ORDERED OFF

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 224, 9 June 1923, Page 18

ORDERED OFF

THE REFEREE’S LIABILITY

Recent deliberations by the Management Committee '.of the Wellington Rugby Union throw into bold relief the liability of referees in connection with tho order/hg off of players for breaches of the code. In not a few instances, referees, after forwarding a written report of the occurrence, have hesitated to corroborate it. or hold to the facts, when confronted by the player in the presence of the committee. In one case, the charge was simply “illegal tackling,” without,any amplification to indicate its seriousness. Unaccompanied by any circumstances of brutality, a charge of “illegal tackle, charge or obstruction” comes specifically under Law 11. of the international code, the only penalty for which is. a free kick to the opposing side.

Point is given to this reasoning from the subsequent facts concerning the case reported. The referee attended the meeting, accompanied by the player, and withdrew the charge, saying ho was not sure he had got the right man. While every sportsman will welcome such a chivalrous attitude. it is a matter for regret that the referee did not make sure of the identity of the culprit before ordering anyone off the field. Again, supposing the referee has made a mistake in the present case, what of tho gudty man, who calmly allows a comrade to go before the union, with the likelihood that, if the weight of tl/o ret-, eree’s evidence outbalances his demurrer. he will be suspended? Punishment at the hands of the union does not rest there. It fellows the offender to his clubmates, who are likely to adjudge him unworthy to continue in membership. In riio workshop or on his job, he is lißely to be Pointed out as a man who committed an act on the football field that would stamp him an unworthy workmate. In the eve of his employer, he is apt to sink to the level of those whose promotion is not made easy. It is refreshing to. recall the candour and directness at the referee (Mr. Hastings), who, on hearing that the offender denied the truth of the charge, wrote to the union', giving a graphic account of his having aimed a kick in the direction of, a prostrate opponent, which, had it connected, would, he said, have ended the man’s plaving days. Tile natural source to which the union looks for recruits for the whistle. the ranks of old plavers, is not a prolific source, and the Referees’ Association is often hard put to keep its ranks closed up. These gentlemen, who give their time gratuitously to the somewhat unattractive task, of refereeing, deserve every consideration, but it is in the interests of themselves as well as the player that, once they give a decision, they should hold to ft. If there be any doubt at all, they should give the player the benefit of it. Moreover, a skilled referee will always sens© the indications of rough play, and warn a player or group ot plavers, even assembly both teams. Australia produced a referee who had the moral courage to blow his whistle and call a player apart for a lecture, devilored in sight of the spectators, and in the hearing of the players. His presence on the field had a very sobering effect on both teams. There are one or two referees in the metropolis who. if they invested their administration with a little more force and dignity would achieve tho same much-desired end. But guilt must be bevond doubt before tho accusing finger indicates an? offender. It is his common right before the law of Rugby.

In defeating Marist by the comfortable margin of 13 points to 5, Athletic played bv far their best game this season ; a showing reminiscent of the days when the highest standard of club football ruled. Their display was truly one “out of tho box.” and provided that something like that form can be sustained for the remainder of the season, the teams now at the top of the list aro going to encounter a.stone wall when they again find themselves up against the wearers of the blue and black colours. For the first time this rear there stepped out on the Park a brace of front-rankers, Swain and Osborne, who gave an exhibition that could have left none dissatisfied. The number of times they failed to hook the ball could be counted on one’s fingers, and when Warwick received the leather it made a, sjieedv transit to an eager back division, whose mistakes were leyv and far between. Tho forwards played a sterling game and were always one too many for w their opponents. Their most spectacular rush was the movement preceding the second try. The rearguard has an, admiral)l® connecting link’in tho diminutive Warwick,_ who has made rapid strides since his elevation to the senior grade. Brook played a safe game at full-back, and Malmanche and Sutton showed up brightly on the wings. On his present form. Malmanche must be entitled to consideration at the hands of the Wellington selectors. G. Gibeon, at five-eighth, was also a star performer, and was ably supported by Svenson and B. Gibson. In filling the position of wing-forward, tho hefty Porter has located tho place best suited to him. On Saturday he was probably the most outstanding player on the field, and time out of number he demonstrated his knowledge of the fact that a wing-forward should be of equal service to both back and forward.

Despite their inferiority, the Marist van was a hard-working division, of which Connop, Troy, and Crotty were the most prominent units. The play of the back line, with few exceptions, was of an unattractive nature. (TCallgghan, with his speed and weight, should at the present time be the premier winger of "Wellington, but as long as ho retains the idea that dodging the “hard stuff” is expedient on & football field, he will remain in the ruck. McCleary was very weak at half, and Markham was minus the dash that characterised his play last season. Mullins and Mahoney were the only backs who knew their positions, and showed anything like form.