THE FOOTBALL DISPUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4115, 15 September 1883, Page 2

THE FOOTBALL DISPUTE.

Tho Wellington Captain's Statement.

[BY TEUEGBAFH.' —OWN CORBESf OSDEKT.]

Wellington, this day. The captain of the Wellington team writes to the "Post " as follows :—" I notice you blame me for having waived my right to take a kick at goal when the try obtained by Webb was given by the referee in my favour. I have thought the matter .over carefully sinco the unfortunate dispute occurred, and have come to the conclusion that I took the only consistent course open to me, and I have no hesitation in saying that if I were placed in a similar position to-morrow I should adopt the same course. I would point out that the match was not a contest against a team of professionals, but against a team of gentlemen who were our visitors, hailing from a town which undoubtedly extended the hand of hospitality to the Wellington team on the occasion of our visit to Auckland in 18S0. On that occasion, too, I had the honour to hold a similar position to the one I occupied in the late match. When the referee gavo his decision in favour of Wellington, I determined to abide by it; in fact, I consider it would have been' beyond my powers as captain to have conceded any point which had been ruled in my favour by tho referee. I did not anticipate opposition on the part of Henderson, and withdrew for the purpose of telling off tho players fit to place and kick the ball at goal. I was surprised i to find that the Auckland captain refused to accept the referee's decision, and told? Henderson I intended to adhere to it. Henderson should havo known that the referee's decision is always final on a question of fact, and is only impeachable when a question of construction of rule or law is involved. I might have been inclined to; have given way altogether, on one ground only—that of courtesy to the visitors, but • for the fact, as I told Henderson at the time, that Warbrick's so-called goal was not a goal at all; that I had not disputed the umpire's ruling in that case; and, consequently, if I gave way in the matter of tho try, I should be virtually giving in a second time when tho verdict of the referee was in my favour. I then : said I would take the kick, and he could I protest afterwards. To this he again objected, saying, if I did so, he would not proceed with the match. Finding argument hopeless, and chafing under the disagreable scene that was being enacted, I called the ball out, and the game continued. It was never my intention to forego tho try, and ■. I afterwards told Henderson in the; dressing-room that I intended to nave ; the matter settled, and proposed to refer it to tho other football unions in the colony. I do not consider I had power to forego the try. You are of opinion that, had I insisted on taking niy kick at goal, the whole difficulty would have been avoided and victory would hayo boon declared for Wellington. I entirely disagree with you. Tho Auckland men at the timo of the dispute had scored a goal, and we had scored nothing. If I had ****•} the kick, tho Auckland captain would havo refused to continue the game. If the kick at goal had been a failure, Auckland would have been victorious ; if successful, Auckland would still have disputed it, and would have claimed a victory instead of a draw, as they now do; there would have been endlesa unpleasantness caused between ourselves and our guests during their stay w Wellington ; there would have been a most unsatisfactory result—an unfinished game to look back upon, and each ride would have had to content itself with boasting.