UNRULY FOOTBBALLERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5033, 29 September 1926, Page 2

UNRULY FOOTBBALLERS.

WEST-NETHERTON BANNER GAME. SEVERAL PLAYERS PUNISHED. The adjourned inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the regrettable finish of the West versus, Neth--61:1041 Rugby match in the final game of the banner competition at Paeroa on September 18 last was continued at Monday night’s meeting of the management committee of the Paeroa Rugby Union. The chairman (Mr W. Pennell.) presided. The offending players and. the referee were present by request. The following report from the, referee (Mr F. W. Pivott) was read

“ I wish to draw the attention of your union to the unseemly behaviour and discourtesy towards me as referee, appointed to control the West-Nether-ton banner competition match at Paeroa oh September 18. I beg to state that the game up to half-time was a good exhibition of football, the scores then being three a.ll. On resuming, in the second half my attention was drawn to unnecessarily rough tactics in which I had to order off W. Potter (Netherton). My reason for ordering him off was because he had a West forward (H. McKe,e) on his back on the grohind, and was punching him with clenched fists. This incident happened during the third quarter. Play wa,s again resumed, and I had to caution T. Johnson (Netherton) for inciting players to rough play. The game continued and the West backs contributed a nice piece of play which resulted in a score. On the try being awarded T. Johnson and El Johnspn (Netherton) disputed my decision, and also incited other Netherton players, among whom was C. McNeil. The latter playe.r resorted' to extremely bad language towards me. ... I

thereupon ordered McNeil off the field. Immediately this incident happened T. and E. Johnson decided to leave the fiejd and commanded the majority of players to follow. The scores then were West 9, Netherton 3. Immediately Netherton left the field I) declared the match in favour of ,West. “I have been connected with.football for many years as. an active player and also as an active referee, .and I cannot understand such conduct on the part of the players concerned, and in the interests of football and in regard for referees I ask y<Air union when considering the matter to deal judiciously with the offenders.” EVIDENCE OF OFFENDERS. Before any evidence was taken Mr E. Shaw suggested that the .offending players should retire from the meeting, but the chairman ruled otherwise. The first player called was H. McKee, whol said that he had tackled Potter fairly and squarely, after which Potter knocked him down and punched him. Potter had “vented his spleen” on him in a previous match earlier in the season. Potter held on to the ball when collared, but the speaker did not strike him. In reply to the chairman the referee said he had nothing further to add to his written report. In his evidence T. Johnson, denied that he had incited the; players to leave the field or play roughly. Both teams were wrangling, and excitement was running high, but he had nothing to do with the players walking off. He contended that the. Netherton players; had not left the field until after the game had been awarded to West. E. Johnson admitted disputing the referee’s decision with regard to the try awarded to West, but he denied that he had walked off the fl aid, either with or aftei- his brother. In reply to Mr Crosby T. Johnson said that he was not aware, that any Netherton players had left the field prior to the referee awarding the match to West. This statement was supported by J. Morrison and C. McNeil. BAD LANGUAGE. Upon being called upon to answer the charge of having used filthy language to the referee C. McNeil enr phatically denied using the words complained of, and said that he received a great surprise when he was ordered off the field. It was impossible for the spectators to have heard him use bad language, and he was not in the habit of doing so.

V. Carrick, a West forward, said that he was; standing close, to McNeil but did not hear the words complain-. e,d of used. T. Richmond said that he was not three yards away from McNeil and did not hear the words used. This concluded the evidence, and Mr Crosby said that it was most regrettable that affairs had taken the turn which they had dona The union officials were, representative of the public, and as. such were in duty bound to. protect the public and to study its viewpoint. It could not be disguised that the .supporters of football were very disgusted with the whole affair, and they looked to the union to take such steps as would check any such unseemly behaviour in the future. He then moved that the meeting go into committee, to arrive at a decision.

Before the defaulters and witnesses left the room Mr C. H. Potter, ota behalf of the Netherton .team, expressed, regret, and said that his team had always received a fair spin from the Paeroa Rugby Union. DECISIONS OF COMMITTEE. After deliberating dn the whole affair for upwards of an hour it was resolved, on the casting vote, of the chairman, to caution W. Potter for his behaviour. With reference to the case of T. Johnson it was resolved that he be suspended for twelve months, as from that night. It was. resolved that E. Johnson should receive a cautioh. With regard to C. McNeil, it was decided that he should be suspended for 12 months as from that night. MATCH TO BE REPLAYED. On the, casting vote of the chairman it was resolved that the match should be replayed at Paeroa on a date to ! be arranged at next Monday’s

meeting. At the conclusion of the meeting. Mr J. Wilspn asked that it be recorded that he fully approved, of the rul--ing of the referee during the match under discussion.