OTAGO-UNIVERSITY MATCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18675, 3 October 1922, Page 8

OTAGO-UNIVERSITY MATCH

ALLEGATIONS OF DIRTY PI,AY. RUGBY UNION ASKS FOR SPECIFIC CHARGES. At the meeting of the executive of the Otago Rugby Union held last night iho following letter was road from the University A to in; "At a mooting of the University A team which played in the benefit match Otago province v. University on Saturday, September 23, it was unanimously decided to forward the following resolution to your union: That this team wishes most emphatically to protest against the rough manner in which the game was played. It was a charity match and this team went on to the ground expecting to have a good clean game, played in the best spirit. This was certainly not (he case, as all members of the Rugby Union who saw the match must realise. We consider this an insult, not only to the team, but also to flip Universty. We hope that the Otago Rugby Football Union will take strong action in the matter, and will do everything in its power to stop the dirty element which is becoming stronger in Rugby football in Dunedin to-day. We are of opinion that this dirty play could have been stopped at the time had strong enough action been taken by the union officials.” —R. G. Sinclair, hon. secretary, Otago University Football Club. The President (Mr Cnvnnagh) said that it was regrettable that they should have received a letter like that from the University Club. Ho had seen the match, and while it was certainly played in a keen, hard manner, ho had had no idea that the University Chib was going to say that it was a foul game and not played in the proper spirit. The game had been controlled by one of their leading referees, but he had not seen fit to report any incident. The referee, of course, had full power to put oft: a player who might indulge in illegal play. Personally lie had been very surprised when the game was over to hoar the complaints of roughness. He bad gone into the University team’s dressing room at half-time, and none of the players or the officials had made any complaint to him that the game was not being played in a proper spirit. If there was any dirty play in the first spell, then he thought that the University players should have mentioned it to him when ho went into their dressing room at half-time. He hud not been in a good position lo watch the game closely, and as a matter of fact had no idea in his mind that any bad spirit was likely to be introduced. If any illegal or dirty play did take place it was absolutely outside In's vision. The referee had not even reported to them that he had cautioned a player, and, moreover, there was no specific charge by the University team against any player. The University team only complained of the spirit in which tho game was played. The position arose, was the University team prepared to mako a charge against any player. If (hey did then the executive could go into the matter fully. Mr Julius Dunne said that he took it that no member of the executive saw anything questionable The Chairman : Well, I did not sec anything amiss. The game was a hard one. perhaps a little unnecessarily hard at times, but if he had been the referee he could nor, from what he had seen, have cautioned any player.

Mr Dunne said that he had been standing with the chairman in the first speli. There was nothing that they could see during’ that, part of the game to which exception could bo taken. He had only seen a small part of the second spell. Certainly at the end of the first spell he had heard a lot of grumbling from spectators, and he had jocularly said to the referee “you will have to put a lot of these fellows off.” The referee had replied, “What can you do?” There was nothing that ho (Mr Dunne) saw that necessitated a caution. From the attitude of the crowd, however, there was evidently something happening. Ho personally could not say that there was. If none of the members of the union saw anything it could not have been ■ very glaring. Mr D. M. Stuart (one of the selectors) said that he had watched the match from the pavilion at the Glen end of the ground. Ho did not know whether he was in a bad position to see, but he certainly did not notice anything to which exception could be taken. He heard one member of the University team growling about the game at half-time. He was surprised to hour the complaints at the end of the game. Evidently something did occur in the match. Mr M'Daren said that he would move—- “ That the referee (Mr G. MTCenzie) and' the captains of the two teams he asked to meet the executive next Monday night.” It seemed to him that some very grave charges had been made, not directly, but indirectly, against the referee. Mr W. ,T. Strong said that he -would second the motion if the mover altered it so as to have all the members of both teams present. The motion lapsed for want of a seconder. Mr If. Harris said that he saw the match from the “clock pavilion.” He had been surprised to hear allegations of rough and dirty play at the end of the game. Mpst of the play in (he second half was in tront of the “clock pavilion,” but he had seen nothing to take exception to. Find ho seen anything ho would certainly have reported it to the executive. Ho thought that to a certain extent the keenness and hardness which had been introduced had been brought about by the criticism in (lie papers, prior to the match, of the Otago team, and especially by the criticism levelled at the selectors. The criticism of the selectors bad, he thought, been taken as a reflection on themselves hv the Otago team. As there was no report from the referee, and as neither the two lino umpires nor any member of the executive had brought forward a complaint—these were the only persons under their rules who could reportillegal play—ho could not see how any good could come from an inquiry. If ijhe referee had had no cause to report, a player, he thought it would be an insult to him to ask him to now give a report on the match. Had the referee had cause to report a player they could take it that he certainly would have done so. Ho thought that the charge of the University team against the "union officials” was uncalled for, as no complaint had been made to Mr Cavanagh when he had gone into their dressing room at half-time. He would move —“That this committee regrets (hat the University team should have had cause to complain of the spirit in which the match against the Otago team was played, but as the referee did not, consider it, necessary to take action, and no player having boon reported by anyone having authority to do so, this committee /-annot see that any action it may take would have any good result. If the University team, however, is prepared to bring a specific charge against any member of fhe Otago team this committee will consider same.” Air M'Daren pointed nut that he had moved his motion solely for (he protection of the referee. There had been a distinct charge ot dirty play. Mr S. Kllycho seconded the motion. Mr A. Al'Donald (one of the selectors)., said that the Otago team had gone out to’ play the game in a friendly spirit. There had been a lot of discussion in the town and correspondence in the papers about the manner in which the game had been played, and (he blame seemed to bo put on the Otago team. Ho had heard it stated that before (lie Otago team had gone out (he players had been told to get a certain man. There was no such instruction. The men were told to play as hard as they liked, but to play absolutely clean. He had stressed that instruction. Ho was quite certain that the Otago team had gone out to play a and ho had not seen anything to tal<o exception to. There was, however, one incident in the first spell when a Dark llluo man put his hand up, hut ho did not strike. It was just a bit of quick temper. Mr R. Procter said that ho watched the match from the “clock pavilion.” Ho saw no dirty play. Mr Stuart said that he would like to endorse -Mr M'Donald’s remarks. Mr '\V. Brown (one of (ho selectors) said (hat. he iiad watched the game from the pavilion. lie cculd safely say, from what he bad seen, that there was nothing approaching dirty play during . the whole game. . Mr Dunne said that, in (he face of (ho charge made by the University team, theV should bo given every opportunity to sheet homo their charge. The Chairman said that Air Harris s motion gave them that opportunity. , Mr Harris said that supposing they held an inquiry they were only going to wasii a lot of dirty linen. There was no report from the referee, no report from the line umpires, no report from any member of the executive. ’These were the only persons, under their rules, who could make a charge. One player could not report another player, hut the executive could doubtless go into a general charge made by one team" against another. Here, again, they would have only one man s word against another’s, and where would they get to? Mr G. Nelson said that he had his duties as a member of (he executive to carry out on tits ground that day, and he had not

