RUGBY FOOTBALL PLAYER ORDERED FROM FIELD

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26524, 12 September 1951, Page 4

RUGBY FOOTBALL PLAYER ORDERED FROM FIELD

SUSPENSION FOR FIVE YEARS

RESCISSION OF MOTION SOUGHT

Notice of motion to rescind a resolution passed at the last meeting of the management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Football Union, suspending A. Gobbe from participating in Rugby football for five years, was given by Mr V. L. Jensen at last evening's meeting of the committee, after Gobbe had attended the meeting to lodge an appeal against the allegations that he had sworn on the football field.

Gobbe, a Richmond third grade player, was ordered from the field for swearing during a match with Belfast on August 11 by the referee. Mr C. R. Austin. He had failed to appear before the committee as requested on two occasions, and was dealt with in his absence last week. ♦JI 1 ® r ®t eree had alleged in his report Inat Gobbe had struck him in the ribs and had sworn at him. When ordered from the field it was alleged that he had continued to criticise the referee’s rulings and at one stage had told a Richmond player to “hang one on the .” The report alleged that after the match he had again sworn at the referee in the dressing shed. Gobbe stated that his name was not Crobbie” as was reported in the referee's statement.

Gobbe told the committee he wished to lodge an appeal against the allegations of swearing that was not used.” He outlined the reasons for his non-appearance at two meetings of the committee. Th? report of the referee was read to Gobbe, after which he denied using the language contained in the report at any stage th ® S ame - either on or off the field. He said he had not heard anybody swear during the game. “Is it reasonable for you to think that the referee would put in a report like that if no swearing had been usea?” asked the president (Mr R. R. Masters). Gobbe reiterated that he had not used bad language.

In i n ? Fer t 0 a question from Mr Jensen, Gobbe said he might have spoken to some of the players after he had been ordered from the field, but his conversations with them had not contained bad language. He denied having told a Richmond player to “hang one on the - —. He said the referee might have heard him incorrectly. At one stage of the game he had called out to the Richmond players to “hang on to that halfback, he’s pretty slippery.” He said when the referee had called both teams together earlier in the match, the warning he gave them was not for swearing as was stated in the report, but for fighting, or hard play. He did not hear the referee tell the teams that the next player to use bad language would be ordered from the field.

In answer to a question from Mr M. T. Gundersen, Gobbe said that after the game he had gone to the dressing room to explain to the referee what had happened. He admitted using one swear word to the referee in the room. He could not say what prompted him to swear at the referee in the room. It was not the suspension he was worrying about, but the allegations that he had used bad languageon the field. He had been playing football for 21 years and had never used bad language on the field. When Gobbe had left the meeting Mr Masters asked if the committee wished to reopen the hearing. "It would depend on whether the decision of the committee ’last week was influenced by the fact that this player had refused to attend the meeting?’ said Mr Jensen. "If the committee feels it might have been influenced on those lines, then the matter should be reviewed."

Mr C. H. McPhail supported Mr Jensen. Mr Jensen then moved that the question of the suspension should be reopened and discussed.

It was pointed out that the motion would have to be carried unanimously for the question to be discussed at that meeting. The motion was lost when Mr R. W. Blazev voted against it ou the grounds that two members of the committee were absent. He contended that the question should be discussed by the full meeting. Mr Jensen then gave notice of motion to rescind the resolution passed last week. Mr Masters reported that the union's share of the gate money for the match between Canterbury and West Coast last Saturday was £375

DRAW FOR SATURDAY

(This draw is subject to alteration in Saturday’s issue of "The Press.’’)

Representative Match.—Canterbury v. Auckland, L.P. Oval, 3 p.m. Seven-a-aide. halt-time main game: Chch. v. H. 5.0.8.

Senior (D.C.L. Shield).—Alb v. Vars, Rugby Park, 1 p.m.: Chch v. Lin. LP South, 1.15 p.m.; Meri v. New Bri, LP West 1.15 p.m.; Mar v. HSOB, LP Oval. 1.30 p.m.; Syd v. Sunny-Sprey, Sunnyside, 1 p.m.; Tech 08, bye (v. Canty Colts), SP 29. 1 p.m. Under sst 101 b B.—Final: New Bri v. Sunny-Sprey, LP Oval, 12.30 p. n. Draw for Saturday, September 22 Senior.—Alb v. Tech OB; HSOB v. Chch; New Bri v. Sunny-Sprey; Syd v. Vars; Mar, bye (v. Canty Colts). -a-Advt.

AUCKLAND TOURING

TEAM

The Auckland team to tour the South Island will leave Auckland by air for Christchurch to-morrow, where it will meet Canterbury at Lancaster Park on Saturday. Other matches arranged for the team are against Southland on September 19 and Otago on September 22. The team will travel by air for these two matches also.

The touring team was announced at last evening’s meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union's management committee. Advice was received that R. W. H. Scott, the Auckland full-back, was not available for the tour, and that no selection to fill this position had yet been made. The team is as follows:

Backs.—Three-quarters: P. Erceg, R. Brady, R. D. Wightman. F. Smith. Fiveeighths: A. Gumbley, H. Vernon. N. W. Black. Half-backs: G. Kearney, R. Lidgard. Forwards.—Back row: R. Walls, F. S. McGuigan. Middle row: B. Bracewell. A. McEvoy, H. White. Hookers: M. Castle. B. McKenzie. Front row: J. Skenn, W. Nevin, G. Loft, R. Johnstone.

The managers are Messrs E. P. York and T. H. Pearce.

RUGBY LEAGUE

SYDNEY WATERSIDE TEAM

WELLINGTON EASILY BEATEN

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 11. Ably led by the- New South Wales halfback, C. Donohue, with excellent support from G. Clifford, the Newtown ’ fiveeighths, the Sydney waterside Rugby League team played some very bright football to beat the Wellington waterside team by 35 points to 17 at the Basin Reserve to-day. The Wellington team was strengthened by M. Church, H. Kreyl, and R. Hohaia, who are waterside workers but play for other local clubs. The team was strong, but no match for the more experienced and fast-moving Sydney players. Williamson (3), Donohue (2). Clifford, and E. Cummins scored tries for Sydney. Clifford converted six and kicked a penalty goal. For Wellington Hohaia (2), Church, McCarthy, and Bolton scored tries, Cowley converting one.

DRAW FOR SATURDAY Senior.—Chch. v. Korodale, Aran. S'way, 3 p.m. Senior Reserve.—Knock-out final: Syd v. Wool, SG oval, 3 p.m., K. Cox. Junior.—Chch v. Korodale, Ara S’way 1.30; Dall v. Randwick, Rice Dom, 1.15. SCHOOLBOYS’ DRAW 6st 71b Grade (final knock-out). —Wool v. St. Jos, St Jos, 10.30, K. McKenzie. sst Grade Midgets.—Dall v. Wool, Ath Pk, 10.30, L. Blackler; Chch B v. Syd, Ath Pk, 10.30, A. Hall; Chch A a bye. 9st Representatives.—The following players have been selected to represent Canterbury against the West Coast at Greymouth on September 16:—J. Wilkie, W. Smith, G. Williams, L. Richards, G. Campbell, J. Minards (captain), K. Gray. A. Skinner. L. Jones, A. Richards, L. P. Jones, I. Young, R. Wright, N. Vickery, M. Yaxley. Advt.