RUGBY FRACAS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21521, 19 June 1933, Page 10

RUGBY FRACAS

GAME ENDS ABRUPTLY

,J .3 u A PLAYER ORDERED OFF

TWO BALLS COMMANDEERED

KING COUNTRY INCIDENT

[from ora OWN correspondent]

TE KUITI, Sunday

TTproar and disorder followed the ordering-off of a player in a senior -Rugby football match between Te Kuiti and Hangatiki yesterday afternoon. The game was abandoned after the .player concerned had seized two foot- . balls and threatened the referee.

Trouble first started when a penalty was awarded to tho Te Kuiti team for an unfair tackle by an opposing player, with the score even at 9-all. Play had been very keen, and only 15 minutes Temained of the game. The penalty kick was successful, giving To Kuiti a threepoint lead. Evidently considering the penalty not justified a Hangatiki player remonstrated with the referee. A heated debate resulted in the player being sent off the field.

j:. As he left, the player picked up the ball and took it away, calling on the rest of his team to leave the field also. He was joined by two players, but the remainder decided to finish the match. After a little delay another ball was -secured. It had been placed in position but before it could be kicked the • player who bad been ordered off dashed ■on to the field and commandeered the eecond ball. There was an immediate outcry and . referee and players were in a quandary. The player 'who had been ordered off and the two others who had left the field with him advanced in a body toward the referee and ordered him to leave the ground, which was the property of tlieir family. At this aTe Kuiti 'player, Mr. Wolfe, went to join tho referee,'' whereupon the player was struck by an opponent. - ITtter confusion reigned, spectators moving restlessly on to the field. In view .of the circumstances, the referee declared the game over and left the scene immediately. He was struck by a spectator as he went.

A large crowd stood in groups discussing the occurrence for some time and gradually dispersed. '* The affair was discussed fully last . evening by the Te Kuiti Referees' Association/and was referred to the Maniapoto Rugby Union for inquiry.