HOROWHENUA RUGBY UNION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3038, 20 May 1926, Page 3

HOROWHENUA RUGBY UNION.

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING. The Management Committee of the Horowhenua District Rugby Council met in Levin on Tuesday evening. Mr. J. O’Connor presided, and there were also present: Messrs. McDonald, Rimmer, Procter, Brann, Robson, Hannan, Austin, Robinson, Anderson, Lynch, M. Winiata (selector), . Emmitt (Referees’ Association), and Casey (secretary). PLAYERS CAUTIONED.

Ropata and Lima, two Otaki players, who were reported by the referee of the Otaki —Hui Mai match on April 24th, came before the committee to hear the complaint made against them. After hearing evidence both were severely cautioned, and told that if there was a recurrence of any similar behaviour they would recive more drastic punishment. “WAITED HIS CHANCE.” J. Taylor, a Tokomaru player who was ordered off for striking a player during the Foxton-Toko-maru juniors game, also came before the meeting. Taylor said he received a blow on the nose during- the second scrum, and so waited his chance. Prior to the match he admitted, he was under the influence of liquor. When he did get a chance to come to grips with the player who had struck him he “turned him over,” but did not strike him. He further alleged that the referee had been drinking.

Mr. O’Connor: Do you make a direct charge? Taylor: No, he was slightly under the influence, that is all. Mr. Austin said this man admitted having been drunk when he arrived on the ground, and the speaker took strong exception to players attempting to play football in such a condition. Mr. Robinson said he had seen the referee prior to the match, and he was not drunk. Mr. Austin: But Taylor makes an almost definite charge against the referee. Mr. Robinson: No such suggestion came from Foxton juniors that the referee was unfit. Mr. Hannan: Had the referee been intoxicated the Tokomaru Club would have sent a letter in support of Taylor. Mr. Procter moved that Taylor be suspended for two playing Saturdays, i.e., 22nd. and 29th. May. In support of this, Mr. Rimmer said the man himself admitted he was unfit to play football. The motion was carried. In advising Taylor of the Committee’s decision, Mr. O’Connor The team to represent the Foxton Juniors will be picked from the following:— Huff (2), Pullyn, Hartley, Shaw, Scott, Hotereni, Dickinson, Perreau, Morgan, Graham, Mohekey, Anderson, Andrews, Robinson, said they looked on this sort of conduct with considerable disfavour, and thought some punishment should be meted out to players

who indulged in drinking before playing in a match. The sentence imposed should be a lesson to other players. CLASH BETWIEEN REFEREES. Mr. Emmett (Referees’ Association) said he regretted having to report the conduct of a felloiv referee, Mr. J. Sciaseia. He stated Messrs Sciaseia and George acted in the capacity of line umpires at the recent match at Otaki between Shannon and Hui Mai, in Avhich Mr. Emmett refereed. The trouble started Avhen Johnson, a Hui Mai player, kicked a goal which Mr. Sciaseia had declared Avas not a goal. The other line umpire, however, rightly made no comment on the decision. Shortly after this Mr. Sciaseia warned Mr. Emmett against off-side play and obstruction tactics, to which the latter replied that he Avas watching the game carefully. There Avere other incidents throughout the game, and Avhen the referee in charge of the game told the offender that he Avas not in control of the game, the latter became abusive.

Mr. Sciaseia appeared before the Management Committee, and stated that the above was an exaggerated account of what actually transpired. He would, however, like to point out to the meeting that no matter who had been refereeing the match the result would not have been altered, but he thought that Hua Mai should have been credited with a bigger score. Mi 1 . Sciaseia said he also had apologised to Mi 1 . Emmett for having acted in the way he did, and the whole circumstance had been one of complete misunderstanding, as he (the speaker) thought he was doing the referee a favour. There had been no illfeeling between them, but when he had warned the referee to be careful with his decisions, as the crowd was becoming restive, he had acted in a friendly spirit. He had played football since 1904, and had never been cautioned, and during the past seven years of refereeing he had only one complaint against him.

After he had retired from the meeting, Mr. Hannon moved, in view of Mr. Sciascia’s record, the Committee asked Mr. Emmett to let the matter drop. Messrs Procter and Rimmer also spoke in favour of having the matter lie where it was. The chairman considered the breach was a very serious one, as not only was it a case of protecting referees from the public, but from themselves, and to drop the case without doing something Avould show the Management Committee to be very week indeed. Here was a man with a clean record, in a responsible position as line umpire, and if the incident were allowed to be forgotten it would be an encouragement to players and spectators to adopt similar tactics. The speaker gave it as his opinion that, the players who were cautioned earlier in the evening Avere no more to blame than Mr. Sciaseia. Mr. Winiata said he was inclined to agree w-ith Mr. O’Connor, as if this sort of thing happened Avitli a player, of such experience, they would not know where it Avas going to end. Mr. Robinson said it would be inconsistent if they cautioned players without treating referees in the same way. As an amendment to the motion previously outlined he would like to see Mi 1 . Sciaseia cautioned. Mr. Anderson seconded the amendment, and in doing so he said it Avas a bad example to be set by a man with such a record, and regrettable that it should have happened. The amendment Avas carried, there being only three dissentients. REFEREES FOR SATURDAY. Seniors: Hui Mai v. Foxton, E. Bevan; Juniors: Awahou v. Foxton, .J. 11. Rhodes; Thirds: Weraroa v. Foxton, W. Peters; Fourths: Foxlon D. 11.5. v. Foxton, J. FI. Rhodes.