TEAM REPORTED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18188, 22 June 1927, Page 14

TEAM REPORTED.

AN OFFENDER SUSPENDED. A letter from a referee, supported by a personal statement, was responsible for the suspension of a member of the Aranui third grade Rugby team being stood down for two playing Saturdays, one of which he had already served after being dealt with by the club itself. The match was that between North Canterbury and Aranui on June 11, and the referee, Mr H. Cox, reported the Aranui team for bad behaviour. In his letter the referee said the team had talked a lot regarding his decisions and at the end of the game one of the players had become abusive. He had been unable to ascertain the offender’s name. The Aranui Club wrote stating that they had detected the offender and had suspended him for one playing Saturday. They expressed regret that the incident had occurred and hoped that the stand they had taken would meet with the approval of the union. Mr Cox said that he had spoken to members of the team and told them he had had enough of their “ cackling.” The coach then came along and advised the boys to keep quiet. All had gone well till North Canterbury had scored again, and then all kinds of sarcastic remarks were passed. “ Right through the game this particular player was the * Nark,' " added the referee. The coach of the Aranui team, who with the captain and vice-captain attended the meeting, said he had not heard any sarcastic remarks, and had not heard any player warned. He approached the referee at half-time and asked him if anything was wrong, seeing that he was surrounded by a bunch of players. The referee had replied, “ No, they’re only asking me a few questions.” In giving the name of the boy concerned the coach said that he thought it very unwise for a referee to argue the point with players after a game. Mr Cox: When a player comes up to you and offers to use his fists you have no option but to listen. This youth was white with rage. After the retirement of the referee and the club representatives, the chairman said it was a question of whether what the committee had done was considered sufficient. Mr A. Duggan expressed the view that the player should appear before the committee. Mr S. F. Wilson: The club have tried him. Mr R. H. North said he thought, the club were to be commended for what they had done. Mr A. E. Flower moved that the action of the club be endorsed. Mr W. Maxwell said that the penalty should come from the union. He moved that the player should be suspended for two playing Saturdays, including the one in which he had already stood down. ) Mr Duggan seconded this and it was carried with the addition that the action of the club be commended.