FOOTBALL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8542, 24 March 1908, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

At the: annual meeting of the Tukapa Football Club, New Plymouth, on Thursday, a letter was read from the Opunake Football Club respecting the disqualification for rough play of Huston, Young, and S. Forsyth. The actions of these players, which moved the union to retire them from the game, were incidents in a match which must rank as one of the most disgraceful brawls ever heard of as having happened on a New Zealand football field. Young was disqualified for life, warned olf all grounds. in the Dominion, and otherwise restricted; and the police were practically invited to take up the case. Forsyth was disqualified for a couple of years. Two other players in the same match were disqualified. Forsyth's disqualification was for striking a player who, Forsyth alleges, molested him. Young's "gruel" was meted out on account of the terrible fight which resulted in Howes, of Waimate, having his jawbone broken. Young was greatly aggravated, having had his eye frightfully injured. The letter of the Opunake Club stated that at the annual meeting of the union the Opunake Club's delegate would move that the sentence on Young should bo reduced, and that that on Forsyth should be removed. The Pihama Club's letter stated that the club's delegate would move for the removal of the sentence on Forsyth. Both letters asked for the support of the Tukapa delegates The President (Dr. Fookes) said: "In my opinion there is no more heinous crime on the football field than rough play, whether the rough play consists of striking an opponent or some other form of violonoc or foulness. I feel very strongly on this subject. I feel that the sentence upon H. Young was dcsorved, and that football would be better without him. The disqualification of S. Forsyth might have been a little harsh; but one must keep his temper on the field. Many of us have been inflicted with deliberately rough play, and have had to keep our hands down. The Tatanaki Rugby Union is to be commended for its stringency in these matters.- The Taraniki Union has not been hard enough on rough play in the. past, but is now, I am pleased to say, retrieving itself."

Tho President's remarks were loudly applauded; the feeling of the meeting had obviously boon expressed by_ him. No vote was called for, but, in view of tho very strong feeling shown by tho meeting, the delegates must feel themselves bound to vote against the motions of the Opunake and Pihama Clubs.