CUT IT OUT!

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 18, 21 July 1934, Page 22

CUT IT OUT!

In some of tho local Bugby matches of ?lato there- has been far toe much ■feeling. Hough play and other illegal tactics should be put down with a firm ■hand, but it would appear "that in some receni games the hand of authority has not been strong enoug-i to deal with the matter. In more than one game last Saturday the playing of tho uian was in evidence to such an extent as to warrant drastic action bidng taken, but nothing much was done to iturb the activities of thoso players who uoc-ci a sharp lesson. The. voice of the spectator. \yho prefers "stoush" to clean play is also having a'disturbing, influence, and steps should be taken to'have it silenced. ' -

A correspondent, "Clean Football," .writes: "For two or, three seasons I have, as a keen lover Vf the good old game;'/p£Aßugby,■:^ taken i much interest fin; the local 'senior games, and I, along with the ;;great majority of the spectators, .have, seen many cases of dirty playf-sucL as. the deliberate kicking of ap, opponent' who has been thrown and is lying on the gijonnd.. Yet these inciderits.neafly always-seem, to escape the eye'vpf the referee^! It seems-to/me that practically the only timo'a'referee takes [action and orders a player off the-field of play-is when a^player, ;oxasperated and trieia,beyx)nd all human endurance, so far forgets,himßelf. as.to almost fall 'over•thei'eferee in an attempt to get /one back "on to a, player who Ibas dctiberately kicked him. .

"In a senior gamp • f lass Saturday there were several ,■'instances of do-, liberate kicking of- .an ;opponent, and although there.* w r cre cries from many of. tho spectators to-haveVthojihan ordered off, he was allowedjto go on'his merry way. If this sort of thing is allowed to continue all lovers of clean sport—r and they are iriany—will give their support to some rival game. '' Now, I would suggest to the Rugby Union that a referee of standing should be appointed to watch the. game' from the bank and to take a note of the names of jthese unfair players. This referee might also report any spectatators who, by offensive remarks and such expressions as 'put the boot in,' 'kick him,' etc., etc., encourages rough play. Such a spectator should, be -warned off all Bugby grounds. 3'