ROUGH FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19028, 27 May 1925, Page 15

ROUGH FOOTBALL.

COMPLAINTS AT DUNEDIN. INQUIRY BY ASSOCIATION. [Bl- TELEGRATII. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, Monday, The executive of the Otago Football Association was kept busy for u long timo last evening dealing with complaints from referees against the rough nature of games over which they officiated within the last fortnight. \ Port Convent second grade team were specially criticised. Sir. W. L. Seddon, referee in the match in which they played on Saturday, said that on the day's play they required a severe caution" from the association, as a majority of the team were out to " play the man." From what he could see they were the roughs of Port Chalmers, not the Port Convent team It was decided to writo to the club pointing out the unsatisfactory condition of this team. Another referee, Mr. A. Preston, complained against the same team in a match played a fortnight ago. There were swearing and rough play, ho said, and ho endeavoured to tako the name of one player, but the player did not appear to havo one. He had threatened to put the man off the field, and the player replied if he (Mr. Preston) was not careful he would push his face through the back of his head. It appeared that this man was a stray picked up on the ground. The man was suspended during the pleasuro of the association. Tho referee commented on tho attitude of barrackers. "If I had said one word out of place," ho said, " I would never havo got away alive. I kept very quiet." It was said of another reterco at Mosdel that, had he not been assisted by taxi men, there was doubt if he would have got away from the mob. One referee and two captains were instructed t ■ appear at a meeting of the association next Monday. INCIDENT AT CAMBRIDGE. UNION TAKES ACTION. [BY TELEGRAM. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] CAMBRIDGE. Tuesday. Regarding the Hautapu-Lcamington senior football match played on Victoria Square on Saturday afternoon and an incident at half-time of unseemly behaviour tho union executive discussed this and'other bad features of tho game at a meeting last evening. A member stated that there was a general commotion on tho ground. On investigating ho observed a Hautapu player endeavouring to strike an opponent. The Hautapu player used bad language. After lengthy discussion it was resolved that tho player concerned bo asked for a written explanation. Ihis, together with the executive's report, will bo forwarded to tho Waikato Union. Failing the union's ability to deal with the matter, tho report will be forwarded to tho Now Zealand Rugby Union for a ruling. Another Hautapu player for rough play was ordered to stand down for two playing Saturdays, whilo two other players were severely cautioned. A registered player of the Hautapu Club but not a player in this particular match, for insulting two members of the executive on the ground, was prohibited from attending any matches under tho union's jurisdiction for two playing Saturdays. Tho executive congratulated tho referee on tho manner in which he had handled the match and expressed its determination to suppress rough play.