SPORTSMANSHIP.
Sir.—-Fair play, truth, and defence of sport force me- to reply to “R U A. Sports’ ” letter of irregularities. That the course of justice was not inflicting a heavy fine on correspondent's "man of fifty years and small of stature” is surely a wonderful stroke of luck for him. Briefly, the position is this. X. while giving his club his services is injured, and after a long spell of hospital is only fair, in health and unable to take the field this season. Y since last season has undergone hospital treatment and lias also to stand on. l the line. A scratch match being played, X and Y attend to encourage their old team and mates. Z, as “R U A Sport” says, a partly intoxicated ina i. incensed at X encouraging his old team, launched out such a “Firpo” on the semi-in-vainl X that lie crumpled up and had to be assisted to a seat. There was no “baiting” in the matter, unless bailing is encouraging the opposite team to your neighbour. Y, seeing his team mate ‘ struck down by a up and struck the inebriate a blow which opened a fai r gash on his face. Granted neither should have struck blows ; but whose was the greater provocation—the comrade who saw his team mate is truck down by a semi-intoxicated madman or the other who evidently did not think any team but his own should be encouraged 7 The object of the team of the injured men has to put down sternij' any "dirt” and to play the game for the game's sake. The writer has seen the game from the Maroons of Southland to theßlue and Whites\pf Auckland to the Blue and Whites of Auckteam with a more sporting skipper than the Black and Whites of the Paeroa Union. Team comradeship insists that an insult to one is an insult to all. and with that aim will fight to-, gether to the last ditch. Beware, R U A Sport. Heards off the- boys ! MAGPIE.
Sir,—hi reply to “R U A Sport,” I fail to see where he gets his unsports- >5-man-like behaviour from. If the aggressor cannot stand a bit of chaffing the boot is on the other foot.. He also does not mention the lan giiage— > not fit for a dog—used by his friend (the man of small stature). Even it your friend was tormented, it show* unsportsmanship on his part to strike a semi-invalid mail, knowing very . I weil he was sick. It would be a very funny friend who would not. step into J the breach a nd take the part of a sick friend who was being molested. 1 think that if “R U A Sport” minded his own busipess instead of other people’s he would be better off, as I, who saw the whole affair, think the sick mans’ friend was Quite justified in taking the stand he did. A sport is a gentleman, but that is more than “R U A Sport” is. As for being larrikins, and a disgrace to their club, that can be proved if the gentleman in question would step forward. He should never judge people by himself. A SPORT.
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Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4822, 15 April 1925, Page 2
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534SPORTSMANSHIP. Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4822, 15 April 1925, Page 2
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