FOOTBALL MATTERS.

Shannon News, 21 May 1926, Page 4

FOOTBALL MATTERS.

WEEKLY COMMITTEE MEETING. The Management Committee of the Horowhcnua District Rugby Council met last evening. Mr J. . O’Connor presided, and there were also present: Messrs McDonald, Rammer, Procter, Braun, Robson, Hannan, Austin, Robinson, Anderson, Lynch, M. Winda ta (.selector), Emmett (Referees' Association), and Casev (secretary). PLAYERS CAUTIONED. Ropata and Lima, two Otalci players, who were reported by the reb’vc of the Otaki—Hui Mai-match on April 24th, came before the committee to hear the complaint made against them. Lima said he had no knowledge Jf his having fooled a player, whilst Ropata said that Robinson, who was reported as having been a participant, in the same incident and subsequently cautioned by the Management. Committee, had struck at him. Both were severely cautiune l. mnd told that R there was a recur :ence of any similar behaviour they would re c-eive more drastic punishment. “WAITED HIS CHANCE." J. Taylor, a Tokomaru player who was ordered off for striking a player (luring the Foxton-Tokomaru juniors game, also came before the meeting.

Taylor said he received a blow on the nose during the second scrum, and 'SO' he waited his chance. Prior to the match, lie admitted, he was under^ the influence of liquor. When he did get a chance to come to grips with the player who had struck him he “turned him over,’’ hut did not strike him. He further alleged that the referee 'had been drinking. Mr O’Connor: Do you make a direct charge?

Taylor: No, he was slightly under the influence, that is all. Mr Austin said this man admitted having!-been drunk when he arrived■ on the ground, and the speaker took 1 strong ereeption to players attempt-! ing to play football in such a condition. * Mr 'Robinson said he had seen the' referee prior to the match, and hewas not drunk. Mr Austin: But Taylor makes an; almost definite charge against, the! FGfGTGG. Mr Robinson: No such suggestion' came from' Foxton juniors that the referee wag unfit. Mr Hannan: Had the referee been intoxicated the Tokomaru Club would l have sent a letter in support of Taylor. Mr Procter moved that Taylor be suspended for two playing Saturdays; i.e., 22nd and 33th May. In support of this, Mir Rimmer saul' the man himself admitted he was unfit to- play football. •The motion was carried.

In advising Taylor of the committee’s decision, Mr O’ Connor &a, id they looked on this sort of conduct with considerable disfavour, and thought some punishment should be meted out to players who indulged in drinking before playing in a match. The sentence imposed should be a, lesson tfo other players,. INSURANCE OF REFEREES The Horowhenua. Referees Association reported that a resolution was passed, at its last meeting, resolving to ask the Union to insure all referees in the Horowhenua. area. Mr Emmett in support of the letter, said this scheme had been adopted by both England and Australia, while Wanganui and other districts in the Dominion had already decided in its favour. The chairman pointed out that this was a matter for the annual general meeting. The letter was received. BADLY-MARKED GROUNDS. The Referees Association, p,roosted; against the bad way in which grounds are marked out. . The matter is receiving attention. FOOTBALLS GRANTED. Levin Convent School intimated their gratitude for the receipt of a football from the Union. The Makerua School similarly thanked the Union. The letters were received. CLASH BETWEEN REFEREES. Mr Emmett (Referees’ Association) said he regretted having to report the conduct of a ■ fellow referee, Mr J. Sciascia. Hie stated Messrs Sciascia and George acted in the capacity of line umpires at the recent match at Otaki between shannon and Hui Mai, in which Mr Emmett refereed. The trouble started when Johnson, a Hui Mai player, kicked a goal which Mr Sc fascia had declared was not a goal.

The other line umpire, however, rightly made, no comment on the decision. Shortly after ibis Mr Sciascia warned Mr Emmett against, offside play and obstruction tactics, to which the latter replied that be was watching the game carefully. There were other iaculeate; throughout the game, and when the referee in charge of the game told the offender that he was not. in control of the game. Lhe latter became abusive. Mr Sciascia appeared before the Management Committee, and stated that the above was an exaggerated account of what actually transpired. Me would, however, like to point out to the meeting that no matter who had been -refereeing the match the result would not have been altered, but he thought that Hui Mai. should have been credited with a bigger score, Mr Sciascia said he also had apologised to Mr Emmett for having acted in the way he did, and the whole circumstance had been one of complete misunderstanding, as he (the speaker) thought iff was doing Ihe referee a favour. There had been no ill-feeling between them, but when he had warned the referee to be careful with his decisions, as the crowd j

was becoming restive, he had acted in a friendly spirit. He had played football since 1904, and had never been cautioned, and during the past seven years of refereeing he had only one complaint against him. After he had retired from the meeting, Mr Hannan moved, in view of Mr Sciascia’is record, the Committee ask Mr Emmett to let the matter drop. Messrs Procter and Runnier also spoke in favour of having the matter lie where it was. The chairman considered the breach was a very serious one, as not only was it ,a case of protecting referees from the public, hut from themselves, and to drop the case without doing something would show the Management Committee to he very weak indeed. Here was a man with a clean record, in a responsible position as line umpire, and if the incident were allowed to be forgotten it would be an encouragement to players and spectators to adopt similar tacticsTlie speaker gave it as his opinion that the players who were cautioned earlier in the evening were no more to blame than Mr Sciascia. Mr Winiata said he was inclined to agree with Mr O’Connor, as if this sort of thing happened with a player,, of such experience, they would not know where it was going to end. Mr Robinson said it would be inconsistent if they cautioned players without treating referees in the same way. As an amendment to the motion previously outlined he would like to see Mi’ Sciascia cautioned. Mr Anderson seconded Ibe amendment, and in doing so he said it was a bad example to he set by a man with such a record, and regrettable that it should have happened. The amendment was carried, there being onlv three dissentients.