OWAKA-ROMAHAPA FOOTBALL MATCH.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLII, Issue 91, 23 May 1916, Page 5

OWAKA-ROMAHAPA FOOTBALL MATCH.

TO THE EDITOR. 'Sir,—l remember reading from some paper in the Fun's column a story about two boys engaged in a mimic battle by throwing water at one another. Presently one, finding he was getting worsted, burst out crying and exclaimed". "It's not fair; you are standing closer to me than 1 am to you." The Owaka Cadets had as much reason for complaint as the boy referred fo had, and had the scores between the teams not been level and the Romahapa lads swarming all over them there would not have been witnessed the poor-spirited action of the Owaka team iu leaving the field, and the still poorer spirit shown in the one-sided and unfair report furnished by them and published in your issue of Friday last.—l am, etc., PLAV THE GAME. Romahapa, May 22, 1916. TO THE EDITOB, Sir,—l notice in Friday's issue of your paper a report of the Owaka-Roina-hapa Cadet football match, at which I happened to be the poor unfortunate who held the position of referee. The report was quite correct up to a certain stage; Begg certainly scored a try for Romahapa in the first few minutes of 'the game. Then Johnstone scores two good tries for Owaka, and drop-kicked a capital goal from a penalty. This goal, however, was not allowed, as the player did not kick the ball properly over his mark. This made the score (i-:S in favour of Owaka, as none of the tries were converted. Your correspondent, however, seems to have forgotten all about Romahapa's second try, when Begg again scored, proving too smart for the opposing team. With regard to the incident which was the cause of the Owaka team leaving the ground 1 may state that an Owaka player who should have known better was penalised for taking the ball out of a loose scrum near his line and forcing it. The Owaka man on being penalised took exception to my ruling and walked off the ground, followed by the captain of his team (Shaw). Perhaps it was just as well from oue point of view that they did, as '' He who fights aud ruus away will !ivc to fight another day." I am afraid, however* that the mete fact of their playing the referee did not excuse the poor sportifig spirit they shotted when leaving the ground, as the primary object of the match was to give the Romahapa Cadets a gartie alid n'dt to play the referee-, Your Owaka correspondent states that I favoured Rohiahapa; I will leave the public to judge vrhether he is in a position to criticise, as his report makes the match a Witt for Owaka instead of a draw, as it really was. There is something unfair about this, surely. Despite the poor spirit shown in the game, the Owaka boys were entertained to tea at Mrs Hoy's after the match, a fact the Owaka correspondent bad not the manneSs or the time to take any notice of. In conclusion, sir, I must apologise for taking up so much of your space on such a trumpery subject at a time like this. However, the report was so one-sided that I thought I would show the other side.—l am, etc., GEORGE HAY. Romahapa, May 10, 1916.