OUR NATIONAL FIELD GAME

NZ Truth, Issue 871, 5 August 1922, Page 8

OUR NATIONAL FIELD GAME

SELECTION OF REP. TEAMS

SERIOUS SLUR ON PONEKE WITHDRAWN

(BY "TACKLER.")

In most centres the local Cup contests are at an end or the champions are well disclosed. Representative games m sight promise to produce some interesting displays.; In Wellington there has been much perturbation m well-informed circles over I a serious slur cast on Poneke's playing tactics. The unpleas- ..- antness has been cleared up by a manly withdrawal of the aspersion. Many distorted versions of the incident are m circulation. In the interests of all concerned "Truth" publishes the facts which, up to the present, have been "Hush, Hush'd."

IN WELLINGTON. ; y Poneke Have a Big Lead. Also a Grievance. ■ The leaking out of certain information m connection with the recent suspension of Booker, the Poneke senior forward, has left a nasty taste m the mduths of members of the suspended player's club, and. some of them have been pouring the odour on to "Tackier." If the facts are correct, and there is little room to doubt their accuracy m view of the source from which they were obtained, the club has reason •to SHOW RESENTMENT. What transpired at the meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union m dealing with the case was for some reason bekt known to the committee not communicated to tho press. All that was announced for the benefit of the public, particularly the large crowd of enthusiasts at/the match m which the incident occurred, -was that Booker had been charged with "kicking an opponent who was lying on the ground," and was suspended for the remainder of the season. The rest was covered by the following note attached to one report of the meeting: "The case was dealt with m camera." It was known that Booker denied* the allegation, but that ho would accept the referee's ruling. In other cases of players "on tho mat'"' this season . a good deal more publicity has been given, particularly to the remarks' which have been made by the chairman about playing the game and the Union's determination to put its foot down, on stou'sh. Why not in^this case? The manner m which it was hushed up could only be taken as an indication that there was SOMETHING TO HIDE from ail those who were interested to know what the Union had to say about allegedly rough play. on the part of another senior' player. . In making enquiries about the reason for silence m this, particular matter, "Tackier" gathered that the attitude of the Union was that no good purpose would be served by spreading broadcast the cross-table talk on the facts of the case as placed before the committee, and tho words of wisdom and so forth that really were a matter between the Union and player. The chairman of the Union knows how to lecture men who are found guitiy of offences on the football .field, and his words no. doubt act as a bigger warning to others than the mere publication of the sentence imposed upon a player. He had something to- say to Booker m announcing the committee's decision. Then why were 1 ! his remarks withheld from publication? The fact of the matter is, as far as facts go— and m this instance they appear to be i-eliable— that something more than usual was said, and something to which Booker took exception. It is alleged that rer ference was made to the "unfair practices" adopted- by Poneke m winning their matches. Members of the Poneke club have been informed that Booker wanted the statement to be taken down by press representatives present at the meeting, and pointed out that the remark was very unfair. He took exception to it, on behalf of the club. The chairman, it is said, ruled that the meeting was m committee, and m any case the alleged reflection on the club was brought to the- notice of members by some other way than per medium of the press. While accepting the punishment meted out to their player, Poneke have NOT TAKEN TOO KINDLY to' the 'reference to their play. They point put, too, that they have no representative on the Union's management coirimittee, otherwise if such a remark were made v there would have been a party m defence other than the player. The fact cannot be overlooked that Ponoke are not a particularly popular team m the senior' competition at present, and one often hears remarks about rough play on their part. There have been plenty of instances of hard play, and not a few of rough play, but the latter have not been confined to the Poneke^team, nor to the senior competition. Most of the offenders have luckily escaped the notice of the re-, feree, and In some cases the instances, of rough play have been more glaring than"" some of those which have been detected. Some players have no doubt benefltted by the warnings issued by the R.U. chairman earlier m the season, but as there are still , UNDESIRABLE TACTICS . noticeable m matches, silence on the j part of the heads will not help to lessen the offences. . Another .matter worthy of mention, while dealing with rough play is, the appointment of referees. In "Wellington to-day referees are -at a minimum, and although their services to the game are fully recognised, it is quite apparent that the standard of efficiency m the control of the play is not very high. Certainly there are some senior referees, and some juniors, too, for that matter, who are ifully alive to the re- ' quirements, and generally their handling of play and players is worthy of | much commendation. But there arc others who are not well up m the rules of the game, genuine triers no doubt. And some, too; who fail to obtain the confidence of players. The result is that players, principally m the lower grades, but not excepting the senior grade, are making FREQUENT COMPLAINTS, though few of them appear to reach the right quarter. The method of appointment of referees is partly to blame. Week after week there are cases of senior referees being allotted a game that is likely to' be one-sided and easily controlled, and of less efficient referees being given games that •are- -bound to be keenly contested, those games which have a bearing upon the championships, •• -In- -the latter the referees are given a proposition ■oftontime.s.,inPXe.difficult,than 1 that of controlling a senior match, and if the man m charge is not sufficiently well up m acknowledge' 'of the requirements of a referee, the players are apt to lose confidence m him. That being the case anything might happen — players generally can size up the referee, and they will take liberties. • Instead of allocat-

