HOROWHENUA RUGBY COUNCIL

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3652, 16 June 1927, Page 2

HOROWHENUA RUGBY COUNCIL

WEEKLY MEETING

The weekly meeting of the Ilorowhenuo Rugby District Council was held in Levin on Tuesday evening. AWAHOU’S DEFAULT. The referee, (Mr. Coyle) in the third grade match Awahou v. Wanderers reported that Awahou were three-quarters of an hour late in arriving, and he awarded the match to Wanderers. —Awahou were fined 5/- for failing to notify their opponents of their intention to default. BEBBBINGTON SHIELD REFEREE. The Bush Union wrote asking that an outside referee be appointed for their Bebbington Shield match with Horowhenua on July 13. —Referred to Appointments Committee. A challenge was received from the Oroua Sub-Union for a match for the Bebbington Shield. —Accepted. JUNIORS ORDERED OFF. The referee inffhe Foxton-Mira-nui junior match (Mr. J. Sciascia) reported having ordered off; two players, Stevenson (Foxton) and Lee (Miranui) for fighting during the progress of the game. He considered they had been sufficiently, punished. Letters were received from the offending players, each stating that the other struck the first blow and that they retaliated in self-de-fence. Messrs Neville (Foxton) and Robson (Miranui) who were present both considered that the breach was not a serious one. The incident happened very quickly. The chairman moved that Stevenson he suspended for one playing Saturday and Lee (who was cautioned last season) he suspended for two Saturdays. Mr. Neville opposed the motion on the ground that more severe measures were being taken against thirds and juniors than against seniors. The chairman himself had stated that lie had seen four senior matches and all had been marked by fighting and blows \ being struck. Yet no senior player had been reported, lie did not know whether it was that rwferees had not the backbone to tackle men high up in football, but it was unfair that juniors and thirds should be dealt with and seniors let go free. Mr. Robinson (Awahou) said this was a case of men fighting and they were very lucky they were not going out for the season. Mr. Neville: The referee did not treat it as scriouA Mr. Robinson said he knew both players and they were very respectable young fellows, but it was fighting and he thought they were being leniently treated. He seconded the motion. Mr Robson moved an amendment that both players be stood down for one playing Saturday. He agreed with Mr. Neville that senior players should not be allowed to get away with a lot of rough stuff while junior players were penalised. He had seen a senior man lying on the ground struck three times in the face and nothing said. Mr. Richards (Shannon) seconded the amendment. Mr. Anderson (County) did not see what, the senior men had to do with it as no one had been reported. The chairman said Lee had been cautioned last year and warned that if he came before the Union ho would he more severely dealt with. That was the reason for treating him differently. The- motion suspending Lee for two Saturdays and Stevenson for one day was carried. SATURDAY’S REP. MATCH. Mr. J. W. Procter .was appointed manager of the Horowhenua team to play at Shannon on Saturday. FOXTON GROUND UNDER WATER, Mr. Neville stated that two grounds at Foxton were unplayable on Saturday owing to the water lying on them. It would be serious for the Bebbington Shield game arranged for Foxton if there was heavy rain about that time. He did not want to see the match go away from Foxton, but the Union should watch the matter. Mr Robinson suggested playing on Easton Park if it could be obtained. He would undertake to see if it could be got and to have it marked out. The “Soccer’’ people were very reasonable. The matter was loft in Mr. Robinson’s hands. GENERAL. The Shnmion-Foxton third grade mu tell was ordered to be played at u later date, owing to shannon being unable to gel across the punt over the Manawatu River. The Bebbington Shield match against Oroua is to be played at Levin on Wednesday, August 10th. At Tuesday night’s meeting of tlu- Horowhenua Union, Wanderers appealed against the referee’s decision in their match against County on Saturday, on the ground of changing his decision from a scrum to a free kick (vide Law 3). The referee (Mr. B- George) was in attendance and denied altering his decision. A scrum was formed and County got the ball. Their half used the blind- side and the wing three-quarter came down fast and got over the line and was about to score. Jacob, the Wanderers captain, was repeatedly appealing, the referee considered for the purpose of taking his attention off the man with the ball. He therefore blow his whistle, cautioned Jacob,

and gave County a free kick. Etc did not change his decision from a scrum to a free kick. ,g Afterji lengthly discussion, the * chairman moved that the protest he dismissed on the ground that there can he no appeal on a matter of fact, the protest fee of 10/- to he refunded to Wanderers. Mr. Neville seconded the motion, which was carried.