A RUGBY SENSATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 11 June 1927, Page 3

A RUGBY SENSATION

IN NORTH AUCKLAND (By Telegraph—Special to "The Mail") AUCKLAND, 10th June., A firs'u-clas3 i\'J.;',hy sansitioS v.; r'epot ipJ inuu Northern Wuiroa (a subunion of Northland) where, in u recent match lho Rev. Matene, who loured England. Wales and France with I lie 1926-27 Maori combination, wiis ordered off tlie field, ti is understood thai after ;i previous mix up in what was ;i hard game Male-no was .shaping lo an opponent in unmislakalilt! fashion, whereon the referee gave Matene hi.-i marching orders.

He.fore an ollicial inquiry Ihfi edit en* of Ihe "North Auckland Times" comin en ted lo ilie effect that while, there could be no objection, to sending a player oil' lor having si ruck an adversary lit appeared that there had been an exchange of blows in the earlier episode) it appeared a bit rough putting Jtateiie on the bank for what the referee thought be only might do. To this comment some Rugby Unionists took exception as being a prejudgment of the ease and analogies to the. Magistrate and Supreme Court were quoted.

After a keen discussion at a full meeting a motion of censure on the editor was defeated onlv by one vole, and no further action taken.

As far as Matene was concerned members were of opinion that the fact of his being ordered off was quite, sufficient punishment in his case and in the circumstances.