FOOTBALL

Evening Star, Issue 16211, 5 September 1916, Page 2

FOOTBALL

' o.r.e.u. The weekly meeting of the Otago Rugby Union was held last opening. Air H. Harris (president) occupied the chair. The .Secretary of the North Otago’Subunion wrote stating that, , as the Athletic Club had now complied with the reqficst of the sub-union and submitted the names, ages, and dates of birth of their players, the suspension imposed on the club had been removed. —Received.

Mr 6. Freeman (hon. secretary of the Union Club) wrote lodging a protest in re the match Union v. University A, played at the Caledonian Ground on August 26. Tho writer stated that the team which met the Union was practically a picked team from the, three Uniyersity teams.—Union Club to be informed that no restriction is placed on the . University Club in the selection of their fifteens. -

Mr E. Heron, referee in the third grade game between/Taieri Rovers and Southern, wrote reporting having ordered off Scott, of the former-team, for passing disparaging remarks to him.—Referee and player to appear before the union at next week’s meeting. It was decided to play a match next Saturday against the D 'Company, Eighteenth Reinforcements.

It was announced , that the competitions in thd senior and fifth grades for the season had.finished. f

—Players Leave the Field.—

Mr G. M’Kenzie; referee in the match University A v. Union, reported ’ that E. Whitaker and H. Allan, of the Union Club, had left the field during the second spoil, and had then returned and gone on with the game. The referee and the two players concerned appeared before the union".

The referee stated that the two Union players evidently thought that they had not- been properly treated. The players of tho Union team were appealing all the while. Thq match, so far as the Union was concerned, was a burlesque. Whitaker said he left the field for two reasons—firstly, the Union captain called his men off; and, secondly, the game was a burlesque.

Allan (captain of the Union) said considered that it was the referee who ! made a burlesque of the game. The referee simply roared every time University scored—lie stood in the field and roared. ■ Witness left the field because ho thought ' the decisions most unfair. He called his men off, but only he and Whitaker left the field. He then realised that he should not have walked off,- and he, and Whitaker returned. He thought the referee was j against them right through. Mr Low, a member of the committee, who had watched the match, considered it was a pure burlesque. The spectators in the stand were in roars of laughter at some of the incidents. He would not say that some of the Union men were not trying—he would say that they were incapable of trying. Ono of the Union side was under the influence of liquor. He was surprised!that the Union allowed the man under the influence of drink to take the field. At half-time several of the Union players went into an hotel. The referee did not control the play. Allan said that if the man referred to had not been in a fit state he would not have allowed him to play. The referee and players having left the room, the committee considered the evidence. It was decided to adjourn the inquiry till next Monday night, and to icqnest the attendance of the referee, the captains of the Union and Universiiy Clubs, both line umpires, the secretary of the Union Club, and the player who was said to be under the influence of liquor. —Bad Language.—

Mr Nelson, a member ofthe committee, said he watched the match played by the Alhambra and Union at Opoho last Saturday. During the time he was there one team in particular seemed to Ipe using a lot of bad language; their conduct, too, was of an'hmgentlema-nly character. In ono instance, at least, he was sure the bad language was used by Union players. Ho thought the referee should have stopped play and ordered some of the men off.—lt was decided to ask the referee and the captains of the Alhambra and Union Clubs to appear before the’ committee. ASSOCIATION.

The draw for Saturday’s senior match resulted :—Christian Brothers v. Southern, Culling Park.