ing poor games to some of the best referees, the appointments board -would be well advised to arrange matters so that the principal games m all competitions will have the best control available. The Rugby Union can assist, if it is not already doing so, by supplying the. Referees' Association with the positions of the teams each week. There were unfortunate incidents at the principal third grade match last Saturday. Apart from . EVIDENCE OF ROUGH PLAY there was hooting from the boy supporters of one team, and questioning of the referee's decisions by the players of the other side. Two of the players came to blows, and as a result they were sent to the bank. One of the lads was \not content to let the matter stand at thai, and at the end of the game he wanted to have it out with the referee. Even though some of. the decisions given during the game may ■have been wrong the players should have left their expression of disapproval until after the game, and then gone about the business m a constitutional manner. Rough play only means further trouble, not infrequently pf a serious nature to those who adopt such tactics. The referee m that match was endeavouring to do his best, but would it not have been possible to have put a senior referee m charge of such an important fixture? It is a pity ..that more of the- retired players do not offer their services as referees, The Association is m need of increased membership. . The Poneke Club sent a letter to the Wellington Rugby Union m connection with the reference to their play, as already quoted, and- it is now Stated that the chairman of this week's meeting of the union * WITHDREW THE REMARKS he had made about the club. More than once the chairman has , .given evidence of his fine sporting spirit, and tho inJluence of his untiring work, best known to those' intimately associated with him, has been, widely felt. He is a man who has the interests of the game at heart. Maybe the remarks which caused unpleasantness' to the Poneke Club were made on the spur of. the moment, and let it not be forgotten that we are all human and liable to err Anyway, the remarks • have been taken back, and by so doing the Rugby Union chairman has shown to those who have become acquainted with the. matter that he is a TRUE SPORT AND A GENTLEMAN. Refe:ring again to "the scanty publicity given to cases of rough play, "Tackier" sees no reason why remarks made to offending players should not be maia m open meeting. /They would do more good than harm. With only two more series of games m the senior competition, Poneke appear to be ALMOST UNBEATABLE for the championship. They are now four points ahead of Petone, and all that they need to place the issue beyond all doubt is a drawn game. Even the aoss of a point to Petone will make Poneke champions. Up till last week Marist were making a bold bid for supremacy, but their hopes were dashed to the ground by defeat at the hands of 'Varsity, who have come to their own again, too late to occupy the place" they deserved on form shown early m the season. 'Varsity came back just m time to upset completely the Rugby Union's apple-cart. They finished the job that -was started by Oriental the previous week m defeating Petone, arid now the Union's hopes for a big final betwen Poneke and Petone are hanging on a slender thread— that • Marist will beat Poneke this Saturday and that Petone will win their two remaining matches, one against Poneke next week. That would make Poneke and Petone level. . . The present position of the teams is as follows: — Poneke 25 points, Petone 21, Marist 20, 'Varsity 15,' Bernampore 45, Oriental 14, ' Athletic 14, Selwyri 8, Old Boys 6, Wellington 2. 'Varsity and Marist last Saturday changed the growing opinion that,senior football" 1 m Wellington is deteriorating. Games at the Athletic' Park this season have mostly failed to arouso any great degree of enthusiasm, m some cases leaving spectators with feelings of disgust. Bad weather has had a detrimental effect; but even so the displays could have been .better. There was a remarkable change;: last week; m place of the usual more or less drab display, one of the best games of the season was provided. 'Varsity gave SLASHING EXHIBITION, : ' throwing the leather about m great style, and bringing out a host of the other bright features of Rugby.; Aitken and Siddeils' have . seldom shown better form, and with Malfroy, they were the chief contributors to 'Varsity's victory. Aitken, who, by the way, potted a splendid goal, is at present New Zealand's best centre-threequarter, and if he can show the same form when he appears m English football m the near future he will make a fine impression. 'Varsity did their best for their captain last week — and Aitken deserved it. Siddeils is ' a full-back, and nothing else. In that position he has no equals m New Zealand. His remarkable display last Saturday, delighted the crowd. Yet, we find the selectors choosing him as a three-quarter! Do the selectors know that Siddeils is a full-back, and nothing else? Marist, who have done particularly well m their second year of senior football, put up A SPLENDID FIGHT to keep within striking distance of Poneke, but 'Varsity were too good for them. Nevertheless their hard battling went a long way towards making the crowd forget all about the cold southerly. In the best two games on Athletic Park this season 'Varsity have been the stars, but as was stated before the championship opened, they are "m and out," and have kept up that reputation by failing badly at times. Poneke, with a weak team, had a close call against Athletic; Berhampore were beaten by Petone after, having the best of a poor game; and Oriental and Selwyn obtained comfortable wins over Wellington and Old Boys. Wellington are left to accept the I wooden spoon, \