DISCREDITABLE TACTICS.

Shannon News, 23 May 1922, Page 2

DISCREDITABLE TACTICS.

FOOTBALL REFEREE’S JAW BROKEN

A very regrettable incident terminated the junior IhatcTi, Levin Rovers v. Shannon on the local ground on Saturday; and one of which more will be heard. The match started badly* through the absence Of the referee (a Foxt-on resident) appointed to be present, and the captains tossed to see Whether a Shannon or Levin, referee sliouid be chosen. As a result of this both teams took the field under the whistle of Mr E. -"Siaridge, of Levin, wlTo happens to be the Rovers’ coach as well. The game was a hard one, add there were no “beg pardons” on

either side, so that a certain amount of feeling seems to have found its way into the mattSSk Nothing serious occurred, however, until near the eiid of the game. At tins time the score was: Rovers 8, Shannon 6. The leferee had occasion to penalise a Shan non player, who evidently did not consider he was in the wrong, for he is alleged to have used obscene language To the referee, for which he was at once ordered off the field. He was leaving, the field, but incited by other players, returned and a general melee ensueu, in which -the referee was so badly assaulted that he became dazed. Some of the/ spectators also crowded round and did TToTiiing to assist keep, order, while the language used is said to have been most objectionable. The match came to an end, and the referee was assisted to a car and taken home to Levin, where he reported the matter to the Referees’ Assoclaubh. Later fie was medically examined, and it was found that his jaw was praetured in several places. He was taken to the PalfiierstonJHospital. for treatment. A committee of ’he Rugby Union investigated the matter, and as a result have summoned three Shannon players to attend next meeting cflWne Onion, and it is also stated that the police have been communicated with.

If the facts are as stated, the affair is a very ditpreditable one, that will be resented by the community as a whole, tending as it does to bring Shannon into £ad rep’utei for sportsmanship. Nothing can excuse such conduct and brutal-treatment of a referee, and we trust there will be l'ul. and impartial inquiry into the events leading up to the' occurrence.

REFEREES’ ASSOCIATION TAKES ACTION. The following resolutions were passed at a meeting of the Wellington Rugby Referees’ Association last night;—

“That the? Wellington Rugby Referees’ Association convey to the Manawatu branch an expression ,of indignation at the unwarranted and cowardly assault made on Mr Claridge during the execution of his duties as a referee at Shannon on Saturday last, and a sincere hope that the offenders will be punished with the utmost rigour of the law.” “That the attention of the N.Z. R.R.A. be drawn to the! report of the cowardly assault .made on Mr Claridge during the execution of his. duties as a referee in a match at Shannon on May 20, and that they be respectfully urged to recommend the N.Z.R.U. to deal drastically with the offenders, even to the extent of disqualification and ordering off all grounds for life.”

The Referees* Association has appointed the following referees for nen Saturday. No referees have been set down for any match in which Shannon teams are engaged:— Senior.—Wanderers v. Shannon, at Shannon; Weraroa v. Hui Mai, at L-i----vin, Mr J. Smith; FOxton v. Old Boys, at Fox ten, Mr T. Parata. Junior.—Wanderers v. Rovers, at 1 eviir, Mr L/Randall; Tokomaru v. Weraroa, at Tokomaru; MrJJL- Burrows; Shannon v. Foxton, at Foxton; Kuku v. Old Boys, at Otaki, Mr E. Smith; Hui Mai v. Otaki, at Manakau, Mr S. Parker; Te Horo v. Paraparaumu, at Te Horo, Mr L. Udy. Thirds.—Rovers v.‘ Foxton, at Levin, Mr H. Karauti; Weraroa v. Shannon, at Shannon; Old Boys v. Hui Mai, at Otaki, Mr R. Nicholson; Boys’ Farm v. Te Horo, at Farm, Mr J. Casey. Fourths—Weraroa v. Boys’ Farm, at Weraroa, Mr J. Sciascia; High School v. Foxton, at Levin, Mr R. a. Sloan.