Reporter had final word

Press, 4 July 1985, Page 23

Reporter had final word

It is not true that Southland rugby terns have enjoyed favoured treatment from the referees of their province. But it is correct to say that some wearers of the whistle have been suspected by visiting sides of harbouring a bias towards the maroons. Two Invercargill referees who bore the strongest barbs were Eric Barron and Jack North. Mr Barron was the man who drive Pat Vincent to the point of exasperation in a Canterbury — Southland game on Rugby Park, Invercargill. After Canterbury had been penalised for the umpteenth time, Vincent asked the referee his name. “Barron,” he replied. “It’s a pity your mother wasn’t,” the impish halfback shot back. After Jack North had dealt harshly with Auckland infringements in another match in Invercargill, a New Zealand Herald re-

porter, Gordon McLean, wrote that Mr North should change his name by deed poll to Mr South. But this prominent referee also had an unenviable experience at the hands of Albert Keast, the veteran sports editor of The Southland Times. For several Saturdays from his lofty perch in the press box, Alby Keast fumed over what he considered extravagant use of the whistle by Jack North. “This man has to go; he’s ruining rugby,” Alby muttered darkly. Accordingly, his next sports column began: “Followers of rugby in the south will be saddened at the decision by the popular referee, Jack North, to hang up his boots.”

Furious, North range the newspaper to scotch the story. But Alby was unrepentant. “You’re too late; it’s in print,” he snorted.