Field Sport

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 17, 27 October 1900, Page 13

Field Sport

A STRONG order comes from Otago. I wondered what was the reason for forwarding the evidence in the Porteous case to the New Zealand Union together with the sentence imposed on that player. Now it comes out that the Otago Union wants to know from the New Zealand Union what action it intended to take with regard to McGuirk, who gave the provocation. What action can the New Zealand Union take? I take ifc they can only refer the Southern body to the rules of the game dealing with rough play and misconduct, from which it should be able to gather that unless a referee orders a player off the field that player has done nothing for which he can be made to appear before his Union. Surely this does not need arguing. I think some of the members of the Management Committee of the local Union are going rather far when they suggest that they should be allowed to draw the referee's attention to misconduct and rough play that may have escaped the official's notice, but such a course would be nothing as compared with the suggestion as conveyed in the resolution of the Otago Union. I hold no brief for McGuirk, who has nothing to fear even if it should come to an enquiry, for the only man whose evidence- would carry any weight — the referee — says that as far as he was aware that player did not do anything that warranted him patting him off the field. Cannot our Southern friends let things drop when they have reached their definite conclusion. * * * The idea of a " country week " as suggested by my confrere ■' Touch " is a good one, and is well worthy of consideration by the Rugby Union whether the amalgamation with the Wairarapa Union comes off or not. The matter of expense would not be a source of much trouble, for after studying the matter carefully I am positive such a week could be satisfactorily financed. The town Union could either bear the whole expense, taking all the proceeds, or any other arrangement could be come to. The only thing as far as the town Union is concerned is that the country Unions would not have to expect the Wellington Union to visit them in return for their trip to town. However, this is a matter that can receive ventilation later on.