ALL BLACKS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 18 March 1925, Page 5

ALL BLACKS

BROWNLIE INCIDENT

MANAGER’S VERSION

SAYS REFEREE WAS WRONG

(Bv Telegraph—Special to Star.) WELLINGTON, March 17

.It was expected that the New Zealand Rugby union Would meet to-day 'regarding cue jLJiownlie incident, when he was ordered off tffe field in the English match, but referee Freethey’s report, though mailed by the English union, has not arrived. It is generally understood in the team that the English Rugby Union recommends that no action be taken.

Speaking on this point the manager, Mr Dean, said: “I am quite convinced tne-referee made a mistake. Some incidents that happened just before caused me to watch the play narrowly from the grandstand at the time the leleree ordered Cyril Brownlie off for deliberately kicking a man on the ground, i went to the referee after tne match and asked him what had happened. tie said he had made a statement to tli© press. As I knew what he alleged, 1 went to every English forward to find their impression. They had an idea that he must have punched a man. This was an idea among them. I asked them if anybody had been kicked on the ground, and not one remembered such a thing. I was watching closely, and not one remembered such a thing. I was watching closely, and I saw everything. I say deliberately that the referee was wrong. There was no man on the ground. If we had not lost Brownlie when we did we would have beaten England by 40 points.”

FUTURE MATCHES. MAINTAINING THE TEAM. WELLINGTON, March 17. Mr Eager Wylie, treasurer of the Rugby Union, questioned by your correspondent about the possibility of keeping the All Black combination together for a game in New Zealand, said it was very difficult to arrange, but it might be that when New South Wales visits New Zealand in August or September the home team might be taken from the All Blacks.,. The latter, however, would be sent on - the New South Wales tour in June.

RICHARDSON’S INJURY

HAPPENED IN A SIMPLE WAY

WELLINGTON, March 18. Everyone was glad to see that Richardson did not have to be carried off the steamer yesterday, and had so far recovered that he was able to walk with the assistance of crutches. His leg was broken near the ankle, and, as is commonly the case, it occurred in a very simple "manner, which may have happened hundreds of times to other players with no serious results; He was playing wing three-quarter at a practice in Vancouver, and on receiving the ball endeavoured to beat Parker, who was playing opposite - him. He swerved as he neaped the Canterbury man, and was just passing when Parker got hold of him. He tried to recover, and in doing go his leg snapped. - .■■■•■ .' .. -