INJURED REFEREE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22258, 10 May 1934, Page 4

INJURED REFEREE

AWARDS WINNING TRY. J There was an extraordinary finish to the first grade Rugby Union match between Randwick and Drummoyne. at Drummoyne Oval, Sydney, recently, In the last minute the referee, ; Mr Nb ; J. Sheldon, was injured, and fell to the ground. He rose, apparently somewhat dazed, and awarded a try to the Randwick captain, J. O’Connor, who' touched down across the Drummoyne goal-line. Argument arose whether ' Randwick had been entitled to a try. i The score gave Randwick a win, the teams having been level when the dramatic situation arose. ■ '' ’ , : ■ ,/ , v Fierce play had, developed close to the line, when Mr Sheldon was seen to stagger and fall, having been injured during hard play. The players,'apparently unaware of his condition, , continued to struggle. When Mr Sheldon got to hia feet he saw the Randwick forwards take the ball across tie line. He raised his arm, awarding a try -to O’Connor. ,

Mr Sheldon then fell to. the ground again. He soon recovered, and when he left the ground appeared to be little the wmrse for his experience. Another Rugby Union referee, Mr A. L. C. Irving, was injured when controlling a First Grade match at Parramatta. After endeavouring to carry on, he.had to be relieved by another referee, who had officiated in an earlier game.

The referee in the third test match between New Zealand and South Africa, played in, the rain at Wellington, was caught between two opposing players towards the end of the game and fell to the ground. He was practically unconscious on'rising, and refereed the : game automatically. He had to receive medical attention. ’ - ’