RUGBY UNION MATTERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 7 August 1929, Page 6

RUGBY UNION MATTERS

(To the Editor)

Sir.—The Nelson Rugby Union has once more provided football followers with a little bit of comic opera stuff. The Union can always be relied on to serve up at least once a season a tit-bit that has a strong Gilbertian flavour—and this quite apart from the vagaries of its own. selectors. On one occasion some time back the Union disqualified a player who kicked a player on the head as lie was jumping over him, for the rest of the season, and a season to follow. In this year of grace, and no later than last Saturday, a player who. lost his temper and punched an opponent in full view of the referee, the grandstand and the present writer, has his case dismissed by the Union. It is well known that the clatts of football Served up in senior games this season is so poor that the Union is put to it to get a gate of any sort at any cost. But this does not excuse the Union from its lack of duty towards the referee who controlled the game in question. The cream of the joke is still to come. Mr Searle spoke on the rough type of play which was evident in senior games, and suggested that efforts be made to> have it stopped. This was supported by Messrs Russell, Fowler and Blincoe. But it was made clear to the referees' representative that strict measures were required to stop rough play—and this in face of the fact that IMerf' Croucher lad just reported ,i player for rough play, and had seen the case dismissed. In other words, the Union says to the refeiees you iniisL stop rough play, but it is no use reporting it to the Union. This is comic opera stuff with a vengeance, and a continuance of this policy will still further help to account lor the poor 'gales at senior matches. —I am, etc.. SUPPORTER. Nelson, 6th August.