FOOTBALL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6871, 15 July 1909, Page 8

FOOTBALL

WELLINGTON RUGBY UNION. A PLAYER SUSPENDED. The Management Committee of Wei-, lington Rugby Union met last evening. Present—Messrs J. Burns (in the chair), S. Brown, W. Perry, J. O’Suiiivan, J. Sweeney, P. Peters, and J. Price. St. John’s team wrote protesting against the decision of the union to have the third-class match between St. Jolin’s-Upper Hutt replayed.—lt was decided to adhere to tho previous decision to have the game replayed. Polhill Club wrote withdrawing their fourth and fifth-class teams from the competitions. ORDERED OFF. Mr T. H. Jones, referee in the Ponoke-Melrose match, reported having ordered a Melrose player off the field for striking the opposing half-back in the face. The referee said he had previously given the player the benefit of the doubt (though little existed) when, after penalising him for off-side play, he picked up the muddy ball and throw it straight at the referee’s face. In his opinion tho blow was intentional. The player denied having struck his opponent. The half-back had marked tho ball and he had simply grabbed him by the shoulders. When he was ordered off “it had been the biggest shock he ever had.” The player also denied having deliberately thrown tho ball at the referee He did not know what he was ordered oft for until after tho game. The player he was alleged to have struck had informed him that he had not hit him but had grabbed him by the shoulders. Last year witness had had a bad run and this season he was trying to wipe it all off. Tho referee was very excited and. was rushing round fetching the ball in for the wing forward. A referee didn’t usually do that. ,

The nlee of the union debarred it from calling the rran who was alleged to have been struck.

Mr Peters moved that the player be cautioned. This was not seconded. ■Mr O’Sullivan moved that ho he suspended for three months from date. This mas seconded by Mr Price. Mr Perry moved, seconded by Mr Brown, that the player he suspended for twelve months. This was lost and the motion carried. ■ OTHER OASES. ,Mr A. "W. Moller reported having ordered a member of the Old Boys and one of the Oriental Club—both fourthclass players—off the field for fighting. One of the accused admitted that there had been a “rough and tumble,” but he did not remember any blows being struck. The other said his opponent had struck him and he had retaliated. Action was deferred until the referee appears before the union. A KARORI COMPLAINT. O. Butler, referee in the match between Karori and St. James, appeared in support of a report made by him that the spectators had encroached on the field of play “and that the general conduct was disgraceful.” Karori Club had asked that the union should hold an inquiry into tho allegation. Mr Butler said that most of his decisions had been ridiculed by the crowd and had language had been used. On one occasion he had to complain to one of the touch-line judges for “barracking.” He dad not think that the letter was worded too strongly in saying that the conduct of spectators was disgraceful. Phe majority of them were “very crook. Other referees who had been to Karon held the same opinion as he did regarding the spectators. ' It was decided to inform the Karon Club that, after hearing the evidence of the referee, the union was satisfied that the conduct of the spectators was not all that could he desired, and that the union saw no reason to withdraw its previous caution—that if an improvement were not made matches would probably not" be played there. WEDNESDAY COMPETITION. Owing'to the state of the Athletic Park the Wednesday competition games were to have been played at Newtown Park and Minrar. The game at the former of these two places had to be postponed, the ground here also being Coo bad. Oriental and Butchers were to have played at Miramar, but the latter forfeited.

MANAWATTJ RUGBY UNION,

TBOU OUB OWN CORBB3PONDBNT. PALMERSTON, July 11. Mr F. Paraui presided over the weekly meeting of the Management Committee of the Manawatu Rugby Union. The Oroua sub-union, forwarded its affiliation fee, and asked for information regarding representative matches and referees. It was decided to ask the Referees’ Association to give the Oroua Union all the assistance it oould. The Franbton Union regretted that finances would not permit them to visit Palmerston without .help from gate money. No action was taken. The Awarua Union wrote leaving to the Manawatu Union the matters of arranging accommodation for them, and the appointment of a referee. The expenses in connection with the gymnasium were reported to amount to Aio. A member of the Linton Club was called upon to explain why he had played Jor two clubs, and in the meantime he was suspended. Mr KT. Armstrong and the secretary were appointed to meet and entertain tie Awarua team.

The president announced that he would present a shield for competition ‘by tho fourth-class teams. LAWS OF THE GAME. rases association. ATTCKXiAND, July 14. A letter was read from the New Zealand Rugby Union at this evening's meeting of the Auckland Union in reference to the adoption by the local union of several modifications of the rules. The letter pointed out that no affiliated union had power to play local competitions other than in accordance with the laws of the game. It waa resolved— <r That this union, being of the opinion that any union, may make modifications in games played in its own championship competitions, adopted the course of making several modifications. The union was further guided in its action by on expression of opinion given to the chairman, Mr Sheahan, by'two members of the present New Zealand Union Executive, Messrs Galbraith and Dixon, that any such procedure would not bring the boor in conflict with the English Rugby Union. The union would also point out, that the gentlemen, referred to volunteered! the information that there was jiothiijft-ta prevfini -tom

adopting in their own competitions the modifications complained of/’

