PENALTY ADEQUATE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26633, 2 December 1947, Page 6

PENALTY ADEQUATE

INTERISLAND MATCH f-ORDERING-OFF INCIDENT RUGBY UNION’S OFFICIAL OPINION P.A. AUCKLAND, Dec. 1. Disappointment that players of their standing should conduct themselves in such a manner as to earn the displeasure of the referee was expressed in a motion carried by the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union concerning the ordering off in the inter-island match of J. S. Simpson and L. S. Connolly, two All Blacks. It was considered, however, that the penalty of being ordered off in such a match was sufficient punishment. Decision in the matter had been held over pending receipt of explanations by the players.

Both admitted that there had been a considerable amount of jostling for the loose head position.* Simpson considered that the incident concerned was no worse than in other scrums. Play had been hard, but he had been very surprised at the referee’s action. He denied having used illegal tactics. ’ No Warning Given

Connolly said that in the heat of the struggle for the loose head' position each had swung a blow at the other. That had been all. There had been no previous warning. If the referee had made them shake hands the whole matter would have been forgotten.

The sub-committee which- brought down the recommendation had weighed up the evidence and considered the disgrace of two All Blacks being ordered off was sufficient punishment, said Mr A. St. C. Belcher. For similar incidents, lower grade footballers were put on the bank, said Mr J. D. Prendeville. A motion moved by him and seconded by Mr L. J. Carmine, that the two players be stood down for two playing Saturdays next season, vJas defeated. - Reply to Otago Protest

When a letter was read from the Otago Rugby Union protesting against remarks made by the chairman, Mr S. S. Dean, that the referee’s action had been too drastic, Mr Dean said he was entitled to his opinion and wodld stand by what he had said previously He said he had always upheld referees and would continue to do so, but that should not prevent him from expressing an opinion. The incident had occurred right in front of the official box and the referee had been on the other side of the scrum. It was on what he was able' to see, and which the referee could not have seen from his position, that he had based his opinion and this opinion had been shared by other officials. He considered the referee an excellent one, said Mr Dean, but that should not prevent him from expressing .an opinion.

It was agreed to advise the Otago Union that the official opinion of the New Zealand Union was expressed in the resolution carried. .•Recommendations to Council

The report of the Maori Advisory Board recommended, inter alia, that 1 it would prefer a Maori tour of Australia in 1948 instead of the suggested tour of Fiji. The report is to be submitted to the New Zealand Rugby Union Council. A further recommendation to tne council provides for the grant for school football to be increased to £llsO, to be allocated in proportion to the number of schools in each district, the four metropolitan unions to receive a token payment of £lO but that the school tournament grant be discontinued.