BASKETBALL MATCHES IN THE COUNTRY

Southland Times, Issue 23229, 18 June 1937, Page 4

BASKETBALL MATCHES IN THE COUNTRY

To The Editor Sir, —The concise and authoritative exhortation by your critic “Adhere Strictly to Rules” in your paper of June 14 prompts me to make this brief explanation. “The referee was awaiting the arrival of the late comers of one of the teams” he states. If your correspondent would be so strictly correct in all matters he should not make inaccurate statements such as this. I grant him that the rules were not strictly observed as he points

out Several members of the team as originally chosen had been unable to turn out and at the last minute one or two other members had been requested to play, while one in particular had to return home for her costume and shoes, this time to comply with the regulations. In fairness to both teams and to the spectators, the referee —one of the association’s senior referees—courteously and sportingly consented to await the arrival of this latter player, who had in the first place been present as a would-be spectator. For his action the referee deserves approbation, for all true sports will admit that whenever a team is forced to take the field short only to go down to the opposing team, victory is not complete for the winners. There is at Makarewa a well-shelter-ed court, with comfortable accommodation for both players and spectators, and there would appear to be no other reason for your correspondent’s righteous indignation at the conduct of this game than that had the game commenced at the appointed time, Wallacetown might have won. The rivalry between these two clubs has always been of a most friendly nature but petty criticism such as made by “Adhere Strictly to Rules” can only tend to alter these relations and should not be allowed to pass without rebuke. —Yours, etc, EX-REFEREE. June 17, 1937.