RUGBY FOOTBALL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 187, 7 August 1913, Page 7

RUGBY FOOTBALL.

THE CITY-MAjaiST MATCH,

CITY'S PROTEST WTTHDKAWK.

AFTER AMICABLE DISCUSSION

At the weekly meeting of tue management committee of the Kugby Union last mgnt a protest was received from the City Ulub against the match City v. Mariat Bios, being awarded u> the Marist Bros., on the grounds: (i) That the fleid of play waa trespassed on so greatly as to prevent the ball, when the try was scored, from reaching the line; (2) that the Marist Bros., being awarded a try, should have been allowed to convert same; (3) that the Marist player who scored was off-side wtten he took the ball.

The protest was considered with the referee (Mr G. Katterns), Mr C. Scott (City Club representative), Mr C McDavitt (MarJst representative), and Mr D. Stewart (City captain) present. Mr Scott said that he desired to hear what the referee had to say on the matter, and then to comment on it. There was no desire whatever oji the part of the City Clnb to go iato technicalities, but they wanted the thing plainly put before the Union in the broad spirit of the game.

Mr Katterns, Iα describing the winning try as he saw it, said that the City fullback, in kicking for the side-line, made a miskick. If the ball had reached the toociiline the game would have been drawn, as time was up. It didn't reach the touchline. A Marist Bros, player, he didn't know whom, snapped np the ball and rushed over the goal-line. He asked the line umpire if the player touched the touchline, and the line umpire said "No." He (the speaker) immediately awarded a try. He added that the unfenced state of No 2 ground was largely responsible for the behaviour of the crowd.

Mr Ohlsen pointed out that the game was ttsed for the Agricultural Ground, and was only put on No. 2 ground at the last moment, because the Agricultural Gronnd was under water.

In answer to questions, Mr K&tterns said that the bail did not touch any spectator before the player snapped it up, though there were spectators on the ground at the Umo. No opportunity was given to convert the try, as there were so many on the ground. He blew his whistle after the score because time was up. The second spell was considerably prolonged by his having to stop the game half a dozen times to get the crowd back.

At this stage Mr Scott made & remark on the appointment of the line umpires, and asked how they were appointed. One of the line umpires on this occasion was a City supporter, and the other a partisan of the Marist Bros.' Club. He thought that disinterested persons should be appointed as line umpires.

Mr Scott was informed that tbe referee appointed tbe line umpires, tat he also had power to overrule the umpire, or to displace him with another.

Sir Katterns said that he was perfectly satisfied with both umpires on this occasion, and he had uo reason to distrust him.

Mr Scott stated that the City players had no feeling whatever that they had b»en unfairly treated by the referee in the matter.

Mr C. P. SUchbnry remarked that he was present at the time of the try, and much credit was due to the action of D. Stewart captain of the City Club, in preventing Ma team <rettlns out of hand.

Mr Scott said that he was perfectly satisfled that the object of the protest had been served, by brintring before the Union the tacts of what toot place on Saturday, so that fntnre repetition of the position mJirlit he avoided, and he withdrew the protest. He incDtionert also what he thought should be done in the matter of allowing injured players who have retired coming back to tiio Bold.

After the deputation hnd retired Mr M J. Shi»;ihan moved that tbe following proposed amendment be forwarded to the EngbKh I;nion thronirh the New Zealand Union: Any player injured during a match, providing a substitute Is not taien in his shall not cm in take part In the nrstch. except he come into play at such Ump as the ball is dead or out of play." Tbn motion wns carried aTter discussion. Mr pointins; out that the same thins hcfl previously been put to tbe Rnsriinh I'nlon wtthont result.

