OUT FOR LIFE.

Shannon News, 30 June 1922, Page 4

OUT FOR LIFE.

SHANNON FOOTBALLERS DISQUALIFIED.

Final consideration was given on Tuesday by the Horowhenua Rugby Union to matters, arising out of the football fracas at Shannon on May 20, when Mr E. Claridge, the referee in the Rovers-Shannon juniors match, was assaulted. The matter formed the subject of a police prosecution, when three Shannon players, H. McDonald, L. Buckman and J. Young, were convicted of offences. These three players were ordered by the Union to appear before Tuesday's meeting, also another player, H. Buckman, who was reported to have used bad language on the same occasion. H. Buckman was the only one to attend. The. Union members present were Messrs. E. J. Nash (chairman), W. Thomson, R. W. Percy, M. Winiata, W. Be van, L. Dixon, F. Whibley, L. S. Cannichael and Father Vibaud. EXPLANATION ACCEPTED.

On being called on for an explanation, H. Buckman denied the charge,' and said the referee had asked him on- the field if he had used the language, and he had denied it. The

referee had accepted his statement. On Mr Whibley's motion, it, was decided to accept Buckman's explanation. APPEAL FOB McDONALD. Mr Grimstone, of Shannon, addressed the Union on behalf of H. McDonald, the player convicted of having struck the referee, who was prevented from being present owing to illness. Mr Grimstone stated that McDonald admitted using bad language, but denied emphatically .having struck the referee. The speaker said he was standing on the line when the fracas started, and McDonald was on the line also, having . gone to the line when ordered off the field. He was prepared to substantiate McDonald's statement in that respect, and considered that it was a case of mistaken identity that McDonald had been charged with striking. He was of opinion there had been a miscarriage of justice in that McDonald had been so severely dealt with by the Court.

Mr Mason, secretary of the Shannon Club, also appealed on behalf of MrDonald, and asked permission, to question the referee (Mr Claridge) on one point. • \ This was granted, and he asked the referee to repeat the words he used to McDonald after the Court case.

The. referee *said the "words he used to McDonald alter the case were that McDonald did not strike him first. Mr Thomson: Why did you make another statement to Mr Percy and me on the Saturday evening, and to Mr Nash and me next .morning? The referee said he had no recollection of having made the statement to Mr Thomson.

The chairman: And to me? Mr Percy: And to me too. The referee said he. did not know who hit him. The words might have been put in his mouth. The chairman: By whom? The referee: By players corning down in the train. They were ail saying it was. McDonald. Mr Mason said he knew personally, and Mr Grimstone also, that it was not McDonald who struck the referee.

The referee, now substantiated .that. After the, Court case in Levin the referee went up to McDonald and said

so J Mr Dixon (to the referee): When you ordered McDonald off, did he go? The referee': He went off some distance. He was in front of. me when the first blow was struck. Mr Thomson: Mr Grimstone has said that McDonald was on the sideline The referee: He was on the field. Mr Thomson: Did you allow McDonald to play on after the fracas. , The referee: No. The chairman: It has been stated here to-night that you did. The referee: That is not true. Mr Mason said that did not prove that McDonald struck the referee. He , appealed to the Union on behalf of, | McDonald, and said he knew for a fact that McDonald was innocent. He would admit that McDonald wanted to fight the referee after 'the match. Members considered that that was as bad, if not worse, than striking the referee on Jthe field. Mr Mason added that he held no

brief for players who were guilty of rough play or assault, and players guilty of such conduct were quite entitled to what was coming to them. He stated one of the other convicted players, L. Buckman. had refused to attend that evening, and Youno; had Ileft Shannon, and he had nothing to say on their behalf, but lie did peal to, the Union for McDonald, who would have been present but for sickness. Mr Mason said he was a witness of the whole affair, and "svas convinced that McDonald did not strike the referee. He had gone off the field when ordered, and did not play after, as he was in his ordinary clothes when play concluded. * The Shannon delegates than retir-

ed, and the Union considered the matter further.

DISQUALIFIED FOR LIFE

Mr Thomson moved that H. McDonald, L, Buckman and 3: Young be disqualified from playing football for life, and that they be warned off all grounds under the jurisdiction of the Horowhenua. Rugby Union and that a copy of this resolutin be, forwarded to the New Zealand Rugby Union, with a request that it be made applicable to all grounds in the Dominion. The motion was seconded by Father Vibaud.

Mr Whibley disagreed with the' motion and thought McDonald should be more leniently dealt with, a:; the opinion was general in Shannon that he was not guilty of striking the referee.

The motion was then put, and carried.

On the motion being communicated to him, Mr Mason stated that his club was very sorry for what had happened, and had taken what action they could to stop it. They also hoped that nothing of the sort would happen again. They had appealed on behalf of McDonald with the idea of having his punishment lightened, as the latter had .admitted using bad language. Mr Mason thanked the Union for the hearing it had given their representatives.. Mr Thomson referred to the tactful way in which Mr Mason had handled a difficult case. He had given the Union every assistance in handling the matter.

These remarks were supported by Mr Percy and the chairman, the latter stating that although Mr Mason was a new-comer to the district, he had acted in a way that was decidedly creditable.

Mr Mason thanked the members for their kind remarks, and said he had acted in the interests' of football as a whole. SHANNON JUNIOR SUSPENSION LIFTED. It was unanimously decided that the suspension of the Shannon Junior Club be lifted as from June 27.