TRAPPED OFF-SIDE

Evening Star, Issue 21786, 31 July 1934, Page 4

TRAPPED OFF-SIDE

HAWKE’S BAY EXPLAINS OTAGO GAME . NO PLAN OF ILLEGAL PLAY [Special to the ' Star.’) CHRISTCHURCH, July 31. Hawke’s Bay’s answer to the charges made against them of playing off-side in their game against Otago is that very often the ball was put back into the scrum after it had been hooked. It was not so much a question of playing off-side, as one of being trapped off-side. Mr L. E. Harris, manager of the Hawke’s Bay team, expressed this view on the team’s arrival at Christchurch to-day, en route for Wellington from Invercargill. Mr Harris said he disliked inquests into matches, and after all the Otago game was over and done with; but be did think bis team had been criticised unfairly. In Otago the team had played its usual game, and had not gone on to the field with a definite plan of illegal play. The Otago players themselves were good sports, but both sides were upset by the manner in which the game was controlled. “ In Southland we had a fine game,” said Mr Harris, “ and were beaten by a better side. Our backs are steady without being brilliant, and on the day the Southland line had something on

Mr Harris added that the heavy grounds in Otago and Southland found the Hawke’s Bay 'men, out of their element. Although the ground at Lancaster Bank had been muddy when Hawke’s Bay played Canterbury tho foothold beneath the mud was firm, but in Otago and Southland it was a question of playing in mud up to tho ankles without any foothold. On the whole, said Mr Harris, the team had enjoyed its tour of the South Island, and had been received most hospitably everywhere. There were still four hard matches to play before tho team could relax its training, and Mr Harris expected that all four games would bo for the Ranfurly Shield.