"NOT WANTED"

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 December 1924, Page 9

"NOT WANTED"

DIRTY PLAYERS IN RUGBY

In the . special account of the All Blacks match with Cumberland (county champions in England last season), published in. The Post recently, ..mention was made of incidents which were, not in keeping .-with the true spirit, of Rugby. For some reason, the occurrence in which Hart, the New Zealand wing-three-quarter, received a blow on the face from a. Cumberland player just after the final whistle had sounded was kept out of most of the papers at Home.' During the progress of the game foul tactics were in evidence, and they were indulged in by the home team. One of the All Blacks, besides Hart, to strike trouble was the captain, C. G. Porter," but, as is usual with the Wellingtonian, he suffered no loss of self-control and played the game. The writer for’ Rugby Football, an English; journal giving a weekly record. of the ghme, ,wa.s hot prepared to orbit from his report references to the unfair actions, , those' of one player being termed disgraceful. After a summary of the game the writer makes the following note: — \ “All the above is pleasant to write about, but now . must be mentioned a matter most unsavoury which cannot on any account be looked over. eveir though it, has been by the Press. I refer to the disgraceful exhibition given by T. Little. the ;Cymberland scrnm r half. The honour of . Cumberland foptball. was badly •lei.Aojyn l bv this individual, and it savs. volumes; for the captain of the visiting side, who was a particular victim, that he was able to keep his temoer the wav. he did. Players of the tvpe of. T- Little are hot wanted in the game, nhd. it is to be hoped that whatever, happens the Cumberland County “niirnttee -will show their disaunfovat of foul and dangerous play bv refusing to play him in the county side in the future.