit of the doubt-(though little existed),, when, after ; . .penalising him for offside playi. he picked up the heavy, muddy ball, and threw it straight into the referee's face. Mr. Jones, made a verbal statement,-. and' said that Murphy left the field without protest. ■ The player stated that he had simply caught Tilyard by the shoulders as the latter'was taking a mark. As to the other charge, : they were/ packing a scrum, and the referee called out: "My ball. He' threw th'e ball -without any intention -of hitting^the.-referee.-: He. did not : know'why he had been ordered off until the referee told hint after the match,,and Tilyard: ;himself-'said'that'lie: been taken by the shoulders.- Last, year.Nhe (Murphy) had .had:''..a;bad.T.un,"butlie waa trying to-wipe it all .off.' "A motion,..submitted by Mr, Peters, •that the'player be 'cautioned, found no secon--der.'and it, was "agreed, that he'be suspended ;for::threOvfflohths:as''from rlafet Saturday.' - -An. amendment to.suspeh'd him for twelve months was'lost. ' ".'.'■;■ ".-" ; \v;- ':"■" ■'-■ ' ;A; complaint 'was "made 'by Mr!' W. -Perry, regarding the language' used last; Saturday' on the Athletic Park-by a:man who was clothed in : advertising -dress;'-:■ The ■ Committee .resolved ".to-.warn': the'ypffender 1 off all and' to write-to the.company in jvhose employ-he had been stating- that men would-not be admitted : to 'the Park for advertising' purposes.'-..

,;.';.WEDNESDAY; COMPETITION.; :; '■ Neither', of. the : ' Wednesday competition matches'.set; ■.'down for' .yesterday took, place. The Tramway v. Star -.match,.; could -not .be played, in'.'town,' on account of; the,, sodden state of the ground, arid, as'the time allowed the -Tramway; players would not permit of their'journeying'to Miramar: the game was postponed. . The Oriental" Club-" won , from Butchers by default; and had to content themselves with a practice, game at-Miramar. -Ori-ental-and Star are now leading for first place, so that the wind-up of the competition should bo .interesting. '• . . — ', -...;./';. -,}'■'. ASSOCIATION. :>'. : ;./;':. ■MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. ~'The Management Committee of thß- Wellington ;FootbalF:Association, met last -evening, .there being present: Messrs'. 'H.' : N.:. Holmes (ohairmnn), B. L. S.llmoh, T: Davidson, J. B. Paton; H. Mayor, W. Auld,' J; M. Oilier, and A: Williams.; ■.'■■■ •'• '.. •.-.-■ -Further action was taken with reference to certain charges of misconduct on the part of, two. members of, St., David's (Petone)-team in a recent match played against Brooklyn, and reported at the previous meeting of the. comjilt We. The referee"(Mf. \Fisher) and the two .players. attended, • and ■ : rfere\ questioned .by • the committee with reference to the complaints reported, upon. it was decided that- the principal be suspended for the remainder'of the season; and the other (the captain of the'-team); severely censured for falling to exercise proper control' over'■-his team, and refusing .to supply-the. referee with, certain' particulars, when requested to do so.' ; It was-reported that No. G Ground; at Miramar had been enlarged to a length of 120 feet, and the lines-.re-marked. ... Consideration .was given to a letter from the Council bf. the New. Zealand Football Association asking-: whether, the IVellington Association would favour a visit from a New South Wales representative team. ■ In view of tha progress that'the Association game had made in the Dominion-durin" the last year or so, the council 'cbnsidered that such a tour would tend to increase". public interest, . The ■ com-mittee-agreed to the, proposal, provided that a guarantee within a reasonable ', amount was fixed upon.,': .'.. .•■■■. ...■'■',;• ,;' - • An application from W. ,D. Phillips for a transfer from the-Thistle Senior First Division team to.,tlie Mental Hospital, was granted, , ,'The report of the Appeal Board on the points raised in the dispute regarding the Y.M.C.A. v. South Wellington match was read. " The board stated that the caso was investigated by reference to the rules. No evidence was called, and' the board unanimously, recommended. that the match be replayed. The recommendation was adopted, the. match to be replayed' at the end of the season. Tho match, ;Brqoklyn v. Y.M.C.A., was also ordered to be replayed. The committeo resolved that,, in future, teams playing boys over' age would' 'forfeit the match' in which such, were, engaged.* : On the motion of Mr. B. L. 'Salmon;, it was decided .to play the match with Canterbury for the Brflwn Challenge Shield on Saturday, July3i;"lt was also rosolved to apply-to the City Council for tho uso of tho Basin Reserve for-, the match, with, permission to .. charge. Messrs. Holmes, Roberts, and Courtney were appointed a deputation, to urgo. the requests upon tho council. In viow of the fixture, the Lacrosse Association and the Australian League Association are to bo asked to forego their matches on tho Basin Reserve on the date' seleoted. The Selection Committee was asked to pick Wellington's representative team by Saturday, July 24., - It was decided to write:to the Athletic Park Trustees-asking for the use of their ground to play Auckland on either Soptember i or' 11. With reference to f]\e remainder of tho league fixtures tomo rearrangement,' was decided upon- The Ground Committeo was requested to' bring down by next Wednesday! a fresh ; draft of fixtures, with.a "view of bringing the'rnoro important galncs off first. SATURDAY'S MATCHES.' . The following fixtures, grounds, and reforeos have been arranged for Saturday:— Senior League First Division.—Diamonds v. Swifts, Basin Reserve, 'Hi ..p.m., Mr, W.

