FOOTBALL.

Evening Star, Issue 12927, 25 September 1906, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

OTAGO RUGBY UNION,

The weekly meeting of thfc Committee was hold last evening; and attended by Mesons Campbell (chairman) * Austin, Priest, Duncan, SincOck, M'LareU, Munro, Wilson, Hutchison, Macdonald, and Hanlon. Match.~-

Mr M'Ritchie, rofefeo in/the Alhambra Second-Palmefston match, who -reported Ordering off two players of the former team, attended tho meeting at the request of the Committee.

The Chairman eaid that-tke Committee wished to hear the referee in caun&stioh. with his report on Nelson's case. Mr M'Ritchie said in his report that in the Qrst spell he cautioned Nehstm for using foul language, and then ordered him off the field for throwing a man when he did not have the ball. Nelson bad said he was not cautioned, and the Committee then wrote to the referee asking what waa the nature of the caution. Mr M'Ritchie replied by letter that he was quite oertaih he had cautioned Nelson, and enclosed a letter supporting this signed by "several Palmerskin players. The Committee now Wanted to jenow the nature of the caution—bow he cautioned him, and what exactly took place. Mr M'Ritchie sakl the ball was kieked out Of touch. He was running up the field, and Nelson was behind him, when he mado use of the expression, he complained of. He told him that that kiad Of thing was not allowed, and that if it occurred again ho woukl put him off. He also gave the Alhambra. team a goiteral cafctioO, telling them that he Was not going to put up with any more funny business; that they were not going to do what they liked becatiee they were in the country. Nelson aisked what was the nature of the caution.

The Chairman said that the referee said lie heard him make use of a remark, that ho turned round and said that sort of thing was not allowed.

Nelson: Tho ball was thrown out, and I think our scrum-half marked out. Mr M'Ritchie.- I dont know. There was to have been a throw-out When I cautioned you. You were not on the line. Nelson said he was on the line, aiid would admit Saying "Where the -> — was the whistle?" because twenty-five Seconds must have elapsed after the player took the mark. The referee did not address him when he said he would not stand any more of it.

Mr M'liitchLe said that when ha Captioned the team, after cautioning he walked ftillv Six 6t eight yards tip the line and fcaV© them a general caution. Nelson said he did flot adnjit making use of foul language. The Chairman.: But, do you think at wad a prober reihark to make? Nelson: I do. not think" it was, but I did not make it to the referee. I made it more to myself tbaii anyone else. I did not know. the referee was beside me. A refereeing heard it was botrad to take some action, but I think a caution is all that is aeees« sary.

Mr M'Ritchio said lie; would admit thai Nelson was by himself 'wbea lie used tib* language. " ".",..' * Alter the patties had retired,- Mr Sincock said Nelson did not consider it foul language.

Mr Austin said the doubt previously was as to whether Nelson was cautioned, or the team generally. The Chairman: There is no doubt about that now. ...!-• '

Mr Duncan moved that in respect to the first offence Nelson's name be placed on the list of cautioned players. It was pointed Out that if tb6 player was to be dealt with on the second case thefc was no use cautioning him. Mr Macdouald moved--''That Nelson bo suspended for the first three playing months of next season.'— tip till July 1." Mr Hutchison seconded.'

