SHANNON PLAYER CAUTIONED

Shannon News, 2 June 1927, Page 3

SHANNON PLAYER CAUTIONED

FOOTBALL INCIDENT AT FOXTON LANGUAGE TO THE REFEREE. An incident which oceurrred in the early part of the senior football, match between Shannon and Awahou, at Foxton on Saturday, when Roberts, captain of the visiting team, was ordeied to the line by Mr W. Neville, the referee, was dealt with by the manage- 1 ment committee of the Horowhenua District Council last evening. Mr Roberts was in attendance, and Mr .Neville, who is a member of the manage--1 ment committee, was also present. Alter hearing evidence and discussing the matter, the Council cautioned the player in question. The; incident on the ground arose through a difference of opinion about the Referee si use of the whistle. It appeared that Hunt, of , Shannon, marked from -the kick-out, : but was tackled by two Awahou backs. In forwarding the scores of the mate!., to Mr Casey,-secretary of the Council, Mr Neville wrote: '“During this match I had to stand Mr Roberts, the captain of the Shannon team, on the line for bad language and dietating_to me. Addressing the meeting, Mr Seville said that the game started fairly roughly. From a line-out, the ball went from one lot of backs to another, and a mark was taken by a Shannon player (Hunt). The referee blew the whistle, but the players did not all hear it. Roberts said to him, “You wank to» be quieker with that b whistle.” The. referee responded, “Cut that out, and - Roberts then said, (‘You are too b— — slow with, that whistle altogether. Mr Neville warned him-again, but he went on with his statements, and Mr Neville ordered him to the side line. Roberts gave no bother at this point, but went straight to the line. This was practically all. that was in the incident, Mr Neville added., ■ . The chairman (Mr J. J. O Connor) informed Roberts that the referee madf a charge against him (Roberts) of using bad. language. ' Mr Neville stated that the remarks were beard from the side lineMr W. Winiata (to Mr Neville): You said they were pretty roughs from the start. I suppose the game was wellworked up? ’ Mr-Neville: Yes. - , ■ Mr Winiata: So Roberts was rathci unfortunate that it fell to his lot? Mr Neville: Yes. ■ r ■ Mr M. Ryder asked if the... was a good one. . . • Mr Neville replied that it was a good whistle, and he could produce it. The blowing of it stopped the players with the exception of. those on the outside, who were more interested in each other than in listening to the whistle. Mr Austin, who witnessed the occur rence from the side line,' stated that the ball was kicked, and Hunt marked it. The referee blew a “toot. lhe game stopped, but somebody called out “no whistle”; then the referee blew it again. It was at this' stage thht Roberts made the remark complained of. , He'(Mr Austin) heard it from the side " Tine. , , , - Mr A. Richards stated that he was i spectator at the match. It was, a very friendly game all through, with ap. at-, senee of rough play. He interviewee most of the Shannon players and some of the spectators. Someone called. “No mark—no.whistle,” and two players charged. Roberts asked the referee, why he did not blow the whistle louder or quicker. He (Mr Richards) was ; told that the, referee replied that lie was not going to blow his teeth out ]3unt was rather badly knocked about, and had a bad back now Being invited by the chairman to give his explanation, Mr Roberts stated that what the referee had said at this meeting was quite wrong. He (the speaker) had told the referee that he was slow’Swith his whistle. Mr Neville replied by telling him not to pass remarks about it. The speaker then said to him that somebody would be getting hurt if he (the referee) did not wake up' with the whistle. The referee told him a second time not to pass re-marks,-And then told him to walk oft. :M;r F. Robinson: Was the game roV'gh? V Mr. Roberts: No, I did not see any rough play. - Mr Austin: Do you remember saying, “Why aren’t you ab— sight quick- ,. er with your whistle, referee?” Mr Roberts: No. , Mr Winiata: Have you ever been cautioned or ordered off by a referee before?

Mr Roberts: No. , Mr Richards said he believed that Moses (Awahou captain) approached the referee and asked that Roberts be allowed to play again. 'Mr Neville: Yes; they asked that through the Awahou captain, but mj answer was that once I give a decision it is final. In answer to a question by the chairman, Mr Neville stated that twice lie cautioned Roberts for bad language, and the third time he ordered him oft the field. All the forwards were 1 be-, tween him (Mr Neville) and the mar. who took the mark, but he saw what happened. The game stopped all round him. Someone charged Hunt, but he (Mr Neville) did not see anything desperate about it. Roberts seemed very excited when he made the remarks complained of. One of the Shannon players had asked him (the referee), earlier in the game, if they would be playing, the fiew rules, and he answered m the negative. , Mr J. Casey: Does Roberts deny using bad language? Mr Roberts: I don’t remember using bad language, Mr Casey. Mr Roberts retired at the chairman s request, arid Mu Neville voluntarily withdrew, while the Council consideiec the case. , , . The Whistle was tested by the chairman, and gave off a loud blast.

Mr Austin said that Roberts’ remark to the referee >?as made on the spur of moment. The game was ;going pretty strongly at the time. Mr Neyille sdunded a “toot ’’—enough to ■ stop the players. Someone sang out ’’ “No whistle,” and a player made v ... »r a b. The referee blew the whistle fgain— this time a good “ toot,and \ Roberts made the remark complained Winiata said that, according to

Mr Neville, the game was rough ail hrough. Mr Austin: It was a good, hard game, but I would not call it rough The offence was not a trivial one, bui, it the same time it was not serious. Mr Robinson said he did not see anyhmg rough/about the game. It was a rood, hard game, and as football ought ’o be played. It was not basket-ball. Last season he never heard a word from Roberts.

Mr Austifi moved that Roberts be ■autioned for his language, and that if he comes before the Union again this iffence will be taken into consideration vhen meting out punishment. The motion was seconded by Mr Robinson. ■ 4

Mr Richards remarked that he had heard worse language on the football held dozens of times.

Mr Wrigley: Not addressed to the ,-eferee, though. Mr Winiata: Coming from a player >f his standing, it should- be checked. The referee is one man they must respect. Mr Robinson: It may be that he does not remember using the language, his temper being up. As captain of the team, he has a right to appeal to the referee, though not to swear. Mr Austin: The whistle was not slow in being blown, but was not blown loud enough the first time. Mr Richards: I saw Hunt to-night, ana ho told me that he took the mark, and that most of the players round him stopped; someone said “no whistle,” and a couple of players charged him. The Chairman: The most serious thing is that Roberts argued the point with the referee. He was warned twice. 1

Mr Richards said he thought that a caution would be quite sufficient, considering Roberts’ past record. The motion was carried without dissent and Messrs Roberts and Neville were recalled to the meeting and informed of the decision.