FROM WORDS TO BLOWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 157, 5 July 1926, Page 6

FROM WORDS TO BLOWS.

FOOTBALL AND FIGHTING, AN AFTERNOON OF INC_DE.Tr, LIVELY CHRISTCHCiW H MATUHJBB, (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHUBCH, this day. Unusual incidents marked the Syden-ham-Marist 1! senior League match on Saturday. The laying nut of a number of men in the lirst half engendered ill feelings, which came to a head in th. second spell when lists began to fly. A .larist player received a punch on the back of the neck which put him out for live minutes. The referee did not notice the blow, which all on the side of the line saw. Feeling then became higher, culminating when practically the whole of the men on the field gathered in an angry group and exchanged hard words, while a few exchanged blow-. The referee intervened, but it was some minutei before he could restore order.

EPIDEMIC OF ROUGHNESS

-HEADS IN THE DIRT." (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Even the Varsity players joined in the epidemic of roughness that appeared to affect Saturday's football. The "Star," commenting on the play, says: "There were evidences of Varsity players losing their tempers, and blows were struck more than once. The exhibitions of bad temper were brought about by the fact that there was too much of a desire on the part of one or two players to push an opponent's head into the dirt after he had been tackled. Another thing which assisted to annoy players was the fact that they were being pulled up for some breach when none was committed, while at other times the referee was allowing off-sides and knock-ons galore. The result was that *.he tempers of the players were lieing severely tested, and in one or two cases they were found

wanting. "In the Linvvood-Merivale game one of the worst exhibitions of Rugby and of sportsmanship seen for a long time was given. Right from the start of the match it was evident that bad feeling existed among some players, and this feeling manifested itself throughout the match, culminating when two players were cautioned for fighting. The worst ofTcnce in the match was the persistent illegal charging of players after they had got rid of the ball, in one instance the Linvvood fullback being injured.