FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 847, 2 June 1910, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

MELTING OF SUB-UNION

LAST SATURDAY’S MATCH TO BE REPLAYED.

A meeting of the Foxton Rugby Sub-Union was held on Tuesday evening. Present: —Messrs Hornblow (president, in the chair), Munro and Hadfield (vice-presi-dents), Cook, Reid, Wauklyn, P. T. Robinson, Hynes, Dunn, F. Robinson, Furrie and Whibley. The following fixtures were drawn up for the second round of the senior competition : June nth.—Albion v. Manawatu at Foxton, referee Dr. Adams. June 18th. —Awahou v. Manawatu at Foxton, referee A. K. Drew. June 25th. —Albion v. Awahou at Foxton, referee Dr. Adams. The following were appointed referees for the junior matches : June 4th, Mr F. Woods. June 1 ith, Mr A. K. Drew. June iSth, Dr. Adams.

The next business was to deal with the referee’s report on last Saturday's senior match and before this was read the President, who also refereed the match in question, vacated the chair in favour of Mr Hadfield, vice-presi-dent.

The report was as follows ; —“I have to report that during the gross of Saturday’s match, Awahou* v. Albion seniors, played on the racecourse, 1 ordered Luke Perewhiti (Albion) off the field for a period of 20 minutes during the first spell, for using threatening language to an Awahou player (W. Young). The facts of the case are as follows: The above mentioned players were wrangling and I told them to desist. Perewhiti appeared very excited and subsequently made use of language, which I felt must not be tolerated, and for this reason I imposed what I considered to be a sufficient punishment in keeping with the offence. I informed the captain of the offending player’s team and also the touch-line judge that Perewhiti was to go off until halftime. As the offender was not guilty of foul or rough play and may have been provoked to use the language I objected to, in my judgment it would have been manifestly unfair to impose the full penalty-” Perewhiti, the player reported, was waiting outside and it was decided to hear his version of the affair. He said that one of the Awahou players had struck at him and he lost his temper and struck back, and also used the language complained of. He had some drink before coming on to the field.

In answer to one of the delegates Perewhiti said he did not know the name of the Awahou player who struck him, but would know him if he saw him again.

Perewhiti then retired and the matter was discussed. It was decided on the motion of Mr Furrie that the referee’s report be adopted. After the adoption of the report the President again took the chair. Mr Whibley moved that this Union, in consideration of the report of referee, and after hearing Perewhiti’s statement, cautions the player in question against the use of abusive language on the field of play. In speaking to the motion he said that the referee in his report expressed the opinion that the punishment inflicted was sufficient and in keeping with the offence as the player was not guilty of foul or rough play. Under the circumstances he did not think they should inflict any further punishment-

Mr Dnun seconded the motion. Mr P. T, Robinson said that he thought that Perevvhiti had been sufficiently punished under the circumstances. The man had no doubt had drink and this was the cause of the trouble. He said that as far as the Albion Club was concerned there would not be a recurrence ot this trouble as they had decided at a meeting that if any of their players showed the least sign of having been drinking they would be prevented from playing.

Mr F. Robinson contended that a caution was not sufficient. The man was under the influence of drink and for the Union to caution the player only would make it a laughing stock throughout the Dominion. He referred to the question of drink on a football field at some length, and stating that other Unions would not permit a man to even take a bottle on the ground.

Mr Furrie considered a caution was sufficient under the circumstances.

The Chairman said that from Perewhiti’s appearance one would not conclude that he had been drinking. Mr Wanklyu thought that the proposed punishment was light, but seeing that it was the first offence of its kind perhaps it would be as well to let it pass. However, he did not think that this kind of conduct should be allowed to go on or there would be a danger of the Mauawatn Union bringing the Sub-Union to book. The motion was carried. The Awahou Club protested against Albion’s win on Saturday last ou the ground that the referee acted wrongly in allowing a player ordered off to return and take further part in the game. There were two other grounds on which the protest was entered but these were not entertained. After some discussion it was decided that the protest be upheld and the match be replayed on Saturday. Dr. Adams was appointed referee. It was decided to commence all junior fixtures at 2.30 p.m

The following team has been chosen to represent Albion seniors against Awahou on Saturday : Full-back, W. Cook; three-quar-ters, Dunn, Furrie (captain), K. Perewhiti ; five-eights, L. Perewhiti, Hukiki ; half, Osboldstoue ; wing, Royal ; forwards, A. Cook, Curtis, Bowe, King, Jannett, Haeaua, Whibley and Broad. Emer., Martin.