SENIOR PLAYER SUSPENDED

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21811, 17 June 1936, Page 15

SENIOR PLAYER SUSPENDED

STRUCK AT OPPONENT ALBION-OLD BOYS’ MATCH DISCUSSED The first ordering-off in senior Rugby in Christchurch in two seasons was considered by the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening. H. Evans, an Albion forward, who was ordered off by Mr N. L. Steel, referee in the match between Albion and High School Old Boys, at Rugby Park last Saturday, was suspended for two playing Saturdays. As Albion has the bye this week, the suspension will be effective for three weeks. . The letter of the referee stated that he ordered Evans off for “deliberately striking at an opponent. He had warned Evans in the first half erf the game for a similar offence, and had no option but to order him off on the second occasion. “No Recollection of Incident” In a statement to the committee, the player said he had no recollection of the incident, and be did not intentionally strike at any player. He played for the first fifteen at Boys High School and for Old Boys Club teams subsequently, and had been associated with Old Boys’ players in cricket and swimming, as well as in football. “Can you imagine me deliberately hitting my pals?” asfced Evans. “No one was more surprised than I when I was ordered off.” Mr E. V. Phillips said that ofie published report of the match was such as to do the game no good. “Is it a fact that the game was out of hand from the first quarter of an hour?” Mr Steel: It-is not The game was never out of hand and I was not rattled at any time. It was no harder than the Sunnyside match the previous week. To Dr. W. S. Seed, he said he gave a general caution to both sets of forwards, both on the field and at halftime. “The forwards were making it a bit willing," he said. “I did not see fists used, but I told them to cut out rough play.” Mr Phillips: Mr Steel was signed up by both teams, and it was not a fair action on their part. “A Good, Hard Game”

Mr R. W. Britton said it was “just a good, hard game.” There were one or two incidents, and possibly the player was unfortunate. The newspaper report did not give a fair impression of the game. Evans said that possibly he struck an opponent accidentally when jumping for the ball. To Mr Masters, Mr Steel said that Evans was not ordered off for striking an opponent, but for deliberately striking at an opponent. “He did not connect,” the referee added. Mr Masters supported Mr Britton in his description of the game.

Mr Dailey: It was not rougher than the Sunnyside-Old Boys’ game. It was not out of hand at any stage. Mr J. K. Moloney: There is undoubtedly a tendency for the game to become rough. There have been bad incidents of charging in recent games. People won’t go to see gladiatorial combats. Mr H. E. Davis moved that Evans be stood down for two playing Saturdays. “I saw the match, and I don’t think the player was harshly 'done by in being ordered off,” said Mr V. L. Jensen, who moved an amendment, seconded by Mr W. C. Dailey, that the suspension be for three playing Saturdays. Only four members supported the amendment, and the motion was carried. .DRAW FOR SATURDAY SUNNYSIDE AND MERIVALE ON THE OVAL Following Is the draw for Saturday’s matches in the Canterbury Rugby Union’s competitions, all games, unless otherwise stated, to begin at 1.45 p.m.:— First Grade—Christchurch v. Athletic, Rugby Park (Mr B. A. Brown) (touch judges. Messrs G. Berry and R. G. Cliff}; High School Old Boys v. Linwood, Show Grounds No. 1 (Mr R. W. Biazey) (touch judges, Messrs R. Pascoe and R. Gibooris); University v. Sydenham, Lancaster Park South (Mr L. W. Clarkson) (touch judges, Messrs R. Beattie and A. E. Rogers): Sunnyside v. Merivale, Lancaster Park Oval (Mr S. Hollander) (touch judges, Messrs A. Smale and R. Kennedy); Albion, a bye. Second Grade—Merivale v. Christchurch, St. James’ Park, Papanul (Mr A. J. Mason); New Brighton v. Training College, No. 10 North Park (Mr D. Barrett); West Old Boys v. Old Collegians, West Old Boys’ ground, Barrington Park (Mr J. Armstrong); Kaiapoi v. Albion, No. 29 South Park (Mr R. J. Brough); High School Old Boys v. Technical Old Boys, Lancaster Park Oval, 1.15 p.m. (Mr W. Scott); University v. Sydenham, Sydenham Park (Mr E. Law); Linwood v. Athletic, No. 26 South Park (Mr J. Hampton),

