FOOTBALL INCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1922, Page 5

FOOTBALL INCIDENT.

INGLEWOOD CAPTAIN’S ACTION. RUGBY UNION INQUIRY. COUTTS’ APOLOGY ACCEPTED. The incident that occurred during the playing of the final between Inglewood and High School on the occasion of the seven-aside tournament at New Plymouth on Saturday, leading to the | Inglewood team leaving the field, formed the subject of an inquiry at the I meeting of the management committee 'of the Taranaki Rugby Union last I night. i A report was received from the referee (Mr. F. Roberts), who stated j that he awarded High School a goal | from a try, which Coutts disputed, i and he ordered him to stop making re(marks, and after stating that he still gave a goal Coutts used insulting lan- , gunge to him, and. he then ordered him : oil' the field. On Coutts leaving the ' field the Inglewood players followed him, and he then sounded the whistle and awarded High School the match. The chairman (Mr. J. McLeod) said that the concensus of opinion was that it was no goal, but that was no reason why the player should have taken the action he did. He pointed out that the residents of Inglewood were very much concerned over the matter, recognising how much Coutts had done for football in the district.

j Copies of letters from Coutts to the j referee expressing his regret at the occurrence, and also from the referee unreservedly accepting that apology were I also put in. Mr. W. H. Moyes stated j that Coutts had also written to the captain of the school team expressing his regret. Mr A. Papps, as representing tire ! Referees’ Association, said that the referees would fie satisfied with the player being severely reprimanded as long as the'apology was made public. Mr. Fearon considered that the player should be punished. He had represented the province arid should have known better. They could not punish one man and let another go. REFEREE BLAMED. Mr. Neilson declared there were extenuating circumstances in the way of mistakes on the part of the referee. Mr. Moyes pointed out that there had been three mistakes in six minutes. Inglewood scored a ti*y, which was not awarded; then they were given a mark, which was not a mark, and from which a goal had been kicked. Coutts was here called in, and expressed his regret on similar lines to his letter of apology. Asked regarding his team leaving the field, he said that he remarked: “I’m ordered off; what are you going to do?” Two suggested following him, and he went across and shook hands with the High School captain and his men left the field ahead of him.

The chairman pointed out that he should have protested against the men leaving the field. Coutts said that the men recognised that without him the team would have had no chance; six out of seven was different to fourteen out of fifteen. He said that he did not remember what he had said to the referee, but recognised now that he should not have made any remark. He, however, was so surprised when the goal was awarded that he forgot himself. He pointed out that a mistake had previously been made by the referee in regard to an incident where he awarded a scrum, where it should have either been a try to Inglewood or a force. Then he learnt the next morning that the mark from which he kicked a goal was not a mark, having touched an Inglewood player. Mr. Moyes later moved as an amendment that in view of the extenuating circumstances the player be severely reprimanded and that his letter of apology be handed to the Press. Mr. Harkness said that in his experience he had been punished for less. Cases were taken far too leniently. There was no reason for him to insult the referee.

Mr. Beamish thought he should be punished, especially in view of the fact that he had allowed his team to follow him.

Mr, Garcia considered that the publication of the apology would be a more severe punishment in this case than standing down for a week. The amendment was then carried, Messrs. Garcia, Neilson, Moyes, Guy and the chairman voting in its favour, and Messrs. Harkness, Fearon, Beamish and Mason voting against it. “COULD NOT CONTROL MYSELF.”

The letter of apology from Coutts states, inter alia: “The Inglewood team, as you know, has been more or less out of.the limelight for some time past, and previous to this seven-aside tournament I spent a lot of time trying to arouse more interest in the game here. On playing in the tourney my hopes were exceeded by the splendid results we obtained when I found we were in. the final. I was quite excited about it, as were all my team. Then we had to play harder and faster than ever, and I naturally became all nervy. I was worked right up to concert pitch and was practically off my head trying to beat the sebpol team. When the school scored their try I had reason to be angry with one of my team for a silly try, and then on top of all this excitement came the fact that the referee gave a goal to school when their kick certainly was no goal. I was so certain that it was no goal that I could not believe the referee had given it. and I accordingly asked him to make sure. When he said that he had given it I could not control myself any longer and I had to give vent to my thoughts. “[ certainly did not use such statements as are credited to me. I realise, or

course, that I was wrong, and that 1 i should have kept my peace, and I am sorry that I did not, seeing that so much has come out of it. However, the circumstances were such that with the excitement that was prevailing and the fact that the decision was so palpable, I think it would have been a difficult matter for anyone to keep quiet. As I say, I certainly regret the whole matter; it was a rotten thing to happen and spoiled a good day’s sport, but I would put it to you, gentlemen, that the circumstances were of such an ! extenuating nature that my case should j be leniently dealt with. I have writ- t ten to the referee expressing my regret, and that alone should be a mark of my sincerity in the matter. I am more angry with myself than anyone, else is, I think. I’m naturally hot-head-ed, too, and of course that made mat- | ters harder, though now, when I look ■back on the whole affair, I can omy admit that I was wrong in questioning the referee at all, and express my regret that such a# affair happened. Tn view: these circumstances I trust

that you will view the case as leniently as possible, and I might add that T don’t think it necessary for you even to caution me, as 1 have' already kicked myself, as the saying goes, for what my quick temper led me to do. I certainly think I shall never repeat the performance for a long time.”

On the motion of the chairman and Mr. Neilson it was resolved that in view of the Inglewood team’s action in leaving the field, their position as run-ners-up be forfeited, and that the shield and gold medals for the winners be handed to High School and the silver medals for the runnera-up to Stratford B.

The Chairman then severely admonished Coutts, pointing out the seriousness of the position and stressing the fact that in treating the case so leniently the union had stretched its generosity to the very utmost, and he recognised they would have to accept the t odium of it. There was, he pointed out, an unfortunate spirit growing up that a match must be won at any price.