UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1029, 21 July 1930, Page 6

UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT

ORDERING-OFF OF . L. KNIGHT CROWD CHEERS PLAYER Holding the opinion that the referee, Mr. J. E. Moffitt, of Wellington, had committed an error of judgment in ordering off the Auckland forward, L. Knight, in the game against Great Britain on Saturday afternoon, the spectators on the terrace side of the field, where the incident occurred, loudly and almost unanimously voiced their dissent of the referee’s action. As the big forward walked slowly off the field the crowd hooted the referee and cheered Knight, who had been playing a fine game for his side. TN making a statement of the matter after the game Mr. Moffitt said that he would like it made clear that he did not order Knight off for rough play. “Previously I had occasion to speak to A. Knight several times- with regard to breaches of the rules, chiefly in the line-outs. Subsequently there were some warm exchanges between the two packs and, realising the necessity for action. I stopped the game to issue a general warning. L. Knight interrupted em and, owing to a remark that he “made I considered that I had to order him off.” Auckland players who were clp.se by at the time stated that Knight did nothing to justify the referee’s action. They said that the English forward, Beamish, was standing over an Auckland player who was lying on the ground and not in possession of the ball. It is said that L. Knight went up to him and told him to “cut it out,’’ at the same time pushing him away with one hand. The referee is said to have warned A. Knight in mistake and that when L. Knight told the referee that it was he and not his brother, he was ordered off. / PLAYED FINE GAME Knight himself was reluctant to comment upon the incident. He said the referee had warned his brother for something that he himself had oden. whereupon he said to the referee, “Don’t pick on him; pick on me,” following which he was ordered off. The British captain, F. D. Prentice, who was acting as line-umpire on the side of tlie ground where the incident occurred, said that he was sorry that Knight had been sent off. Knight had been playing a fine game and the absence of his 16st 11! 11» from the scrum was badly missed. Knight, who is captain of the Grammar Old Boys’ team, has represented Auckland since 1920 and toured Australia with the All Black team of 1925, also representing New Zealand against touring New South Wales sides on several occasions. This year Knight has been playing line football and in the opinion of many should have been included in the teams for the first and second tests.

“JOLLY WELL WHACKED" BRITISH TEAM’S MANAGER SATISFIED Sportsmanlike sentiments were expressed by Mr. James Baxter, manager ol' tho tourists, at a dinner given by tho X.Z.R.U. to the Auckland and British teams at tho Royal Hotel on Saturday evening. "It is satisfactory always either to win well, or to be jolly well whacked, and we were jolly well whacked today,” Mr. Baxter said. “It Is a satisfactory state of affairs as it saves so many ‘ifs,’ ” he added. Congratulating Auckland on its success and Britain on its game, Mr. J. Arneil, president of the Auckland Union, said the match was played in a sportsmanlike manner, and they were satisfied with the result. From his point of view, the referee was very good indeed, he added. The captain of the British team. Mr. F. D. Prentice, proposed the health of the referee. Mr. J. Moffitt. “The refereo had a very difficult job.” he said, “but we congratulate him on having refereed the game fairly and very well indeed.” The Auckland captain, Mr. F. W Lucas, who responded to the toast of the Auckland team, said that they had all enjoyed tlie game. They wer*» glad tho British team was enjoying its tour, but wished its stay here could have been longer. A member of the British team. Mr R. Jennings, of Cornwall, was entertained by members of the .Cornishmen’s Association in the Unity Hall on Saturday evening.