TROUBLE AT A RUGBY MATCH

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 297, 4 September 1918, Page 6

TROUBLE AT A RUGBY MATCH

THE SI'ECTATOBS BLAMED. Trouble arose over a recent Rugby match played at the Hutt between Hutt and the Railway teams, and some blame was oast on tho referee, Mr. Wale. The referee attended last evening's meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union, and said that the game ..was clean from start to finish. He had nothing to say against the players, but the trouble was with the spectators. There was no means of keeping the public off tiio ground, and on one occasion, when tho people encroached on the playing area, they refused to' oft' again. Members of the Hutt public advised Hutt players how to deal with members of the Railway team. Officials of tho Hutt Club rendered no assistance in keeping the line clear, etc. '

Mr. J. Trealiy, coach of the Railway team,' said that he whs a spectator, and ho expressed the opinion that the tefereeing was quite fair. Mr. T. Cunliffe, who captained the Railway team on the day, said that the referee showed no favour to either team. Mr. W. Godber, secretary of the Railway Club, said that the game could not have been better controlled.. The chairman of the union (Mr. D. D. Weir) said that the complaint against the* Hutt spectators was an old one. However, it might have been wiser to have stopped the same. Tlie union had now heard both sides of the •matter, and as far as they were concerned no action would .bo taken. Mr. Wale:.' Won't some action be taken regarding the spectators? There will be other' matches there. The chairman: We know about that part of it. and when the time comes action will lie taken.