Surprise Omission Of Mr R. G. Condliffe

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29892, 4 August 1962, Page 9

Surprise Omission Of Mr R. G. Condliffe

A recent meeting of the West Coast Rugby Union decided to forward Ute names of Messrs J. Corkill, A. Forrest, and J Walton to the New Zealand Union as being officials qualified to control international matches. The nominations had been submitted by the West Coast Rugby Referees' Appointment Board "in alphabetical order and not in order of merit.” The nominations have created a great deal of controversy and criticism among players, coaches and supporters of the game generally on the West Coast This criticism has been levelled not so much at the three officials as at the omission of the former Canterbury referee. Mr R. G Condliffe On the rare occasions upon which he has been seen at. Rugby Park. Greymouth, headquarters of the West Coast Rugby Union, Mr Condliffe has given outstanding exhibitions.

This very capable referee ' has pleased both winning » and losing teams —some- t thing rare, indeed—coaches. I officials and critics. He 4 does not intrude on the t play and his clear decisions : can be fully understood by .> both players and apecta- i tors. Another of his virtues is that he is always up with i the play and able to give j prompt on-the-spot de- * cisions. a The argument may be * advanced that Mr Condliffe is a newcomer to the * West Coast this season and ~ consequently has not been u considered. Such argument, however, is quite un- * tenable in view of the ex- ' perience of another com- 4 petent referee from "over 5 the hill” He is Mr W J. .. Brown, a leading Canterbury referee, who has been resident on the West Coast for a few years, but whose name has never appeared in the list of representative nominations.