FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1926, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

THE REFEREE’S OPINION. DUNEDIN. Sept. 13. Air A. E. Eckliold, who has been appointed to control the Hawke’s BayCanterbury match for the , Rant'urly Shield in Christchurch on Saturday, also controlled the AVellington-Hawke’s Bay game played recently. It will be remembered that after that particular match, there was a considerable amount of criticism with reforeiu'e to alleged rough play and illegal tactics by the Hawke’s Bay team. A reporter took the opportunity of interviewing Air Eckhold regarding these allegations. The referee told him that as far as lie saw there was certainly none of the illegal play complained of. The game was, of course, a hard one, hut football wus not a parlour game. He had played the game himself.

With regard to his ruling concerning a player taking a mark outside his twenty-five and retiring into the twenty-five to take the kick in order to place the ball out on the full, the eiptain of each team had been .advised before the commencement of play that this could not he done; if it were done he would rule a line-out where the player took the mark, and he did this. Questioned as to how some critics considered that the Hawke’s Bay for-

vi.irds were rough, Mr Eokhold replied: “Well, I think a lot of the trouble can bo attributed to the fact that the Wellington players continually attempted to tackle, or ‘cuddling’ I call it. One can imagine how they fared against burly forwards of the Cyril and .Maurice Brownlie type. Players are often hurt by trying to tackle in this manner,” REFEREE ATTACKED. AUCKLAND, Sept. 13. ' An attack on the referee, .Mr W. Mincham, was made by a spectator during the enthusiastic demonstration that followed Ponsonhy’s .sensational victory over City in the final of the Auckland Rugby League championship at. Carlaw Park. Directly the last-minute score had been recorded, the spectators invaded the field in a dense mass and crowded round the players and the referee, who could make little progress toward the dressing-shed. When the dcmonstintioii was at its height a man walked up to ilr Mincham and struck him. The offender was apprehended by the police. bul it is stated that after his name and '.address had been taken ho was

released. It is understood Hi at the League intends to take further proceedings "> connection with the incident. Mr Mine-ham. who suffered no illeffects, was chaired from the field lissome of the spectators who paid their respects to the victorious footballer in a like mannei