ORDERED OFF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23717, 25 July 1940, Page 10

ORDERED OFF

FOOTBALL INCIDENT THE WORST OFFENDER ARREST AS DESERTER FOLLOWS Tho remarkable case of a .player who was ordered off tho field, and, after the game, was arrested as a deserter by the military authorities, who were looking for him under a different name fro in that which lie gave when ordered off, was reported at last night's meetinn; of the Auckland Rugby "Union. It was stated that the player was a member of the Newton intermediate team last Saturday, aud the referee, Mr. J. J. liinton, in reporting on the game, said tho team made no attempt to play as a team. Finally he ordered off the worst offender, but afterwards, on looking through the team-sheet, ho could not find the name given, and learned later that the player in question had been arrested by the military authorities. Mr. P. J. Sheehan said he had heard from impartial sources that the game was a little bit. "over the odds." Apparently tho Newton team went out with the idea of making things as hot as possible. He had been informed that afterwards, when the player ordered off was arrested as a deserter, there had appeared to be a possibility of trouble between-his team and the representatives of the military authorities. He thought the Newton club should be written to in tho strongest terms. Mr. A. L. Simmonds, chairman of the Junior Management Board, said that what appeared to bo a growing tendency toward, rough play and bad language in the lower grades was causing his board concern. Another case last Saturday was that of a Suburbs intermediate player who was apparently playing under an assumed name. He had been ordered off two weeks earlier and was automatically suspended, as he had failed to appear before the board. In this case the hoard had requested the coach and captain of the team concerned, as well as the player, to appear before it next Tuesday, while in the Newton case instructions had already been given for a letter to be sent to the club.