ROUGH FOOTBALL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18206, 29 September 1933, Page 12

ROUGH FOOTBALL

GAME AT AUCKLAND ! FIGHTING AMONG PLAYERS The roughest game of football seen in Auckland for many years was played at Carlaw Park, Auckland, on Wednesday, when the Richmond Club League team, of Auckland, defeated the St. George Club team, Sydney, by 13 points to 8. Right from the beginning the referee penalised visiting players fairly freely for such illegalities as obstruction and shepherding. It was obvious that the St. George players resented these penalties and they forthwith commenced to pay more attention to their opponents than to the ball. It did not take the Richmond men long to retaliate, and the result was that there were continual scuffles between members of the respective teams. The standard of football suffered as a natural consequence. It was no uncommon sight, when the opposing forwards packed down in the scrums, to see them kicking out at one. another long before the ball was put in. Some of -the Richmond players were knocked out by illegal tackling after they had got rid of the ball, and by being punched or kicked when not in possession. FISTS FREELY USED The culminating point was reached after the home team had been awarded a penalty try for obstruction about halfv'ay through the second spell. The visitors became more over-eager than ever and were plainly rattled. Retaliation by the Richmond pack led to an affray between the two sets of forwards and some of the backs, fists flying in all directions. This melee occurred directly in front of the terraces near half-way, and there was much hooting from the spectators. It was with groat difficulty that the referee restored some kind of order, but in spite of his warning the members of both teams continued to play the man in preference to the ball, the visitors being the worst offenders. The result was that the game as a football spectacle was more or less spoiled. The Richmond captain bore marked evidence of the fray at the end of the match. STATEMENT BY COACH

Interviewed after the game, Mr. R. Johnson, coach of the St. George team, said the visiting players were annoyed at the decisions of the referee. His rulings in regard to obstruction and alleged shepherding were not as observed in Sydney. Players of both teams were responsible for the rough tactics adopted in the second half. Mr. Johnson said the official in charge of the game appeared to lose control, and lie. would have been justified in ordering off several players of either side.