been able to watch the game closely. He did not see anything illegal in (be game, but afterwards be had heard grumbling by the spectators about the manner in which it had been played. But apart from that, he thought Dial (he letter from the University team deserved their closest consideration. lie had always looked on the University players as very clean, gentlemanly footballers and good sports, and he did not, think any .member of the executive . could think otherwise. There must have been something to cause them to write a letter like this The motion gave the University the opportunity of asking the executive to go further. Mr P. .1, Priest said that he was in the “clock pavilion.'’ He saw nothing wrong with the game, beyond the incident, mentioned by Mr M'Uonald. Ho did not think this incident, however, warranted the man being ordered off. Mr Strong said he saw Ihe match from the “clock pavilion'’ end. The game could not ho followed closely from there. Ho saw the incident, referred to by Messrs M'Donald and Priest, and also men being knocked over in the lino-outs when they were not taking the hall. He had heard grumbling about rough play at half-time, and was surprised at the attitude taken np. He also hoard Fea at half-time congratulate his men on the way they were playing, and toll them to throw the hall about, and that they might tiro out the Otago team. At the end of the second spell the murmurings were loud and long. Ho had been given to understand that if they held an inquiry they would find that the dirty play started the first minute after the game, and also that appeals were made to the referee, but that'he took no notice. They could not shut their ears to the hooting that took place. The Chairman said that, lie only heard one piece of hooting, and that was from the stand towards the end of • the second spell. Mr H. Cook said that he watched the game from the big stand. Ho saw two incidents. On one occasion ho saw a Light Blue man kicked, and ho also saw Townsend kicked by a Light Blue man. In both oases the offender could not be distinguished, otherwise he would certainly have reported him. The occurrences took place in (lie “tight stuff.” Mr H. H. S. White said that he had not seen the match, but from what he had heard the game had evidently not been ployed in a proper spirit. It was unfortunate that the incidents should have occurred in the last game of the season, ns their club football and also their .interprovincial had been player! in a fine spirit. The managers of the visiting teams had told him that they could not have wished for bettor games. He certainly thought, that they owed a duty to the public, and they should let them see that although the Rugby officials present at the match had not been in a position to see closely what took place, they wore willing to hold an inquiry to see how the feeling had arisen.. Mr W. ,1. Wilson said that the executive had nothing to hide. The referee had evidently been satisfied with the game, hut he thought it was right that the University should be given an opportunity to make a specific charge. The Chairman said that ho thought the motion was on the right lines. Mr MT.aren said that there had been a distinct charge of dirty play. He was quite convinced that if there was any dirty play it was on both sides. He did not care whether they washed their dirty linen from here to the Bluff. Mr M‘Donald said that the Otago team had complained about the University team at. half-time.

Mr Harris's motion was then put and carried unanimously.