RUGBY REFEREES MEET.

Shannon News, 5 July 1921, Page 4

RUGBY REFEREES MEET.

The weekly meeting of the Horowhenua Rugby Referees Association was held on Saturday evening, July 2. Present: Messrs. Percy (president), Thomson, Bevan, Rhodes, Nash, Karauti, Procter, Rose, O’Connor, Vickers, Claridge, Winiata and secretary. The secretary of the Rugby Union asked the Association for the appoint ment of a referee for the Rep. match, Bush v. Horowhenua, on Wednesday, and after a ballot, Mr W. Thomson was declared appointed. y A letter was received from the Paraparaumu Football Club asking that local referees be not appointed to their matches—The letter was received. Arising out of the referees’ reports on matches taken., it was decided to request the Rugby Union to inquire into the names of one team competing, the meeting being of opinion that one player’s pame did not appear on the list handed to the referee. This was done in the interests of the game, as it was considered that teams should play the game in a proper spirit and not endeavour to adopt unfair practices. One member reported that he regretted having given a wrong decision during his game. This was done through misinterpretation of a rule. One feature that appeared very marked in the reports was the number of protests that seemed to emanate from junior m'atches. This grade is not playing the game in the proper spirit, or there is,a want of sportsmanship on the part of the players, either of which is to be regretted. The meeting decided to draw, the attention of the Union to the annoyance caused to the games held on the Levin grounds by the encroachment on the dividing space between the playing areas, and to request that none but the two line umpires be permitted on that space. The maze of lines on the Levin ground also came up for adverse criticism, and a recommendation was made to the Union to act in the matter. It was also decided to request the Union to have all goal posts padded at the base as a means of preventing any accidents to players. As Illustrating the necessity for keeping the crowd back from the field of play, an incident occurred on the local ground on Saturday, when a spectator almost caused the loss of a score to one of the teams. It might be pointed out that the referee has arbitrary powers regarding interference with the ball by a spectator after that ball has crossed the goal line.

After a discussion as to the course of action in the-event of the ball bursting, the meeting closed.

FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY, JULY 9. SENIOR. Levin I. v. Shannon 1., at Shannon; Mr Karauti. Foxton v. Hui Hai, at Foxton; Mr Cla-i ridge. ■ Tokomaru v. Kuku, at Tokomaru; Mr ( Burrows. * * JUNIORS (Northern). Otauru v. Levin, at Shannon: Mr Sciascia. Shannon >v. Weraroa, at Levin; Mr Rhodes. Foxton a bye. Southern. Waikanae v. Paraparaumu, at Waikanae; Mr Parata. Oiaki v. Old Boys, at Otaki: Mr Freeman. S

Kuku v. Hut Mai, at Manakau; Mr Bevan. THIRD GRADE.,, Tokomaru v. Foxton, at Foxton; Mr Reeve. Shannon v. Rovers, at Shannon, at Mr Rose. FOURTH GRADE. Rovers v. School, at Levin; Mr Nash. Skaaaen v. Otaki, at Levin; Mr Casey. REP. MATCH. Horowhenua v. Bush, on Wednesday; Mr W. Thomson.