THE RUGBY GAME

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 215, 9 June 1920, Page 8

THE RUGBY GAME

WELLINGTON MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

PUTTING DOWN BAD LANGUAGE

The Management Committee of tho Wellington Rugby Union met last nirrht. whop there were present:—Messrs. W. i\ Hornig chairman), A. J. Griffiths. J. Prendevllle. W. JI. Donovan, W. IV. Cook, E, Perry. It. Buck, G. Jackson, ,f. T. M. Plki E. H. Ward and J. N. Millard. With reforenco to the application of L. Roberts for a transfer from tho Athletic. Club to the Oriental Club. Roberts attended the meeting, and stated that ho had beetn unable to set a match with hio club's juniors, and the position waß that If his request was not granted he would have to "stand on the bank" for tho rest of tho season. He had only played in two matches so far this season Wecauso the junior team was full. It was decided that the transfer bo approved, and that Roberts ho classified an a senior player. Mr. Perry Baid that hb could guarantee that Roberts would play senior football for tho rest of tho Reason. A letter was received from Mr. T. H .Tones, rcforce in the Petone-Orlental junior match at Kllbirnio last Saturday complaining of misconduct on tho part o'. tmvernl of the Petono players, who, he allnired, h«d disputed his decisions. Tho referee stated that ono player had been ordered off for usino- bad languageto him. The player in ouestion attended tho meeting, and denied that he had addressed the refhtree. He was disgusted with himself and with his team, and made tho exllamation In o. general way. Mr. Jones stated that he had to caution r.evcral Petono players during the course of the .game, but he had no fault to find with the man now beforo the committee beyond tho one incident mentioned. After tho match a Petone Dlayer atruck a lino umpire a violent blow on the mouth, (lamagins some of his false teeth, but bad .excused himself on the ground that the line-umpire had made an unpleasant remark to him. Another player, had also come under his attention during tho match on account of his conduct. It was decided to ask this player to attend tho next moctln" of the committee to explain his position, and that the player reported for usinir bad language be suspended for ono playin? Saturday. Tho chairman said he thought cases of bad lawmago should be aaverely dealt with. Tho practice must be put down as It was far too common. Arising out of the same matcll. another I'etone player attended tho meeting to answter a charge of having struck one of the line-umpires after tho match. The player stated that ho had had a difference of opinion with tho line-umpiro shortly before* the end of tho game, and the -umpire had addressed a certain epithet to him. Tho umpire concerned denied that ho had made urta of the t«rm ocsinlained of. It was decided that the player be suspended for twelve playing; Saturdays. The referee in the Petone v. "Varsity third grade fixture, played at Hutt Park laßt Saturday, reported having ordered a Petono player off tho field for having made use of grossly obeceno language. The reforeo also stated that he was firmly of opinion that • intoxicating liquor haq been consumed at half-time, and its effect became appaitont later in the Eamo. The general conduct of the Petone team (excepting a few players) was very bad towards tho latter portion of tho Second spell. Tho player denied that ho had used bad languauo at any stage of the came, and ho stated that Mo saw no liquor whatever on the ground. It was resolved to hold tho matter over until next week in order that tho referee might attend in person to explain thp position. A complaint from Mr. H. Paton, referee in tho Wellington Colle*rc-Athletic, Third A Grado match last Saturday, that an Athletic player had grossly insulted him after tho match, was held over to secure the attendance of both tho retferee and tho player before tho committee. . It was decided to make a grant of £30 to the Victoria Collegia Olub out of tho "sate" for tho Wcllinirton-Canterbury match, the "curtain-raiser," for which was provided by teams from Canterbury and Victoria University Colleges. The sub-committeb set up to consider tho representative programme for tho season wan instructed to brine down a report to the next meeting of the committfeo. SENIOR FIXTURES. Senior fixtures for Saturday week are aa follow:—Athletic v. Poneke, Athletic Parkj Petono v. Victoria College,.Petone; Berhampore v. Selwyn, Kelburn; Oriental v. Wellington, Kilbirnie.