FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1103, 31 May 1913, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

The management committee of the Horpwhenua Rugby Union met at Levin on Wednesday.

Cobbler, who was disqualified for two years for “language” to a referee followed later on by a re- M turn to the field rolling up his sleeves and intimating his intention to “have a cut at him,” applied to have his disqualification removed. It was placed upon him on 20th June, 1912. Mr Macdonald was in favour of upholding the referees. He looked upon these penalties as having the effect of upholding clean sport. Certainly he was against removing a disqualification unless the disqualified person was present to make the application personally and be personally examined. He moved that the application be deferred until next meeting of the Union, and that Cobbler then appear and give what reasons he could for the removal of his disqualifications. —Agreed to. An application by the Shannon Club to have the “life” disqualification removed from Healey was received. He said he would have attended the meeting at which he was disqualified; he was away because he could not attend, not to show disrespect to the committee. He was disqualified for “having used obscene language,” but he denied having used the words charged. He was excited, he would admit, he bad taken a few drinks that day ; he was vice-cap-tain, and was taking charge of the team in his captain’s absence, and quite within his rights he appealed lor a knock-on. The referee told him “to keep quiet; he would not allow him to question his decision.” Then witness got wild, and said “My opinion is that you are not fit to referee a (corpuscular) dog fight.” Then the reteree ordered him off, and he went. He was astonished to find he was disqualified for life ; he thought it an absurdly heavy disqualification. He would like to have the sentence lightened; he was not obscene although he had lost his head. He had played football for nine years, and for fiye years with Shannon, and that was the first occasion on which he had been Into trouble with a reteree. He had no complaint to make about being disqualified, he could have Stood a season’s disqualification even, for he was , a sport; but speaking as a sport he had to say It was absurd to “put a man up for life” for that; he had expected to be disqualified for a month or two months at the most. The committee decided to defer consideration until next meeting, the affair haying been a part of the disturbances in the game wherein Cobbler met his trouble.