Rough play ’a disappointment’

Press, 14 June 1978, Page 6

Rough play ’a disappointment’

The Canterbury Rugby Union is fighting a difficult battle to eliminate rough play when international teams are indulging in illegal play. This message came from the chairman of the union (Mr R. W. Thomas) and the chairman of its judicial committee (Mr J. Mullins) at its management committee last evening. Prefacing the judicial committee’s report, Mr MulUns said it was a great disappointment to him to watch the match between Wales and Australia on television and see things the union was endeavouring to stamp out. “The players here must wonder if internationals are played under a different set of rules. Players ordered off here could wonder if our referees are being too tough when they see what is allowed to go on in internationals. Unless something is done to eliminate rough play at the top level our job will continue to be a difficult one.” Mr Thomas said that in spite of this the Canterbury union must continue with its policy of firm action to eliminate rough play. He added that it was disappointing to hear in the judicial report that two games had been called off in the last two weeks, but the union would continue to tn' and improve the game for the majority who enjoyed the sport. In his report Mr Mullins said two games—a second-grade fixture between Belfast B and Lyttelton on June 3, and a thirdgrade match between Sydenham and Suburbs last called off early. In the case of the second grade game officials of both clubs would be asked to attend a meeting with the union for an explanation.

i In the case of the third-grade i match Sydenham would be asked • to provide an explanation. [ One player, S. Small of the Albion B second-grade team, : was suspended for three weeks . after being ordered from the i field last Saturday for striking . an opponent. Two others have been suspended until they appear before j the union. J. Komene of the Lin- : wood under-20 team was ordered : off on June 3 but has yet to ‘ appear. D. Norton of the Belfast : B second grade team, who was ordered off last Saturday, did not appear before the judicial j committee last evening. The Canterbury selectors will 1 be asked to name a Canterbury ; XV to play South Canterbury at s Timaru next Wednesday. Four - regular members of the Cans terbury team will be in Gist borne for the Southern v. North- - em Maoris match and at the same time the Canterbury Sub- ! unions team will be on a tour i of the northern part of the : South Island. However, the i meeting felt a team strong - enough to match South Canter--1 bury could still be fielded. 1 The union named its list of ’ top five referees to be submit- “: ted to the New Zealand Rugby ? Union. Heading the list is A. R. 1 Taylor. The others in order are: , T. Doocey, S. C. Miller, K. Arm--1 strong and A. R. Bateman. B. ' Powell was not available for the tot a Mr G. G. Don reported his cone cern at vandalism that was deliberately aimed at injuring playe ers. Before a match at Waltham s Park last Saturday teams found a broken glass on a field which n had been placed apparently to cause injury.