THE AUCKLAND FOOTBALLERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1746, 13 September 1883, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND FOOTBALLERS.

"Oxe story is good till another is'teld" In our last we published a telge^g.ni ftom Wellington comprising acouplo of extracts from the Wellington papers of the previous* day, in which the action of the Auckland footballers, and more particularly Aeir captain, in the match against Wellington was strongly commented on. The Auckland men arrived at the Manukau on Tuesday morning, and in the evening they were entertained by Mr. A Cairns at a banquet at the Star Hotel. The chair was occupied by the Mayor of Auckland, Mr J. McOosh Clark who in projjo&ing the health of the representatives, alluded to the remarks made in the Wellington Times and Post, and proceeded to say that he thought the statement must ba incorrect, because it was so unlike Mr Henderson, and he was glad to say on enquiiy that that opinion was borne out by the facts. He felt that the team would have disgraced itself if the btatement was true, because it was an undei stood rule not only in football but in other sports that the decision of the referee must be final ; but there was something understood in connection with that, and that was that the decision must be in accordance with the rules of football. If the decision was altogether outside of those rules, then the case was completely altered. It was agreed that if either of the umpires called the ball back no further reference was required : — the ball must be brought back. The umpire for Auckland declared a particular ball was a "throw forward," and on his ordering the ball back, the Auckland team remained passive. The ball was dead at that time, as much so as if it had been between the spells, and when one of the other side ran in and touched down, the umpire in giving such a decision as was stated gave a decision altogether outside the rules, and the captain, therefore, could not accept his decision. He was glid to learn further that one other statement which had bsen made was incoirect, namely, that the captain threatened to take his men off the field. The Mayoi's statement was fully corrobmated both by Mr Henderson and Mr Cotter, the umphe.