Third Grade, A Section— Sunnyside v. Merivale, Sunnyside, 2.45 p.m. (Mr E. J. Mitchell); Beckenham v. St. Andrews Old Boys, St. Andrew’s College No. 2 (Mr A. E. Empson); Sydenham v. Linwood. Show Grounds No. 2 (Mr W. M. Stewart): Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve v. Technical Old Boys, Technical Old Boys win by default: Training College A v. High School Old Boys, High School Old Boys’ ground. Barrington Park (Mr M. L. H'gglns): Albion A v. Christchurch, No. 11 North Park (Mr R. Anderson). Third Grade, B Section—Christ's College v. Albion B. Christ’s College (Mr B. T. Bailey): West Old Boys v. Athletic. No. 25 South Park (Mr R. J. G, Collins); St. Bede’s College v. St. Aftdrew’s College, to be played later; University v. Training College B, No. 12 North Park (Mr L. A. Keys): Boys’ High School, a bye. Fourth Grade—Technical Old Boys y. Kaiapoi, Kaiapoi No. 1 (Mr H. Todd); Aranui v. High School Old Boys, Aranui School, Breeze’s road (Mr F. Morgan); Richmond v. Merivale. Richmond Park (Mr W. Douglas); Bromley v. Sydenham, Bromley Park (Dr. Dickson): Linwood v. Old Collegians, Woolston Park (Rev. Osmers); Christchurch v. Beckenham, Beckenham ground, Beckenham Park (Mr A. K. Woodham); New Brighton v. Ninth Battery, Rawhiti Domain (Mr K. u. Spooner). Fifth Grade— Albion v. Boys High School, Albion ground, Bradford Park (Mr H. Turnbull); Christchurch v. Christchurch West High School, No. 33 South Park (Mr S H. McGeorge); Sydenham v. Belfast, Sheldon Park. Belfast (Mr S. C. Murray); Linwood v. West Old Boys. No. 24 South Park (Mr J. F. Stokes): High School Old Boys v. Merivale, St. Albans Park (Mr A. A. Cooper): Athletic v. Templeton, Templeton Domain (Mr N. Steel); Christs College a bye. Sixth Grade—Merivale v. Christs College, Malvern Park (Mr C. G. Crawford); Kaiapoi v. Boys’ High School, Kaiapoi No. 2 (Mr C. A. Stiles): Linwood a bye. Under 18 Years—Beckenham v. Linwood, Linwood Park (Mr T. H. Wiggs); Sydenham B v. Christchurch, Opawa Park No. 1 (Mr E. A. Empson): Albion v. Sydenham B, Opawa Park No. 2 (Mr C. McLachlan); Technical Old Boys v. Athletic, Ensor’s road (Mr K. H. Perrin); High School Old Boys a bye. Under 9st—Technical Old Boys A v. Sydenham, No. 21 South Park, 1.30 p.m. (Mr A. C. Walker): Marshland v. Boys’ High School. Straven road No. 1 (Mr D. F. Johnston); Richmond v. Linwood, No. 13 North Park (Mr A. J. Falloon); Merivale v. Albion, No. 23 South Park (Mr C. R. McCallum); Technical Old Boys B a bye. Under Bst—Technical Old Boys v. Linwood, No. 13 North Park, 1.30 pun. (Mr G.* S. A. Biltcliff); Papanul v. Sydenham, St James Park. 1.30 jua. (Mr G. C. Salk): Merivale a bye. V, -> v, LfanqcKrf,JUnwood Park, 1.30 pm. (Mr A. E. Day>; Technical Old Boys A v. Athletic, Rugby Park, I. Ron. (Mr N. G. Winter); Sydenham v. Technical Did Boys B. Lancaster Park South. 1.30 p.m. (Mr 6. Kett); Beckenham v. Christchurch, No. 11 North Park, 1.30 pm. (Mr H. T. Lawrence).