INCORRECT REPORTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5305, 27 July 1928, Page 4

INCORRECT REPORTS.

SCHOOL FOOTBALL MATCH.

RESENTMENT ON PLAINS.

Much resentment is felt in Hauraki Plains school Rugby circles and was expressed at a meeting of the Rugby Union’s Protest Committee on Tuesday evening at a paragraph in a report which appeared in one district newspaper and two Auckland papers, allegedly from a “Turua Correspond--ent,” concerning the Turua-Keriepeehi schools match on Saturday last. The statement was as follows :— “With the score at 3 all, C. Hamilton, touched down for Turua. It appeared, however, that one of the timekeepers had a second before called ‘time.’ The other timekeeper declared that there were almost four minutes to go. After; some hesitation the. referee declared the match, finished 1 , and the result a draw. The crowd took possession of the field. Some spectators endeavoured to push the referee back on again, and another section. endeavoured to pull him off. After a period both teams walked off, further play being impossible.” The Turua School entered a protest concerning the time, and the matter was fully ventilated before the Hauraki Plains Rugby Union’s protest committee.

From the evidence given it was shown that only one timekeeper had been appointed. A spectator, failing to reconcile the times of tlie flrfet three' quarters with his watch, had asked another spectator to check with him the time for the final round. While the game was j.n’ progress this unofficial timekeeper was asked by a third spectator how much longer there was to play and had answered “four minutes.” As the game was stopped a moment later; by the official timekeeeper an argument ensued; but, from the' evidence of the iteferee, the only person who h.ad urged him to continue the game was this third spectator. This the referee flatly declined to do, contending that the officially appointed timekeeper had declared that time was up.

As it was admitted in; evidence that there were, only three Turua spectators at the match, and that when the game was stopped play was withip the Kerfepee'hi quarter, it was apparent that there could h.av«i been very little hostile demonstration. In fact, one witness stated that he was the only person to walk bn to the field, and that he did so to reach the entrance gate by the shortest route.

The T.urua School’s protest against the match was rejected, so Kerepeehi •winJs th© Cup.