RUGBY UNION

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 144, 21 June 1922, Page 19

RUGBY UNION

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETS

A' PLAYEE SUSPENDED,

The weekly meeting <$ the Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union was held last evening, Mr. J. Prendeville being in the chair. W. Wilson, who had gone over to League in 1912, asked that he should be I ■reinstated as a playing member of the ! Athletic Club. He stated that, when suspended for refusing to answer questions as to an incident of play, he had gone over to League because he was anxious to play football, but he had not! received monetary consideration for his League games. A sub-committee was set iip lo go into the past Jaistory of the case. , 'Consideration was given the incident of the ordering off of N. Mouatt during a senior game at Petone. The referee, Mr. R. E. Evenson, stated that Mouatt had, daring a rather willing moment after a line-out, placed his hands on another player's shoulders, and deliberately kicked him Oh -the legs. Mouatt said that the referee had plainly made a- mistake as to the identity *o£ the offender. He was at least ten yards away when the foul was committed, though he had come up by the time- the referee spoke to him- Moreover, the player assaulted had said himself that Mouatt was not the man who kicked him. He asked that he shonld be allowed to call that player, as well as other members of the opposing team, to back up his statement. If he were suspended he would retire from the game, as he bad never previously been spoken to about foul,play, and would not fancy going on the field agaia with a black mark against himAfter considering the question in committee, the meeting decided that Mouatt should be suspended for three playing .Saturdays. The Chairman said that there was a certain amount of doubt about the case, but it was essential that the "nipn should support its referees. Mouattj when advised of the decision, said that he waa satisfied that he had been given a, fair hearing, but,' as a, matter of fact, he had spoken to the real offender, and that player had offered to attend the meeting, and clear him (Mouatt) to his own cost. He would not, however, agree to the player taking that course. He had done with football in Wellington, he.said. A junior player was severely cautioned against a repetition of the rough play which led to his being ordered off the field in a suburban game. The New Zealand Union advised of the reinstatement of F. E.- Cropp, C. Henwood, and J. Spence. •Two players who are said to be playing League after reinstatement with the union will be required to attend a meeting of the- committee to show cause why their reinstatement should not be cancelled. The' South Canterbury Union wrote asking for a match against Wellington on ( 26th August, but the meeting regretted that that date was taken up. A letter is to be sent offering 23rd or 30th August. The date. for the Wellington-Hawkes Bay match, 9th August, was.confirmed;