CONTROL OF RUGBY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10957, 20 July 1921, Page 8

CONTROL OF RUGBY

WELLINGTON COMMITTEE MEETS. MIBAJkIAR, TEAM EXPLAINS. CLUB’S SUSPENSION LIFTED. A well-attended meeting of the management committee of the Wellington Rugby Football Union was held last night, Mr J. Prendeville presiding. An application for the use of the Athletic Panjc to-morrow, for a match to be played between the Mines Department and the Public Health Department, was declined. An application bv the Government Insurance Department for the uso of the ground on August 4th for a match with the Combined Life Insurance Offices wag also PLAYER. SUSPENDED. A Johnsonville junior player named Brampton was suspended for the rest of. the season (two more playing Saturdays) for striking a player in the Be:* hamper© team in the course of a gam© in June last. The player stated that the Berhampore man had struck him first.* This, however, did not tally with tho account given by the referee (Mr Brooker). The chairman said that Brampton had been warned for similar conduct last season, and it apparently had not had the desirtd effect. "THE BOLSHIES.” A LIVELY MATCH. Lutterworth (captain) and other membora of tho Miramar fourth grade team, characterised as "The Bolshies,*' appealed to explain the conduct of three of the team's members, T. Carrera, James, and H. Smith, reported to have been or riered oft tho ground for using bad language and disputing tho referee’s decis ions, on the occasion of a match at Miramar with the Institute team of the same grade. The referee (Mr A. Watson) reported that Smith, in addition, had struck at him. Owing to the hostile attitude of the crowd, he called off the game fifteen minutes before time. The whole club had'been suspended last week on account of no member having then put in an apr pearance to explain matters. James and Smith did not attend last night, but it was stated that James was in^attendance on his father, who was seriously ill, and that Smith was attending a parade.

The captain and other members stated that tho referee was the coach of the Institute team, and had favoured that side. The Institute boys, they alleged, had also used bad language and misbehaved themselves, but the referee said nothing to them. Ho also had not "p-aid proper* attention to the game, being talking when it was going on. The chairman said that the referee had put in a report that was very damaging in regard to the team and in regard to the management of the club ‘ ground, and at the previous meeting, when the referee gave his report, not one member of the team hpd been present. Further, tho names of tho ‘members warned did not correspond witht the playing list of the team, and the inference was that, as their higher grade team had pulled out. thev wore playing higher grade men in the team. SUSPENSION OF CLUB REMOVED. The secretary (Mr lleifry) paid that that could not be tho case, as tho higher grade men were all playing for other clubs. The chairman: That only makes the matter worse. The wholo management of the club seems to need to be inquired into. The secretary said that ho had been informed that they had all got their transfers all right. Mr Prendeville:. You had better supply the committee with a full list of the members of your club and the various teams, financial and unfinancial. The- committee decided to remove tho suspension of tho club, but that James and Smith must remain suspended until thev had attended a meeting of tbe committee, with the referee, to explain their conduct. The secretary was also required to supply a list of club and team members, financial and unfinancial. NO SATURDAY FIXTURES. In consequence of the Springboks v. Wellington match at Athletic Park on Saturday no fixtures have boon arranged ’ Viy,