MUST APOLOGISE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 170, 20 July 1944, Page 7

MUST APOLOGISE

DONOVAN SUSPENDED DEFAULTING OF CITY TEAM No headway has been made in the dispute which has arisen between the Auckland Rugby League Board of Control and the City Club.

Last Saturday the City senior team defaulted to Manukau, this action arising from the ordering off the previous week of one of its players, E. Donovan. He was subsequently ordered by the board to apologise to the referee of the City-Rich-mond match for alleged talking back to the referee and refused to do so.

A deputation from the City Club waited upon the board of control at a meeting last evening. The deputation was led by Mr. G. Hunt, chairman of the club.

After an extended sitting in committee the chairman, Mr. J. W. Watson, reported that the board of control had reaffirmed its decision that Donovan should stand suspended until such time as he apologised to the referee. He added that the executive of the club had pointed out that Press reports had made it appear that the club had refused to allow Donovan to apologise, and that was not correct.

The report, made to the Board of Control by the referee on Donovan's conduct has not been divulged to the Press, and all the discussions on the matter have been held in committee. A statement supplied to the Star by the secretary of the City Club reads as follows:

"In the game between Richmond and City, played at Carlaw Park on Saturday, July 8, E. Donovan, of City, was ordered off for alleged back-answering to the referee, Mr. G. Kelly, ten minutes after the commencement of the game. The City five-eighth, Salaia, had just scored a try, and E. Donovan was retiring back to the halfway line, along \vith A. Leatherbarrow, when he passed a remark, to his team mate. 'If City's tries are not clear cut this chap won't allow them.' "Tha referee overheard the remark, and said 'Any more of that and you will go off.' E. Donovan replied that he was talking to his team mate, and the referee said that he did not care who he was talking

"E. Donovan then replied that he would talk to his team mate anytime he wanted to. The referee then ordered him oft. | "These remarks can be corroborated by other City players. After the match the referee and E. Donovan were ordered to appear before the judicial committee of the Control Board, when conflicting evidence of the two men concerned was given, at the conclusion of which E. Donovan was ordered to apologise. This he refused to do as he claimed that he hacl told the truth and to apologise would be a confession of guilt. He then left the r °°Questioned by the City Club officials, E. Donovan declared that he had told the truth and that he would rather hang up his boots than apologise for an offence he had not committed. A special meeting of the senior team and club officials was called before the game (Manukau and City last Saturday). It was unanimously resolved that the club endorse the attitude of E. Donovan." . The following senior fixtures were made lor Saturday:—Mount Albert v. Point Chevalier, Carlaw Park, No. 1, 1.45 p.m., Mr. S. Billman; Manukau v. Ponsonby, Carlaw Park, No. 1. 3.10 p.m., Mr. G Kelly; Richmond v. Newton, Carlaw Park, No. 2 145 p m., Mr. E. Long-ville: City v. Manst, Carlaw Park, No. 2, 3.10 p.m.. Mr. J Donovan; Otahuhu v. North Shore, at Devonport, 3 p.m., Mr. J. O'Shannessey.