FOOTBALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12531, 19 June 1901, Page 9

FOOTBALL.

CANTERBURY RUGBY UNION. A meeting of the' committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union was held in. the Clarendon' Hotel last evening; present--Messrs G. H‘. Mason (chairman), J Adams, S. Orchard, F T. Evans, F. E. Asquith, G. Scott, H. Frost, J. R. Evan® and W. G. Garrard. The Permit Committed wrote, withdrawing its resignation,, and thanking the General G<«nmittee for the vote' of confidence passed. A letter from the Canterbury College Club, asking for a postponement of dates, was :referred to "the Competitions Committee. It was decided that all matches _ for next Saturday over which th® committee had control should, he postponed. This, it was pointed out, did not. affect the CanterburyNelson fixture. It was resolved to provide afternoon tea for the players in the iuterpravincial match, and to charge six* pence for the enclosure and stand. The Christ’s College Rifles Football Club asked for permission to play a match with the Wellington . College Rifles team at Lancaster Park bn Saturday, and also asked for a percentage of the “ gate.” It was decided to grant tee use of th© ground, but. th®. question of gate percentage was held .over. The Albion Football Club ; wrote, protesting against tee sentence ot disqualification passed on J. Moore, a® being too severe, and asked for reconsideration of the matter. The letter was received. It was decided to try to arrange the South Canterbury match for July 25, and to agree to tee date suggested for the Wellington match, namely, August 3. Mr H. 0. Harrison, referee in the Farmers’ Co-operative-Post and Telegraph match last Thursday, reported that he had ordered Carter and Pratt the field, the former for striking a. player, the. other for using bad and threatening language, He also reported that a section of tee Farmers’ Co-operative supporters had been most objectionable. The Referee attended, and stated that te© play was rough, and he had to caution noth teams. Carter had no provocation. Pratt had, while beIng cautioned, defied the Referee, Th© Referee remarked that Thursday players did not appear to recognise their position as subject to the jurisdiction of tee Union, a® did Saturday players, and suggested that, inflicting unduly harsh sentences b*. the present cases, a general warning Should be issued to Thursday player®. Carter attended and .admitted having, under extreme provocation, struck an opponent. It was decided to suspend him for the rest of tee season. Pratt admitted the charge, but pleaded provocation, which had caused him to lose hi® temper.' A sentence of twelve months’ disqualification was passed. Mr R. W. Barry, referee at the Kaiapoi-Merival© mutch at Kaia-poi last Saturday, reported having ordered T. Martin and W. Bush off th© field for striking each other during the progress of the game, Mr Barry attended. He stated that Bush was running close to the touch-lme, when he was collared by Martin. They fell, Martin on top, and he saw both players using their fists. Revell and Cooke rushed up and helped to separate them. It was then found that Bushs collar-bone was broken. A good deal of ill-feeling was shown throughout the match, and he had to warn botl? sets .of forwards, besides several individual players. The spectators did not incite tee players to rough handling. They came on to the ground to see -what was the matter. He had had occasion to warn Martin previously in Junior matches. Martin wrote, giving his version. H© said he collared Bush fairly, when that player hit him under the jaw, and he retaliated. Bush attended. He, said he was collared while out of bound®, and fell on his shoulder, dislocating it. Martin then struck. him four or fly© times. Once during the game he collared Martin, and the latter fell heavily.

Afterwards, during 1 a /spell, ‘ Martin invited witness to fight lum after the gam&. He also challenged H© could not have struck Martin, as his shoulder was broken. He held up 'hi® hand to defend himself. Raveil held him, while Martin continued to hit him*. ’The Referee, recalled, said he could not say positively that Bush struck Martin; h© saw tee former’s hand raised, it, might have been in defence. He thought that Cooke and Revell were engaged in pulling Martin off. H©. had not seen anything worse on a football field. As. te© case was a serious one it was decided to held the matter over, to allow Martin an opportunity to -appear in self-defence. ■

The Canterbury representative team to play Nelson at Lancaster Park next. Satur’’day must attend at Tattersall’a Hors© Bazaar to-morrow evening, at eight o’clock for practice. The Canterbury Rugby Union and Park Company are making special arrangements for a large crowd at the Park on Saturday next. Th© match will begin . at 3 p.m.