THE EXTREME PENALTY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 138, 11 June 1914, Page 8

THE EXTREME PENALTY.

PASSED ON RUGBY PLATER. FOR STRIKING A REFEREE. '■(jood-byc. I'm going to play Northern Union." was the swaggering farewell made to the members of the Executive Committee of the Auckland Kugby L'nion last night by -a youth who had last Saturday played football for the Ponsonby fourths and had 'been reported for striking the referee after the game. The referee in question (Mr. A. (J. Mcnzi-es) reported that during the game he had to caution a Ponsonby player for kicking -an opponent, and eventually to order him off for afterwards striking an opponent, and, though he did not know- the player's name, he supplied a description, on which th. club's see.reta.ry wrap, aoked to brin_ alone: a partilar player. After the game, he further reported, he w__ collecting the line flags, when one. of tlve Ponsonby players went up to him and struck him twice on the body. When he turned to defend himself the player ceased hostilities, evidently satisfied that he had by the blows at the unguard-ed referee vindicated his opinion of the latters ability to control a Rugby game. iPRODUCKD OS DESCRIPTION. Two youths were produced by the Ponsonby Club's secretary before the union exeeurive on the descriptions .supplied. The one who .was alleged to have been ordered off the field satisfied the committee that he was not the person required, and said that though he knew -by sight, the youth who had- come undrr the referee's displeasure he did not know him by name. The other lad, G. Craig by name, produced as the area ilant of the referee, said he knew the liajne of the player ordered off, hut that he was not prepared to give it to the committee. "FL-CD OUT YOURSELF." When asked by the chairman why he declined, he couched his defence of the Spartan virtue of not telling in rather unfortunote language. "You want to find out." he said, "and I'll let you find out yourself."

"Don't you -want to -assist- the union to -put this sort, of thing down?'' _sked _Ir. Buston.

"Yets. I played Rugby for " the. youth started to explain, when the. chairman sternly requested him to bo sdent till he was spoken to. "Til THE CULPRIT." "Do you recognise the person who •-truck you after t.he match inquired the chairman of live referee. "Ye..: that is the gentleman there," replied the referee, indicating the lad who wouldn't tell, and had just been rebuked. "He's the " Craig: ".The culprit. Yes, T struck you, and would do it again if you rcferecd." The chairman: Behave yourself! IWOULD PLAY A_OTH__R GAME. Craig: You'd beucr pass t.he sentence, because I'm going to play Northern Union. The chairman: ..ill you leave the room? 'We'll have you removed.

Craig said he questioned if they could hay. him removed, but he bowed, said an ironical "Thank you." and with the announcement again that he was going to be a Northern Unionist said a. defiant farewell to Rugby as he went through the door. OVER THE FENCE AXD OCT. 'When the club secretary and the other Ponsonby player had retired to enable the committee to consider the matter. The chairman expressed To the referee the committee's regret that he should have been subjected to treatment so cavalier by tiny of the players, to which Mr. Menzies replied that he had merely reported the. matter in t.he ordinary course of his duties as Tcfrroe. adding that he had no personal desire to be at all vindictive so far as Craig was concerned.

When the referee had retired, the committee decided to disqualify Craig as a player for life and to warn him off all playing grounds under the jurisdiction of the Auckland Rugby Union, also to notify the 'Rugby Leagire and other &poTts bodies of the circumstances. Tt was further agreed to instruct the union's solicitors with a view to instituting Police Court proceedings for assault on the referee.

Respecting the matter of striking an opposing player, the committee, decided to request the captain of The Ponsonhv team concerned to furnish the name of the -player ordered off by next Friday evening.