RUGBY UNION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 224, 16 June 1920, Page 10

RUGBY UNION

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETS. A meeting of the Manapement Committco of the Wellington Hugh- Union wns held laßt evening-.. Mr. W. F. Hornie presided, and there were present :—Messrs. J, Prendeville. E. Perry, W. W. Cook, G. Jackson, W.- Donovan, H. Buck, and A. Griffiths. In reply to an inquiry by the New Zealand Union as to whether the Wellington Union was playins under any rules than thoso authorised ■by the New Zealand Union. It was decided to Btate that the Wellington Union was nlaylng and had always played under authorised rules. Th'o ÜBo of bad language on the football field, which is alleged to be very prevalent, was once more under the consideration of the confmittce when a i player from one of the Petone teams was called upon to answer a charge of using bnd language, reported to the committeo by the referee (Mr. Jl'Qirr).' The alleged offender and the referee were examined, and tho latter stated that in his four years' experienco of refereeing he had never heard dirtier language', used on the field. The player waß censured. A Petone third-class player was reported by Mr, T. Jones, referee in the PetoneOriontal match, for reprehensible conduct on the field on Saturday, June 6. It vas alleeed that tho playor In question disputed the referee's decision, and had been cautioned. He admitted that after the game he went up to the referee and said to him - that after that day's decision he was no friend of his. The nlayer also admitted that he had .reforred to the decision of the referee during: play, and <nplained how tHe remark was drawn from him. The player -was cautioned by tho chairman for hia remarks to the reforec. • Mr. Fletcher., referee of tho Johnson-ville-Athletlo tliird-clasß match, reported a Jolinßonvllle playor for qU»stioninn the decision of the referee, nlso for making a personal reference to the referee. The player was ordered off the field, and It was alleged that he gave a wrong name when asked for it. The plaver admitted that he had questioned the referee's ruling, denied that he had Btruck a' niayer, and also denied that he had Riven the wronr name. . He henxd afterwards that somebody had siyen a wrong nnme. hut denied that, he did so. He did not think the reforee did ask htm for lili name. Mr. Fletcher cald that the player apologised to him for questioning his decision, and he accepted the apology. Tho referee was more annoyed at the conduct of the spectators, especially after the match. "This player -wns nlso cautioned by the chairman, who advised him not tn question the referee's decision- even should it he wrong. It was not sporting to do so. . ' A deputation from'tho Petone Olub Raited on the committe" in lespect to a >plaver whom the el'tfi thought had '.been unfairly treated. Mr. Lynsliy. -who Bpnke for the deputation, was desirous that the case should be reopened, on the ground that the player had not time to prepare his defence. Mr.- Hardham also nro-ed that the case should be reopened. The player .struck the. line-umnire, 'and he admitted lie had done so. and. that, lie had serious provocation. Mr. Hardham .also referred to the unfairness of blackening the character of--the club without the matter complained of thoroughly inquired into. Mr. W. Fraser also ureed reconsideration of the case. ' 1 'Ho said be., had known the plaver In question for about twelve years, nTjd knew him to be an inoffensive mnn. He also urced that if the committee decided that, the report of there being liquor handed round as stated liy the referee, was disbelieved by the committeo, it should do'its best to .remove tlie slur «ast on .the club by. the reports in-the nev^nnera. The secretary of the i dub (L. Price) ssld that he fraß playing -with tlw team on tho occasion, and he assured tho committee that no liquor was brought on to the ground by his team. He had made special inquiries, and .he ,was certain that none of the players had any liquor, during tho match.

Mr. Prendoville, on behalf of tho committee, 1 explained. the nosition as it was known to the committee. The nlayer who had been suspended waited till thp game was over, and then went up and struck the line-umpire. Striking an offi- . cial on tho ground could not be overlooked. and tiie nliyer was nun'shed for that. The player stated that the line-umpire had used a certain expression white the Tame was In progress, and lie waited until the came was over before he took nation.: The umpire denied making use of .the exnros-' slon; ho stated that the -words may havo ii»en used, but they woro not used by him. - It was decided that the anneal of th" deputation be taken under rule 4J. and ihb president be asked to appoint a Kiecln] opn'eal committee to deal with tho wholo mattor of the suspension. A player in the Athlotic-Oolloge thirdclass'game on Saturday/'rook waß also reported by the referee for usintr bad language- to the refereo after the game in rowect- to biß iroferoein:*. The nlayer (of the Athletic team) admitted, that ho hnd an expression, but not the "one illeped bv the referee. He was advised hv the chairman to offer,an apology to the referee, and tho committee decided to suspend him for one Saturday. , A Miramnr Club player was reported for m'sconduo* on the field.' He wi>s ordered off the field i the referee reported that tbe nlayer had. been guiltv of indiscriminate 'ticklni? and othoj- unfair r>!ay. and "ontlnually miflftioned the referee's ruling. The nlnycr, in his explanation said that the referee appeared to have "had him y>t," a*d bad Riven 14'froe-kloks (iga. ! ~!>t. him. He made .!• long statement 'Justify' In" his conduct, and contended that th° ■'eftree had lost control of the mm. „ misunderitandipc the referc 'Mr. T. JoncsV was not present, and. therefore. the consideration "of thp natter ves deferred until n."xt. Tuesday, Or the following Tuosdiy if that date wan more convenient, to- t.hn .parties .concerned.