HEADS GET THE CHOPPER

NZ Truth, Issue 1291, 4 September 1930, Page 17

HEADS GET THE CHOPPER

Rugby Union

Captains Ih Taranaki Gujj Final t AxA Ordered Off Fi^ (Froiri "N.Z. Truth's" Taranakr ijepresentatiyc) . J A few minutes before the interval jn the Hawera-Old Boys Tsranatki Provincial Gup final, Referee H. C. Johnson dropped; a bombshell when he ordered 'off ex-All Black H.W. Brown, arid Taranaki rep. ; W. Robinson, the captains of ' the Old : Boys and 1 . Hawera te^s respectively. '% _v y. ■■[ • ■"/.

AFTER the interval, however, the players concerned; had a pow wow. with the -jeferee, shook hands' all round and tootf their, places on the field for the second stanza. ■ .- V* «> •- ' Jf there had been any rough stuff; m the opening spell, the referee's action m ordering off the two captains had a salutary effect,- ahd the game was concluded m the best of spirits. Having used, his discretionary powers and allowed the players back on the field after having ordered them off, it is ■problematical''whether the matter will be jiaken any further. ._ • , .. VAt'the time of the occurrence, Hawera forwards were battling hard to keep, the leather away from the Old Boys backs; who were labelled '-.very dangerous, and play was of a solid nature: From a struggle m the loose, the whistle blew, and Referee ,H. C. Johnson waved his hand and the two captains walked to the/ side-line and thence'' to the stand.

The crowd was [astonished,' as very few Had seen the incident that led up ■ tothe .ordering off, and for, a while the , air was* electrical. ' - : •-.;■ The players were cheered as they reached -the stand and then hoots were indulged m while the game proceeded on for the six minutes that until Referee Johnson, who did not leave the field at the interval, stated that the men ■were ordered off for fighting while lying on the ground; '. < • , • ',V The climax .came when the teams bad lined out m readiness to kick off when the two captains walked on to the field, had a word or two with the referee, shook Rands' with the referee and each other Ind resumed their places m the field, greatly to the satisfaction of the crowd.-

There is.no doubt, but that prior to the ordering off the game was commencing to develop, but the ordering . off. had : a salutary effect,' and the game thereafter was played m the happiest 'possible sporting" spirit. Will the referee report the ordering off? If so, the union will have to take action; There should, however. '= be no> necessity for him to take any further steps, having exercised discretionary powers himself. '■.'."' In any case the majority of the management committee were present at the match. ', .-':••".,"