RUGBY PROTEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26176, 12 June 1946, Page 3

RUGBY PROTEST

REFEREE’S DECISION UPHELD

The Management Committee of the North Otago Rugby Union received a protest from the Athletic Club on Monday night against the decision of the referee in awarding another kick to Maheno on Saturday. The referee stated the protest, ruled that Milne moved while the ball was in flight, but the club maintained that Milne did not move until after the ball had been kicked The letter stated that the club did not wish to appear to be criticising the referee, but rather to point out that a misinterpretation of the rule had been made. A fee of 10s 6d was lodged with the protest. Tiie referee (Mr I. R. Hedges) reported that in the Athletic v. Maheno match the Athletic captain protested against his decision in giving Maheno a second kick at goal from a penalty on the grounds that the player did not move till after the ball had been kicked. His version was that the player moved as the kicker was about to take the kick, and he penalised the player under law 24D, clause 2. His jumping for the ball after the kick had nothing to do with the decision, stated Mr Hedges. Mr Woodward asked whether it was a penalty kick, or from a fair catch, or a kick at goal after a try. Clubs lodging protests, he said, should state the full facts.

Mr Macmillan stated that Maheno was awarded a penalty kick. Mr Low said it was a question of fact, and the referee’s decision should be upheld. Mr Macmillan said the committee had to be consistent. They had a protest last week, and upheld the referee. Mr- Strachan asked when an opposing player could play the ball. Mr Macmillan replied: “As soon as the kicker made cnotact -with the ball.” They must remain motionless until the kjck had been taken. Mr, Loder said the referee had to be upheld. It seemed as if some of the clubs were losing their sense of balance so far as the spirit of the game was concerned.

The committee decided to dismiss the protest and to uphold the referee’s decision, the protest fee of 10s 6d to be refunded to the Athletic Club.