"SQUEALERS."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 184, 6 August 1928, Page 13

"SQUEALERS."

REFEREE TELLS ENGLISHMEN ECHO OP LEAGUE TEST. SHARP REPLY TO COMPLAINT. INTERPRETATIONS DISPUTED. "I will talk straight to Mr. Sullivan and tell him the Englishmen did not play the game. They were trying to 'point' throughout the match. In my opinion the team were a lot of 'squealers' throughout, and this 1 consider unpatriotic." In these terms, Mr. L. Bull, referee of the first League Test on Saturday, rebuked the captain of the English Tourists (Mr. J. J. Sullivan) at a complimentary dinner tendered the visitors on Saturday evening, for openly questioning some of his decisions in the play. Mr. Sullivan said the rulings of the referee, the health of whom he wished to propose, were difficult to follow. He was very disappointed with the decisions, and when he questioned the referee he did not receive a satisfactory reply. He was given to understand by members of the New Zealand team that toured England that the rulings were similar to those observed in England. Yet these players certainly found no difficulty regarding the rules in games at Home. In conclusion lie congratulated the New Zealand team on the splendid spirit in which the game was fought.

Two Unofficial "Captains." Mr. Bull said he was Milling to thrash ! ou t his decisions before a meeting of the I Referees' Association, at which the English managers and team could be present. He explained that he would have penalised the visitors' half-back more frequently for not retiring behind the scrum, but for playing the advantage rule. There were two other "captains" on the j field during the game who ques- [ tioned his decisions —one a forward and

he other a back. The former threatened to take the team off the field, if they were * not given a fair chance. He considered , this attitude quite unfair to him. , " Won On Their Merits." In replying to the toast of the English Rugby League, proposed by Mr. C. A. Snedden (chairman of the New Zealand Rugby League), who described the visitors as line sportsmen and expressed pleasure at welcoming them; Mr. S. F. Hutchius said he was proud to be manager of such a fine team as the Englishmen. He was also pleased to think New Zealand had such a good team, and though a little disappointed with the result, was pleased the Dominion players had put up such a fine showing and won on their merits. The English team w;ere not finished with yet, and although they might start a little faultily, as they had done in Australia they thought they would win the next test. The question whether a team could take a knock made the game worth while, he added. "I as certain if we beat you you will be as ready to compliment us, as we are to compliment yoii." Interchange of visits, he said, assisted to remove some of the difficulties that existed in regard to interpretations, evidence of which they had seen during the day. The English Rugby League would be glad to know that New Zealand was so much on the map when they heard the result of the game, and would realise the visit to the Dominion was worth while, when it was known that the gate amounted to approximately £2000. ! He considered the game was above the prejudices of other codes, and felt that because of this League would eventually ! received the recognition of the public. "New Zealand- stands well in our eyes," he said, "and we wish you well. You are ! well on the highway, and if our visit has done anything to put you further on I that highway, we have done a little more : than when we started our tour." 1 Mr. E. Osborne, co-manager of the ' visiting team, said the game showed that ' New Zealand knew how to play the League game. He congratulated the ] winners on their victory, and on the fine spirit of game. 1 During the evening, Mr. Snedden pre- ' sented medallions to the loyalists of the } New Zealand team that toured England in 1926. The following players received recognition: H. Avery, F. Delgrosso, H. Brisbane, C. Dnfty, B. S. Webb, G. Gardiner, H. Cole, J. Kirwan, C. Gregory, and E. Herring.