REFEREE WAS COUNTED OUT

NZ Truth, Issue 1230, 27 June 1929, Page 14

REFEREE WAS COUNTED OUT

Grandstanders Show Their Disapproval (From "N.Z. Truth's" Auckland Rep.) "One, two three . . . nine, ten, OUT!" Those m the packed stand gave an exhibition of dissatisfaction seldom witnessed at Eden Park. Their demonstrations were against Referee E, C. Stretton, controlling the .Ponsonby — University game. I IKE the policeman, the lot of the . football refore'e is not a happy one, for there' is always someone m the crowd ready to criticise his ruling, but seldom does the stand rise as one man cind howl at his decisions. Such, however, was the case .'it Eden Park, and the crowd was far front being pacified as the game proceeded. It would be hard to imagine an Auckland Rugby crowd taking charge of the game, however much it disagreed with the referee, but there was little short of a riot when Ponsonby, the. team that had benefited throughout by the referee's ruling scored after a glaring mistake was missed by him. Perhaps all that the fans raised their

J voices over was undeserved, .but "N. Z. Trul h" agrees that they had a lot to put up , with. It was a whirlwind game, and no referee living, should have been expected to keep up with the ball throughout. Nevertheless, it. was often difficult to understand w h y the game was held up. Moreover, it was frequently far from clear why Varsity -were penalised at

times. The most glaring "let-off" was when Freddy Lucas passed, the ball sailing feet m front of him. and Varsity sup- : porters were up m arms/ for it made all the difference m the score. Up till then Varsity was running a point m the lead, and,' as Ponsonby converted the try, they were then four points to the good. . > It was the fastest piece of play of the day and the ball travelled from one end of the field to the other like lightning through Lucas's management. Practically all the field, including the referee, were unaware the ball had gone until Ponsonby had almost scored. As m this instance, Lucas was right on form and then he gave a wonderful exhibition. But he was patchy, now and again, making shocking mistakes. With his backs going at top In a dangerous rush, he missed an easy pass and let the combination down. Lucas and R. Hook carried the. game between them, passing m and out m a manner that had the opposition well j beaten. McLeod played an outstanding game. With his disconcerting swerve he proved that he was rightly placed on the end of the line, and his

score, after a spec-t.-y^ular ■ gallop on s own, showed him to be fast. Ponsonby could n°t be sure of Fraser, at fullbacki ,but, on h u is general play he was safe enough. Like Lucas, he had ancl then he could be ex. pected to do Cammick a n d Jamieson were both clever inside backs, and could be relied upon to get rid of the bali

riuickly and set the attacking men m motion. McManus had to play the game of his life behind the Ponsonby pack, and at times he was unable to clear. He played a solid game, however, and concentrated on his job. Solomon was seldom seen, the fast backs doing the majority of the work, and frequently taking the game from the rover's hands. Both sets of forwards had plenty to tlo m the tight, and the Ponsonby first line took charge of the ball m the scrum and hooked cleanly. It was not until the game was well advanced that Varsity's full-back, Bush, showed anything of the form displayed previously. He was generally safe, but at times it was only the backing up by Keene that helped him out of an awkward position. Minns and Goodwin did not have everything their own way on the wings, for the Ponsonby end men were the flyers. ' Five-eighths Stotter played a heady game throughout.

llis partner, Mcthough the inside; men ..' got •■f c w chances m the chance to show wards and cleverer backs of the Grammar team over.shadowed Marist, who went down a. ha.<\ second with a dozen points against them. The little Grammar half, Corner,

was again outstanding, both on defence and attack, and his general play earned him the honor of being the best man on the field. . Centre three-quarter Bell played a game above the average, his fast following up and .safe handling putting him well to the fore. The first' score m the game came from his . boot. ; . Cotter,. Dunne and Henry, of the Marist pack, were forwards only—and bad ones at that. r