RUGBY UPSETS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 9, 2 September 1931, Page 4

RUGBY UPSETS

WAIARIKI AGAIN UNDESIRABLE SPECTATORS WARNED OFF FOF TWELVE MONTHS. PLAYERS ORDERED OFF. Players being ordered off for striking, scra_pping on the ground, and grappling; players being condemned for refusing to play in representatie j matches, and the conduct of certain j spectators, were some of the matters which were dealt with, in addition to the usual weekly routine, by the Rotorua Rugby management eommittee at its usual weekly meeting on Monday nightThe first matter brought forward was the refusal of certain Waiariki players to play in a mateh against Te Puke recently, and a rumour, current in the town, that the offenders' reason was because of the management's action in standing down one of their players for the remainder of the season for fighting on the field. Mr. King, representing the Waiariki Club, after thanking the eommittee for this opportunity to straighten the matter out, stated that the players were not to blame- He was to blame, he said. He objected to-the policy of the union in not permittxng players who did not attend practices to play in representative matches. They did not attend training before the Te Puke game, so he thought they wonld automatically be omitted from the team. 1 Mi*. G. H. Mason: "We should have been the ones to decide that, I do not see whjr you should have anything to do with it." Mr- Kings "The men were willing to play, only I told them that I did not thinlc they would be ineluded. It was not until Saturday morning that I learned that they were in the team," The President: "That seems peculiar." Mr. King: "The secretary of the union rang me during the week and asked if the men were available, and I said no, because of the policy of the union."

Rumour Denied. Mr. G. H. Mason: "This seems unusual, especially your not letting the union know that they were not available. If it had not been for the rumour going ronnd the town, we should not have know anything about it. Is there anything in the rumour that the players refused to be available because of the suspension of a member of the Waiariki Club-" Mr. King: "No." Mr. Robertson: "We were definitely told that no Waiariki players would •

be available for the Morrinsville match as well." Mr. King : "There is nothing in that rumour- either.7 Mr. G. H. Mason: "That is what surprised me. You, as their manager, were so agreeable about them coming in. Are there any grievances now-". Mr. King: "No." Mr. G. H. Mason : "It seems to have boiled itself down to a misunderstanding of our threat against representative players and practices. This unusual explanation certainly alters things, but in future I' would like to know things from yon instead of from the man in the street." Mr. King: "I, myself, was the only one to remark on the suspension of the player." Explanation AcceptedMr. G. H. Mason: "I don't mind who remarks on that, but I refer to the men's action of refusing to play representative f ootball. Your explanation seems to be the only one there is. Mr. Davidson: "Referring to the Morrinsville match. We were instructed that Waiariki men would not play in that match." Mr. King: "I know nothing about that." Mr- G. H. Mason : "I heard the same thing, and a similar accurrence coming shortly afterwards in the case of the Te Puke match made me think. I spoke plainly at last week's meeting of the union, but I do not regret it, as the players deserved a reprimand for the way they acted in not notifying us of their intentions." Mr. King: "I am the only one that deals with club matters and I know nothing about it." Mr. G. H. Mason: "That kind of thing cannot be tolerated by the governing body. We can't have club players running the union." Mr. McCardell : "Will they he available now that the reason for their absences has been cleared up." • Mr- King: "Now that I know why they were critieised, yes." Mr. G. H. Mason: "Had it not been for the rumour, we should no.t have taken the matter so seriously." Mr. King: "I wish you to understand that the men are not to blame for their non-attendance for the Te Puke match." Mr. King, after being thanked for his explanation, then left the room while the eommittee considered the matter. It was decided that the explanation be accepted, and that the president and secretary of the union send a letter to the Waiariki Club, remonstrating with them for not notifying the selectors of their decision. Four Ordered OffThe report of a referee, Mr. Oneroa, on the junior match, Kahukura v. Whaka, last Saturday, was then read. The report stated that four players had been ordered off, three Whaka and one Kahukura, for offenees which ineluded striking, scrapping on the ground, and grappling. It also mentioned' an onloolcer, who, speaking in Maori, insisted npon telling the players to kick the opposition, not the ball. The referee, himself, was present and verified the statement, also adding that the game was willing from start to finish. Mr. McCardell. "It is serious when four players are ordered off in one match." Mr. G. H. Mason : "The game seems to have been a bit of a scrap-" Mr. R.v Hayward: "Not so far as Kahukura was concerned." He then spoke on behalf of the Kahukura offender. Mr. De Luen: "-That player is all right as far as my experience of him } goes."

Mtf. G. H. Mason : "I do not think a referee would order 'a man off for nothing. We are apt to jndge these things by our own feelings instead of putting ourselves in the place of the referee. If an offender is only warned, it is as good as throwing eold water in the face of the referee and the player goes away smiling-" "Cleaxxed Up" "I attach far more importance to the report of the referee than to any member of a club, I want to,see the game cleaned up." Mr. Robertson's motion that the offenders be stood down until they appeared before the union in - person was carried. Mr. R. Mason: "What about the members of the gallery who incited the players to rough play-" Mr, Robertson: "This trouble from one of the spectators mentioned, has been complained about before." Mr. R. Mason: . "One spectator threafened to strike me And also threatened a referee because he did not like his controlling of a game-" Mr. 6. H. Mason : "If we have any trouble from them we will soon bring them up before the magistrate." - Mr. Cottrell: "One' of these sideliners is responsible for four footballers getting into trouble. He should be warned off the grOund for at least a year." The Whaka delegate spoke on behalf of the offender. - Mr. G. H. Mason: "I believe the person concerned was a former footballer- He should have known better." Both the spectators concerned were considered nuisances and are to be warned off the f ootball ground for a period of twelve months. Saturday's Fixtxxres. Fixtures for Saturday are: — A Reps. v. Galatea, at Murupara. Mr. A. De Lnen was elected manager, and hecand the secretary are to arrange for the transport of players, who will leave Fuller's cornerat 12.30 on Saturday afternoon, Matches at Arawa Park are : — Kaharoa v. Combined Jupiors, at 1.30 p.m. on No. 1 ground. Frankton Juniors v. Rotorua Junior Reps., at 2 p.m., on No. 2 ground. Frankton Seniors v- Rotorua B. Reps., at 3 p.m., on No, 1 ground. Mr. McCardell is to be manager of the B. Reps.