HOCKEY INQUIRY

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 19, 22 July 1932, Page 4

HOCKEY INQUIRY

GAME AT PORIRUA

AN EXAGGERATED REPORT

After a thorough investigation into the allegations of rough play in the senior B matdi between the Toa Jlaori team-and the Porirua Hospital nurses' team on Saturday, the Management Committee o F the Wellington Ladies' Hockey Association decided last evening' that there was no evidence of wild or unseemly plciy, but that the match was not properly under control, and should be replayed in town. The committee considered that in fairness to the referee it should be said that the influence of the spectators apparently was the cause of the indifferent refereeing. Mrs. J. Poulter, who was in the chair; said that the newspaper report of the match did not reflect any credit on ladie*' hockey, and they hoped to be able to disprove the statements made. REFEREE'S REPORT. The referee (Mr. G. ¥. Arraes) reported with regret "the disgraceful attitude and' open hostility of Toa supporters, also the incident referred to in the newspaper report, which was the result of a Hospital player objecting to being hit unnecessarily several times during the match." He cautioned both players, and had no more trouble with them. Evidently the Toa supporters from the start were determined to show their disapproval of his refereeing, and commenced to voice their resentment.. whenever a Toa player was penalised. He felt sure that most of the unfair tactics and dangerous play were the outcome of the remarks made to the Toa players by their own supporters. He stopped play several times, and cautioned the players, and also made a strong protest to the chief offenders on the line. "I fully realise the Toa Club's keenness and feelings during the playing of such a match," he added, "but to let personal feelings override their sense of sportsmanship and indulge in persistent dangerous play is regrettable, and was the cause of so much whistle being heard, marring the prospect of a good, clean game." Mr. Armes said he thought the Toa players should be reminded of their partial responsibility for the behaviour of their supporters. During the previous meeting of the two teams he had had no trouble. Th<? allpgation that a Toa girl "shaped up" to a. Hospital player, and that he £ad to separate them was not correct. There was no blow struck He had. not told1 the teams that he would report the matter to the medical superintendent of the hosi pial. MOUNTAIN OUT OF MOLEHILL. The Hospital player concerned said it was ridiculous to suggest that she had pulled the stick out o! the Toa player's hands. A mountain had been made out of a molehill. There was really no ill-feeling whatever. Another Hospital player thought that the game was fairly rough, but not to such a degree as to warrant sensational headline's. It was stated that one of the Maori supporters had subsequently apologised for the language of some of the spectators, who were primarily, responsible for the trouble. Mr. Armes said that the Maori girl concerned merely waved her fist under the ,chin of the Hospital player, but did not strike Wl. Mr. A. Bennie, a Toa supporter, said the match would have been a good "one had it been properly controlled. Feeling ran high as a result of a suggestion that Toa had no chance of winning, a reference to the refereeing. That suggestion appeared to be.borne out when the game was in progress. He alleged that he had noticed the referee advising the Hospital players where to stand. SPECTATORS AT FAULT. In the opinion of Mr. D. Prosser, a few of the spectators caused the whole trouble. The refereeing was very fair. He asked the committee to make some allowance for the temperaments of the Maori girls. The captain of the Toa team said that her girls always "played a hard game, but on Saturday there" was no foul play, and the referee was given, no chnace to order anyoiie, off the field." She did not think; the refereeing was fair to Toa. After the match the teams had afternoon tea to-, getiter, ;aud there was no ill-feeling. ■ MyV.G. Satene, another Toa supporter;' maintained that the Toa player concern™ Kad %iot adopted a lighting attitude,' as alleged;:.and the team as a whole played "the game, of their life." He strongly criticised,tile refereeing. The allegations were also denied by the: Toa player. _ >' :■

In the course or the discussion after the club representatives had withdrawn, it was stated that great difficulty was some* .times experienced in obtaining the services of referees who were not coaching teams. It was agreed that the newspaper report had been grossly exaggerated. «