Complaint about ‘illegal’ player

Press, 25 May 1977, Page 6

Complaint about ‘illegal’ player

The Marist third grade rugby team used a senior player from another club in a competition match 10 days ago. The Lyttelton club made this allegation in a letter received last evening by the Canterbury Rugby Union. It claimed that Mike Williams, a Sydenham senior wing, played centre for the Marist side.

Lyttelton said Williams played a decisive part in the match, scoring two tries “and setting up most of the moves.” The proesting club considered Marist should be reprimanded, and it will be asked for an explanation. Orderings off Sixteen weeks’ suspension were imposed on a total of five players recently ordered off. The sternest penalty was that of five weeks on a Marist eighth grade player for twice kicking

another player in the stomach i and in the head. Brent Jacobs, a New Brighton second grade (first division) i player, got four weeks’ suspension for kicking a player in the throat. Two Merivale-Papanui sixth grade players were stood down for three weeks each for punching and fighting after the whistle had been blown. The lightest penalty was that of one week on a New Brighton second grade (second division) player, Grant Mitchell. He was sent off for a late charge. ( The size of studs on boots was a source of problem, said Mr C. ,|D. Topp, the referees’ delegate. Many were too long, said Mr Topp, and the matter is to be referred to the New Zealand I union , for it to take up the matiter with manufacturers.