THE ASSOCIATION SAME MEETING OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. The Management Committee of the Wellington Football Association held its weekly meeting last night. Mr H. N. Holmes presided, the other members present being Messrs H. Mayer, J. B. Eaton, B. L. Salmon, J. M. Ollier, J* Davidson, W. Auld, and A. Williams (secretary). . Mr S. Fisber, referee in a recent first division junior match between St. David's and Brooklyn, reported a St. David's player for misconduct and bad language, both on and off the field. He also reported the captain of the team for refusing to give the name of the offender when called upon. After hearing the statements of the players concerned, the committee decided to disqualify the offender for the rest of the season and to censure the captain severely for not having proper control of his team and for refusing to give the name when asked for by the referee. A communication was received from the New Zealand Football Association intimating that, the proposed South African tour having been abandoned, ib was now hoped to arrange for a visit next season from a team from New South Wales. Approval was expressed of the suggestion, and it was decided to fail in with it provided that the guarantee required was reasonable. It was decided to order from the New Zealand Football Association 100 referees' chart®. A formal application from W. D*_Phillips for a transfer from the Thistle senior first division team to- the Mental Hospital second division team was granted after considerable discussion as to the legality of the proceeding, and also with reference to the equity of the circumstances attached to the application. It was also decided that Mr F. J. Courtney be asked to state an opinion as to the first round of a series of matches could be definitely and legally determined. The report of the appeal board on the points raised in the dispute between Y.M.C.A. and South Wellington was read. The board stated that the case was investigated by reference to the rules. No evidence was called, and the board unanimously recommended that the match bo replayed. The recommendation was adopted, the match to be replayed at the end of the season.

The junior third division match Brooklyn v. Y.M.G.A., in view of the decision of tho board, was also ordered to be replayed. The committee resolved that, in future, teams playing boys over age would forfeit the match involved in the irregularity. On the motion of Mr B. L. Salmon it was decided to play the match with Canterbury for the Brown Challenge Shield on Saturday, July 31st. It was also resolved to apply to the City Council for the use of the Basin Reserve for the match, with permission to charge. Messrs Holmes, Roberts and Courtney were appointed a deputation to urge the requests upon the council. In view of the fixture the lacrosse Association and the Australian League Association are to 'be asked to forego their matches on the Basin Reserve on the date selected. The selection committee was asked to pick- Wellington's representative team ny Saturday, July 24th. It was decided to write to the Athletic Park trustees asking for the use of their ground to play Auckland on either September 4th or 11th. SATURDAY’S GAMES.

In connection with the rest of the league fixtures some re-arrangement was decided upon. After some discussion it was resolved to give Ramblers a bye next Saturday, and to play the SwiftsDiamonds fixture. The ground committee was also requested to bring down by next Wednesday a fresh draft of fixtures,with a view of bringing the more important games off first. ■ Grounds, fixtures and referees for Saturday will be as follow; — ; Senior League—First Division. Diamonds v. Swifts, Basin Reserve, 2.45 p.m.; referee, Mr W. Wood. Y.M.C.A. v. St. John’s, Newtown Park, 2.45 p.m.; referee, Mr H. Mayer. Rovers v. Wanderers. No. 2, Miramar; referee, Mr B. C. Hayton. Petone v. Thistle, Petone; referee, Mr J. B. Paten. Ramblers, a bye. Senior League—Second Division. Mental Hospital v. Y.M.C.A., at Porirua ; .referee, Mr W. Press. Porirua B v: Thistle, at Porirua;- referee, Mr E. Windley. Petone v. Marist Old Boys, Petone; referee, Rev. J. D. Russell. Rovers v. St. John’s, No. 3, Miramar; referee, Mr D. Stewart. Diamonds v. Letter Carriers, Seatoun Park; referee, Mr A, Newson. Junior League—First Division. Wadestown v. Diamonds, No. 1, Miramar, 3 p.m.; referee, Mr A. Newbold. St. David’s v. Y.M.C.A. A, No. 5, Miramar, 3 p.m.; referee, Mr. H. Smith. Brooklyn v. Y.M.C.A. B, No. 8, Miramar, 3 p.ni.; referee, Mr W. Sparrow. ' Junior League—Second Division, Swifts B v. Ramblers, No. 9, Miramar, 2 p.m.; referee, Mr S. Fisher. Marist A v. Congregational, Newtown Park, 1.45 p.m.; referee, Mr H. Mayer. Petone v. Brooklyn, Petojo, 2 p.m.; referee, Rev. J. D. Russell. Y.M.C.A. A ff. Swifts, No; 7, Miramar, 3 p.m.; referee, Mr Thompson. Institute v. Kaiwarra, No. 12, Miramar, 3 p.m.; referee, Mr H. S. Bernard. Khandallah v. Diamonds, No. 11, Miramar, 3 ip.m.; referee, Mr S. F. McLean. ■ . Marist B v., Bangers. No. 10, Miramar, 3 p.m.: referee, Mr W. Wells. Y.M.C.A. B, a bye. Third A Division. Y.M.C.A. A v. Diamonds, No. 1, Miramar, 2 p.m.; referee, Mr Newbold. Y.M.C.A. B v. Brooklyn A, No. 2, Mira-, mar, 3 p.m.; referee, Mr G. P. Williamson. Petone v. Institute A, Petone, 2 p.m.; referee, Mr E. Horne. Marist School A v. South Wellington, Basin Reserve, 1.45 p.m.; referee, Mr, B. L. Salmon. Third B Division. Marist B v. Y.M.C.A. C, No. 7. Miramar, 2 p.m.; referee, Mr Thompson. Swifts v. Marist C, No. 5, Miramar, 2 p.m.; referee, Mr H. Smith. Institute B v. Island Bay A, Island Bay, 2 p.m.; referee, Mr F. Bowles. Brooklyn B v. Rangers B, No. 8, Miramar, 2 p.m.; referee, Mr W. Spar-

Rangers A v. Ramblers, No. 9, Miramar, 2 p.m.; referee, Mr S. Fisher. Brooklyn C v. Island Bay B, Island Bay, 3 p.m.; referee, Mr F. Bowles.