Mr Sincock considered that such a ' Sentence would be too Severe. It was hot an actual trip. NelsOil merely knocked th 6 man 6ver. It Was not to bo considered in the same light as that of am offender who kicked a. man. It was simply a tussle, and the fact of Netaira t being ordered off the field was, in his opinion, Sufficient punishment, while the fact of a try being awarded against the Alii&mbra was Very severe punishment for tie Mam. He moved as ah That Nelson be disqualified until the second Saturday of flac fixture fo.W ' Mr Macdonald considered that Nelson had climbed down since be last appeased before tho Committee. Mt Sincock: I hardly think he has climbed down. Mr Wilson said: if a referee was going to put a man off for eyerytliihMf he beard on the -field, they would sdon have very ievt players left. The Chairman skid that in this case the offence was aggravated by the fact that, in the first place, Nelson denied being cautioned at all Nelson said lie should have been called asido and bold in a certain way that he bad been cautioned, but it Seemed to him (Mi- Campbell) that it did not natter how a referee cautioned a player, He cet' tainly thought that. Nelson had clinibed down. The amendment was carried by 6 votes to?' . , The Chaiirda-n said the Other case was that of of the Alhaihbra (reported for "scragging"). Mr Austin aid he saw the incident. Froui what lie- could eee, a Palmerston meant to etriko Marfcdeh> and the lattef caught hold of his opponent's hand in order to protect himself. In his opinion, it was the other than, and hot Maisden, who should have been ordered off. Mr Hanlon said it was a pity tho referee had not been asked about thati Mr Austin That in the opinion of tho Committee Marsden has received sufficient punishment in being ordered off for the day." Mr Sincock seconded the ihdtdori; 'which was carried cai the voices. —Altother Inquiry.— Mi' Macdonald broiUgbt tip a matter in connection with the u&teh Waikouaiti v. Ravchsbourne, played at Ilaveheboilrae oft Saturday.. The full-ba«k of the Waikouaiti team was hi slieh a state that when, he went to kick the 'ball he fell ovef, and ths crowd got on to hiiri. Thd man's language to thfcth was Something disgtaeefiil. What he could not tmdei-Stahd wa§ that a fe>. fereg-*and be understood lie camo fWrii go oh refefeelng in a Match like that and let that sort 6f thing go ftri.' He (the speaker) hfeard the .tuaptaia of the Stavensboiirhe team say oil t*r6 OccasidhS, while in the ecrum, "Moderate ydtir lan* but the fefefea seemed to take h6 hobice whatever, fie (Mr Macdonald) had a lot of wha tried to play foot* ball in a rbahty way, and they Were ol* looking on at tnie match. Mr M'Laren.asitefl who wai th©;referee; Mt Macdonald said he did not know who he was. He asked one or two present, but they did not seem to know his name.' He was not one of their wellikliOwii fefereea. He (the- Speaker), went jip to the captalfi of the Waikouaiti team afterwards and asked him the name of the fullback, but he efcld he did hot belong id his tfcanu '.'HA tsd j him that lie Tras a nice president' of the I

Rugby Union, ; and that he Would like to have his naine,,ahdi too captain then gave ii.

Mr Hanlon 6aid this sort of thing would hare to_bc pat down. He moved that the player be asked to attefcd next Monday night's meeting Of the Committee. The Chairman said that the referee should also be asked to attend, and alto the captains of\tlte Raveusboume aM Wadkouaati teams.

Tliis wad agreed to, Mr Macdonald said thai several of those oh the grottnd had) approached him and asked him to Hay nothing about the matter, but he did not. consider it would be right to hush lip such a thing as this. The •' banners won by the teams in th 6 various Mg competitions throughout fcho season were then presented to the repre» fientatives of the clubs pfcseiik OTAGO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. The weekly meeting of tho O.F.A. was held ftt thek 1 rooms last evening, Mr Eirtslie (vice-president) in, tJbe chair. Apologies were Teceived ifom Messrs Soundy and Bnmeaii. No reason was forthcoming for tho absence of the delegates from Roslyn, Maori Hill, Battalion, aiid Green Island. The Secretary of the Morningtbii Club wrote stating that his club had appointed Mr Hall manager 1 6i the Mornington team picked to go to Kaitangata Day. The Town Olerk wrote confirming the report made by the deputation to the. Reserves Committee re .the replacing of tutf oh oricket pitdies, the drainage of the Asylum Ground, and ton-dressing the Southern Reserve. The use of the Oval Was granted for Saturday next to the Morhington third grade and the High School teams;- . . - It was decided to play the exhibition game, British v. Colonial players, which was postponed from last Saturday owing to bad weather, on October 6. Mr T* H Brodinfield, manager of the third grade team that, played at KaftangatA lairt Batur.day> reported that a hard and fast game had ended iti a draw, each Side Scorihi* two g6ala. Mr Robertson worn referee, and there we?e few infringement*. The team refcttfljed to town Well pleased with the gaine arid their treatment in Report received. ,' lli « Schools' Committee reported thac they had decided to close the second grade schools' competition, the North-east Valley team being declared Winners. The s°©ond grade schools' five-a-side tournament will be played next Saturday at Montecillo, starting at 1.30 p.m. The following were elected to control the tournament :* i -Alesisrs J; M'Nisb, W. Fleming, S. Angell, and I'. Young; The Treasurer of the N.Z.F.A. (Mr R. R. Nagle) wrote enclosing £8 5s in sefcfclern«at of the thirty-three coupons presented by the O.F.A* An account of £2 2s fdr this year's fcubScriptran. to the Couiicil was also forwarded.—Received. In reference to the British-Colonial match, it was resolved to invite all Home players in tho district to Confer with the selectors at the O.F.A, Committee rooms next Monday. The Second grade five-a-side touinamerit Will be commenced at 2 p.m. on Culling Park faext Saturday. Entries, accompanied by the usual fee, Will close With the Eccre* tary oh Thursday next.