Wood; Y.M.C.A.'.v. St JohnVNewtown Park, 2.45 p.m., Mr. H. Mayer; Eovers v Wanderers, No. 2, Miramar, Mr. E. C. Hnyton; Potoue v. Thistle, Petone, Mr. J. B. Paton; Ramblers, a bye. Senior League Seccnd Division.—Montal Hospital v. Y.M.C.A., 1 Porirua, Mr. W. Press; Porirua B v. Thistle, Porirua, Mr. E. Windley; Petons v. .Marist Old Boys, Petone, Rov. J. D. Russell; Rovers .v. St./; John's, No. 8, Miramar, Mr. D. Stewart; Diamonds v. Lec-tor-Carriers, Seatonn PaTk, Mr. A. Newson. Junior. League First Division.—Wadestown o. Diamonds, No'. I,'Miramar, 3 p.m., Mr. A. Newbold; St. David's v. Y.M.C.A. A, No. 5, Miramar, 3 p.m., Mr. H. Smith; Brooklyn v. Y.M.C.A; B, No. 8, Miramar, 3 p.m., Mr. W. Sparrow. ■'■' x Junior League Second Division.—Swifts B v.. Ramblers,. No. 9, Miramar, 2, p.m., Mr. S. Fisher; Marist A v Congregational, Newtown Park, 1.45 p.m., Mr; H. Mayer; Petone v. Brooklyn, Petone, 2 p.m., Rev. J. D. Russell; Y.M.C.A. A v. Swifts, No. 7, Miramar, 3 p.m., Mr. Thompson; Institute v. Kaiwarra, N0._12,, Miramar,' 3 pjn., Mr H. S. Bernard; Khandal.lnh.r. Diamonds, No. 11, Miramar,, 3 p.m., Mr. S. IV M'Lean; Marist B v. Rangers, No; : 10, Miramar, 3 p.m., Mr; W; WeIIs;.Y.M.C.A. B, a bye. ..'.■. ■■■:'., Third A Division.—Y.M.C.A. A v. Diamonds, No. 1, Miramar, 2 p.m., Mr. Newbold; Y.M.C.A; Bv. Brooklyn.A, No. 2, Miramar, 2 p.m.,, Mr. 6c.P.- Williamson; Petone v. Institute A, Petone, 2 p.in., Mr. E. Home; Marist. School A v. Sruih Wellington,-Basin Re», serve, 1.45 p.m., Mr. 3. L. Salmon.' .* • ' ThirdßDivision—Marist^B-v. Y.M.C.A. C, No. 7, Miramar, 2 pliri., Mr. Thompson; Swifts v. Marist C, No. 5, Miramar, 2 p.m., Mr. H. Smith; Institute B v. Island Bay A, Island Bay, 2 p.m., Mr...F.. Bowles; Brooklyn Bv. Rangers B, No. 8,. Miramar, 2 p.m., Mr. W. Sparrow;. Rangers A v Ramblers, No. 9; Miramar, .2 p.m., Mr. S. Fisher; Brooklyn C v. Island Bay B, Island Bay, 3 Mr. F. ■Bowles. \ ''/ ' MODIFYING THE RULES. ',;.-, "''.■■'". THE AUCKLAND CASE. . . (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ' r Auckland, July 14. ' A letter wa9 read from- the N.Z. Rugby Union at this .evening's meeting-of the Auck-. land Union in reference to the adoption by : tho local union-of. several modifications of the irules. v The letter;pointed o'ut'.that,no affiliated union'had power, to. play local competitions other; than in accordance with'the.laws of the gamei The following resolution was carried, and a "copy ordered to be forwarded to the N.Z.E.U. ;r-"That'this, union, being of the opinion that any • union may make modifications in games played inits own championship competitions, adopted the course of., making 'several modifications. The union was further guided in its action by an expression of opinion given to the chairman, (Mr. Sheahan) by two members of tho present N.Z, Union exeoutive— Messrs. • Galbraith and'Dixon—that any such procedure would not-bring-the body.in conflict with the English Rugby Union. The union would also point:out 'that the gentlemen' referred to. volunteered the information that' there was-nothing-tovprevent. any union from adopting, in, their own-competitions, the modifications complained .of." . ''>.'■