LE BON'S V. OKAIN'S

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XXIV, Issue 2056, 26 May 1896, Page 2

LE BON'S V. OKAIN'S

Ok (fin's played the return ma'tcn in Le Bon's on Saturday, and were defeated after a very good _ame by 5 points to ni>, Dixon scoring a try, Smith kicking the goal, Mr Chaplain acted as -refer eft, and was rill tbrttcould ! bft desired 'in t ! h'is position, the opinion on-both sides being that his d'-cisions w given very impartially. It is hard to say who playefi best for Le Bon's, all seemiug'ly doing th'ir best, and on several Other occasions were very near scoring. For Okain's, Hartley (2), J. Thacker and Oorsbie played best.

Home surprise -was caused by . the ftppearat.'ce of Mr Westrop's letter in Friday's issue, after his giving the Lo Ron's team a goal from a mark Thut the latter is so can be very easily proved by nearly all the members of the Le Bon's learn, D (Jnirus mftk'ng th" mark and Smith kickin« the goal. Why Mr Westrop, after three weeks, comes to the conclusion that it was a free-nick is a mystery, and certainly seems as thou.it it has taken him some time to resolve >n his mind which was the best way to win back the game for Okain's. 'Hot-ever, let us hope Mr Westrop will read the rule which says that a referee after giving a decision cannot in any way _.■> back on same, so that ou future occasions he will know that the decision on ths field is final unless he has aeied in opposition to any rule, and then it U the other side's only consolation to refer same to the Unsby Union

A prictice was held on Ibe Recreation Ground yesterday afternoon, when about twenty phyers put in an appearance. G loiwin and R. -Wriirht picked sides, an.! after a-most enjoyable gauie, the f-irmer won easily. ' 'n the winning side Batnlord and Hemingway were noticeable for good play Hemingway is rapidly improving, and with the speeo he has, should develop into a;good three-quarter, Goodwin tackled well, but lack? dash Hobbs played » very good-naturetl g»rne, never 10-ing his temper, white be showed himself to be -well up in the rules. On tie other-side, R. Wright did a lot of good vu>rK, Kearney played well, but would do just as weil if he did not talk quite so much. Some ol the younger players, fitieularly Narbey, Maltnauche and C'-ullen, also played well.

On Saturday afternoon a team iroua the Akaroa Borough playetl a match against the Germau Bay School at German Bay, and proved victorious by 14 to nil. W. and C. Schubert and S". Hayward scored for Akaroa, and Aiming kicked a goal.

To the Editor.

Bib,—ln your last, issue Mr F. Wight attempts to clear himself of blame in the match Le Bon's versus Akaroa. When he quotes rule 11 of the Rugby Itules, I am perfectly aware tbat he states facts, but my argument is not one of rules, but of a distinct- understanding between two captains : an understanding which he readily agreed to, and which, according to the" JN.Z. Keferee, is certainly allowable thai the referee should place the ball in scrum. IVJr Hemingway can vouch tor this, as he perfectly understood it. I think in sport of this kind that a man : s word should be kept as near us possible, and .Mr Wight should certainly notliave agreed to this arrangement, and then to suit his own ends, act in direct opposition thereto, arid proclaim that it was not right. Of course he might know more about football than the editor of the Referee. If so that gentleman had better be shifted at once and Mr Wight installed. A.t any rate I would ask him in future to not agree to anything which he bud not tbe courage to uphold. Hoping tbis is final.—Yours, &c., J. OLDRIDGE.