The following motion was passed by the ! Hrfnrpps' Association, and the committee I •locided that it he forward?.] to the New ' 7«nlniKl fnton:—"That in the opinion of this ARSorigtion. the fact that injured re-, fired playpr'; nrp .iPnwed to come on to the , field again and take part in the play at any ; moment is liable to cause Injustice to lh'p other side, and that this Association en- • lorses the resolntion of the annu.il conference of the New Zealand Referees' Assaria- ! (ion b-lrl tn Anr.kta.nd in 190R, viz.. That the laws he amended so as to prevent an j injnred player from re-enterinc fbe field of | play strain to the unfair advantage of his own side.' " I

AUCKLAND BUGBX UNION. THE WEEKLX MEETING.. The weekly meeting of the M«nagement Committee of the Auckland Rugby Union Sheanan (chalnnan* ,^"1 M M " J * ohton w. c h!™d5US" c ßn £ e^chW y ; a ° d aV * Z******* tnl SnH *** be ?- , for

FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY. i.fiT^vuVS, 10 p !" r a teamXt to be Second Grade.—Marist Brother* v £**•"»». S». 4, Show tHoLfc Mr H B J* Cren; Aorta Shore v. Ponsonbj No \ Ground. Mr A. Murdoch; GrVton a Doifo S vaa. V - Gra " oD - N °- S Groun,, ' M» I-

Thu-d Grado (re-draw).-West End v \ Mr J. Crtchton; City, a bye. SECONHABI- SCHOOLS hLS^V 2 P- m ->-G™™nar B v. Sacr(fd w ' ?' ' Park, Mi- F liridscs: Grammar A v. Technica <'oliege; No 4 Alesanara Park, Mr A. G. Menzies B Gi-ade.—iiicred Heart v. Grammar C No. 4, Sihow Ground, Mr T. Marshall- Tech- ?, lea ™ V V *¥&* B - No - 5 - Show Ground. Mr T. F. Warren.

C Grade.—Grammar B v. Sacred Heart. No. 6, bhow Ground, Mr S. Conway Tec£ nical v. G-nimmar A, No. 7, Show Ground, MT -A. J . il til.

OCTSIDB SUITCHBa (3 p.m.)

Shipping v. Customs, No. 1, Show Ground. Mr t. Nicholson; Sarsood Son and JSwen v. Archibald Clark an* Sons, No 2, Show Ground, Mr J. lukster

SCHOOL MATCH. (2 p.m.) ■Newton, Bast v. Newton West, No. 5, Alexandra Park, Mr. F. B. Wilson. THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM. - WELLINGTON OKCIXCISM. (By Telegraph.—Eresa Association.) WELLDWSTON, Wednesday. ■Some very candid critk-Jem of the action or the .New Zealand Rugby Dnton in appointing selectors for the Nj»w Zealand team for California without including a Wellington representatiye was passed *t to-nigjit'a meeting of the WelUngton Bngby Union Tie- disewsdun arose out of the following motion by Mr E. IMZlm— -mbrnt a letter be wrlttea to «Ue New Zealand Union, asking tneir reasons for n<) appointing a Wellington representative *n. the New Zealand Selection Cnniinlttee.'"

Mr B J. Dawson eeconded the motion. ?Sr J ? ther bela *e4. '<"»* it was a pity something had not been done earlier Mr E. Wilson was against the motion The New Zealand Onion picked •the best men as far as they knew. A Member: Question. Mr Wiieonc I eald as far as-they know. aggg}- 1 ***** '** yon; "*• te »

Mr l>. Weir thought the matter demanded an Tie WelDngnm players had been called npon to softer a eevere ini^SH cc ; that bedn S so, U was tie duty of the union, on, Ueiialf of tile ptayere, to demand for them some explanation Mr W. Perry supported the motion The lie Z,^^ Union, he aongnt. had nrade a mistake in appointing fonr men instead of ftre. R had never, to Ms knowledce occmrred before that Wellington had'been passed: over in this manner, and, ac one of tine most important unions in. tie Dominion, they should hare Sad a representative on the committee.

Mr R. O. Hales (csatrman) eald: he was going to support the mottan, for fe e w Biaered that from a general -rtew of football throuslKrat the DwnWon tie Wentni? ton selector had better opportunities of seetaff more football than the selectors In any other district in New Zealand. The motion was carried, with, Mr-TOfeoa diSßentln^.