RULINGS CRITICISED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 10 August 1928, Page 6

RULINGS CRITICISED

REFEREE REPLIES

(By Telegraph.—Special to "The Mail")

AUCKLAND, 9th August. . The referee in last Saturday's Test match between the English League footballers and New Zealand, Mr L. E. Bull, makes a reply to the criticisms of his ,1-ufings in reference to the unfortunate incident at the dinner on Saturday evening. Mr- Bull says : "I can assure both Mr Osborne and Mr Hutchins that they cannot to any greater extent than myself regret the incident .that occurred 'on Saturday evening when Sullivan and myself were (as Mr Hutchins has stated they have a habit of doing in England),quite frank in reference .to the interpretation of the rules and the control of the games. I feel that we also have that ability in New Zealand, and considering all the incidents during and after the match, I was quite justified in replying to Sullivan as I did." . After dealing fully with the interpretations, Mr Bull states: "The last 'penalty was awarded for an English player deliberately kicking Prentice when at least ten yards away from the hall. The rules state when a referee penalises a player he should state to such player his reason, and the player must not question the point. On,every occasion when the players bn both sides were penalised the reason was pointed out, but unfortunately it was not taken without question. lam not prepared to retract any of my statements, which were not made in a fit of temper: '■■■' •''■"•''■ V ~: "Would the English managers ask the two players who shook hands with me at the conclusion of the game what remarks they made to me. If this is true sportsmanship, I am afraid I will take a lot of convincing. Another unsportsmanlike attitude was adopted by the English team when they insisted on the game commencing in the second spell. 1 admit that I was hound to start the game, and did so, but would it not have been sporting for the English captain to ask me to 'wait -until the New ?ea> land team was on the field?" .