REFEREES DISSATISFIED

Evening Star, Issue 19616, 23 July 1927, Page 6

REFEREES DISSATISFIED

BMNLiE'DONALD INCIDENT THE' UNI9NS INDICTED [Per United Press Association.] ■WELLINGTON, July 23. Tho dissatisfaction existing among Rugby referees as the result of the decisions of the Hawke’s Bay -and Waifs rapa Unions respectively exonerating Brownlie and Donald, who were ordered off. the field in tho recent Ranfurly Shield match, was expressed at last night’s meeting of the New Zealand Referees’ Association, which carried a series of resolutions on the matter, appealing against tho decisions. These laid clown that the refer is the solo judge of fact; that his statement that the players m question were guilty of misconduct was sufficient warrant for him ordering them off, and should have been accepted as a question of fact and adjudicated upon accordingly, tho only evidence the unions could have accepted being to the end to prove that the players received provocation. Tho meeting held that the referee, after ordering a nlayer off, fulfils In's whole duty in fully reporting the oecurrence, and should iv-t bo called upon to amplify his statement, tr.be crossexamined Tho resolution adds: “Tho association is of opinion that where players are ordered off in iuterpr .vincial matches and Ranfurly Shield matches the facts should bo considered by the New Zealand Rugby Union. The association feels that an apology is due to tho referee from the two unions in regard to things said in tho endeavor to whitewash the players concerned.” Tho referee is commended on his determination to see that the methods employed in tho match did not go beyond tiro bounds of fair play, and regret is expressed at the manner in which his report in regard to the ordering off was dealt with.