RUGBY PROTEST

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 238, 5 July 1944, Page 8

RUGBY PROTEST

Club’s Objection To Referee

Allegations of bias nsainst. its soniur ti-nni iiv a referee were made by the Wellington'College Old Boys’ Club in a protest to the management coiniuiltee of the Wellington Rugby I.’niun lust, night.

"1 have been instructed by my committee to lodge a protest in connexion with our senior match with —the secretary of the dub wrote. “The referee awarded a penalty, goal to our opponents when the kick was not successful. --- wore awarded a penalty for an infringement, am! a placekick at goal was taken. The ball travelled toward the left-hand goaLpnst where Mr. j__ t a — supporter and a line-umpire ot many year’s experience, was standing. It certainly appeared as if the ball would cross the -bar. and Mr. - - momentarily and prematurely raised his Hag. but when the -ball was deflected by the' wind, immediately lowered it, ami vigorously signalled no goal. Here is n case, wo contend, where it is not a question of the referee over-ruling the line-umpire and allowing a goal, -but of a referee prematurely allowing a goal simply because-the'line-umpire mistakenly and impulsively raised his Hag before signalling no goal'. “In addition, f have been instructed io lodge a complaint in connexion with the general exhibition by the referee. AVe do not do this lightly, m»r without due and careful consideration of an lU'ciimiilaliou of facts, not only from his display iu <>ur recent matcli. hut from every game under hi< control in which we have taken part. Apart from the incident already described, his general control of the match was. in our opinion, incompetent and unfair. 'The try awarded to — was scored while the player was lying on his back with the ball on his chest with one of our forwards lying on top of the ball. Further, Ihu method of placing the ball in the scrum by the opposing team was grossly unfair, and. though our captain on two occasions respectfully pointed out to the referee thar (he ball was not being put in fairly, the infringements continued and no action was taken. Several competent ami independent observers claimed that they had never seen the ball tint into the scrum with such glaring unfairness, ami with .such monotonous regularity. “These are but a few of the many incompetencies shown by the referee, and wr do mu think it necessary to quote instances at the moment, beyond stating that Mr. — seems tn have, and this has been noticeable over the years, a general antagonistic attitude toward our team.. Therefore. I am instructed by my (•ommittoe to advise your union that our senior team must iu the future dtclino tn participate in anv match under Ihe control of tlus referee.”

It was decided to ask the referee for his •xplanation regarding the penalty goal incident, ami to forward the club’s letter o the referees’ associati<ni.