FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8539, 20 September 1907, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

A SCANDAL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Received September 19, 10.23 a.m. MELBOURNE, September 19. At a smoke concert given by the Metropolitan Football Association one speaker declared that the matter of the expenses of senior clubs had become a scandal, and the remedy was to put it out of the power of players to demand heavy sums for so-called expenses. Another speaker said players had become the managers of the game, and that veiled professionalism was rampant. ALLEGED ROUGH PLAY. By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, September 19. The Management Committee of the Auckland Rugby' Union spent about three and a half hours last night enquiring into the allegations of rough play brought against the Auckland team while on its tour of the South, and especially into the cases of the men who were ordered off in the Otago and Canterbury matches. The report of the manager of the team, Mr F. S. Murray, regarding what took place in each match, and the conduct of the tour generally, was read to the committee, while reports wsre also received from the referees in each match concerned. Several players, including E. MacCormick and Williams, who were ordered off the field oy the referees in the Otago and Canterbury matches, respectively, were examined at length, but as the proceedings were held in camera the full evidence is not available. It is understood, however that the manager and players gave a complete refutation of the charges. In the case of MacCormick, the committee passed the following resolution: "That after a most exhaustive enquiry this committee is of opinion that sufficient punishment has been meted out to E. MacCormirk in his being ordered off the field of play in the Otago v. Auckland match." Owing to the lateness of the hour, the committee decided to postpone the further consideration of the case of Williams, in which a lot of evidence was also taken, until next Wednesday evening. In view of the enquiry not being completed, the reports of the manager and referees were not available for publication, but these are promised the press zo soon as the ■enquiry is completed. In holding the enquiry in camera the committee of the Auckland Rugby Union is following its usual practice, as it holds all its meetings in committee. The Masterton District High ' School team defeated the Eketahuna Public School Old Boys, at Masterton, yesterday, by 62 points to nil. As the score indicates, Masterton had all the best of the game. H. Milne scored thirteen tries, Sutton two, ana G. Miller and Bray one each. Harvey, Ibbetson, Golder and Rigg each converted a try, and R. Miller kicked a penalty goal. Mr C. N. Haslam was referee. The match between the Masterton and Red Star Clubs for the Renall Cup will be played on Saturday, September 28th.