ALLEGATIONS OF ROUGH RUGBY

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32053, 30 July 1969, Page 18

ALLEGATIONS OF ROUGH RUGBY

If the High School Old Boys A team is drawn against the Otautahi under-17 team again this season, it will forfeit the game because of alleged rough play by Otautahi on Saturday, the coaches (Messrs A. J. Chisholm and R. D. McGill) informed the Canterbury Rugby Union last evening.

The letter, accompanied by a covering letter from the High School Old Boys’ club, said that Otautahi was “obviously out to win at all costs” and had continued to lise illegal tactics after being warned by the referee (Mr D. L. Cutting). The High School Old Boys first five-eighths had to be taken to hospital with concussion. Soon after the left wing moved in to replace him he was “kicked savagely in the arm” when rising after falling on a loose ball. The player suffered a fractured left arm and would not play again this season, the letter said. “Three Avenues’*

There were three avenues open to them, the coaches said. They could continue to coach open Rugby and lose players, teach the players to out-fox the referee with illegal tactics, or give up coaching. The chairman (Mr C. H. McPhail) said that the complainants sounded like “angels on horseback. They can withdraw the team if they like.” He said that statements in the letter that other clubs were concerned about Otautahi’s methods were “a lot of hearsay.” A complaint had been received from the Hornby club after its under 17 team hud lost five players through injury against Otautahi earlier in the season, said Mr J. A. Coleman. However, he considered that the team’s play was “very hard but not dirty” after watching it three times since. High School Old Boys A and Otautahi were the leading teams in the grade, the secretary (Mr J. Moffitt) said. Mr McPhail: I could not care less who is winning.

A motion proposed by Mr D. B. Doake that the grading committee watch Otautahi play was carried.

Senior Application The Burnside club will be igformed that under the present competition rules applications for senior status must be made at the beginning of a season. A letter from the club requesting promotion from the senior reserve grade for the 1970 season was received. It said that in spite of this year being Burnside’s first In senior reserve, the club had depth in its lower grades, felt it could field a team worthy of senior status and would have adequate headSuarters (or a senior club once s clubrooms were completed soon.