THE LEAGUE GAME.

Grey River Argus, 18 April 1929, Page 3

THE LEAGUE GAME.

MOUATT AND WRIGHT May be Reinstated “Disqualified members—got ruling — members must apply personally through their League to New Zealand Council.— Webster.” The foregoing was the substance of a telegram received yesterday afternoon by the President of the West Coast Rugby League (Mr J. D. Wingham) from the Centre’s delegate on the New Zealand Council. Jt is the first promising result brought about by consistent efforts of the West Coast Centre to have the life disqualifications removed from th? seven All Blacks who toured with the 192 G New Zealand team to England. Followers of the code on the West Coast will be pleased to learn that there is now a possibility of the New Zealand Council lifting the disqualifications. The prominence given to the matter will be well remembered by the public, and those on the West Coast especially, for the two representative players front here -were among those disqualified. The seven men to receive the drastic sentence w’ere, Neil Mouatt and J. Wright (Greymouth), Devine (Timaru), Petersen and F. Henry (Canterbury), Carroll (Wellington), and Singe (Auckland). Henry is now playing for Hull, England. The complaints brought forward against the seven players by the man «iger of the team to England (Mr E. H. Mair) were many, but the New Zealand Council threw out t 11 the charges except one, and that was a.> to whether the members had refused to plav when requested. The men "were asked If they would stand or fall by that one charge, and to that they agreed. The Council found them guiPy, aad ther?upon imposed a life disqualification on each of the seven above-mentioned players. It may be mentioned also that the manager, Mr Mair, was disqualified for one month, from the office of manager, and during that period the seven “strikers” played again, but when Mr Mair came again to manage the team, the seven players, after taking part in one further game, went out again. On returning to New Zealand, the disqualifications were meted out to them. The West Coast Rugby League Centre has. since 1927, been endeavouring to have the case re-opened, but its efforts have been unsuccessful until new. After what may be termed a “continual hammering,” it looks as ♦hough the door will bo opened to reinstate the disqualified players. The annual meeting of the N.Z. Council takes place at Auckland on Saturday next, and Mr J. D. Winghem will leave to-day to attend as delegate for the West Coast. Tt is confidently expected that when the care is re-opened, the drastic sentence meted out to the seven players will tand an excellent chance of being lifted. The decision of the Council Will he eagerly awaited by all followers of the code, and should Mouatt and Wright, be reinstated West, Coast football will be greatly strengthened by their services. WEED END MATCHES. Grey Seniors Jeam to play Nelson Creek at Creek will be at follows: — IT. Long, J. Bond, J. Gordon, C. Moffatt, R. Matthews, B. Petrie, A. Gray, IT. Lynch, A. Twohill, A. Sexton, A. Leos, D. Bernard, G. Wright, W. Greer. Any player unable to play is requested to notify the Club Captain. The team will meet at the Post Office at 1.30 p.m.

Marist seniors to play Kunarga at Cobden on Sunday are: Quinn, Brown, Hennessay, Doogan, Robins, O’Loughlin, O’Connor (2), Mulloy, Coulson., Delaney, Quinn, Murphy.