SHIELD INCIDENT

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 23, 27 July 1927, Page 16

SHIELD INCIDENT

LOCAL REFEREES PROTEST.

The action, of'the Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay luigby Unions m exonerating the players who were ordered off the field durin" the Hanfurly Shield match at Solway°, Masterton, has been discussed by the Wellington Referees' Association, and a motion, to be forwarded to the New Zealand Kugby Union, passed as follows:—"That tins association protests against the whitewashing of players ordered off-in the recent Ranfurly Shield match, in the face of definite charges of misconduct by the referee.

A prominent-local enthusiast, in conversation with a "Post" reporter, said that it was regrettable that btith the Hnwkes Bay and the Wairarapa Unions did not support the referee (Mr. H. J. M'Kenzie) in Ins action. "The Hawkes Bay Union " no remarked, "went a step further and practically cast the blame of the incident on the referee himself, which was very unjust. As one who saw the incident, I must admit there was not a great deal in it, and the disgrace of being ordered off ,in such an important fixture and in front of such a large crowd would have been in my opinion, sufficient punishment. But as tar as the referee is concerned, the state ot the game at the time and the frnycd tempers that were being shown on both sides were sufficient justification for him taking the extreme step he did. There were plenty of worse incidents in the game, both before and after, but this is one the referee caught. A referee knows v £VerYY crY lncwcnt lie catches there are probably half a dozen he cannot sec because the cunning player waits until the referee a back ».turned. It seemed to ■jne as if Mr. M'Kenzie was aware that things were not coing right, and as he did already given: a, warning, he determined to deal drastically) with the first incident ho caught Q, Donald and M. Brownlie were the unfortunate pair, and although it did not seem to mo that any blow was actually struck, they were certainly caught in a hostile attitude. The referee' did his duty in the interest of clean piny, and was cut tied to the support of both unions." ihe protest was received at last night's meet>n S °f 'he Management Committee of the Wellington Rugby Union. It was decided that a copy, of the resolution be forwarded to the New Zealand Rugby Union