FOOTBALL.

Western Star, Issue 950, 23 May 1885, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin,—ln justice to the Riverton Football Club I should like to make a few remarks r» the report which appeared in the “Southland Times’’of Monday last with regard to the match that took place between the Invercargill Club and pur local team,,. LetfcS* have been sent tb the Invbrdargfll' here, vindicating the bonduct* of our men in last Saturday’s match, but owing probably to the champion of the I. F. C. finding that \tWy were in the wrong, thought it better to let the matter drop, and not take up the cudgels on behalf of their ,crack team. { All letters to the contrary having been thought inadmissible in the Invercargill papers, we. have therefore no option of explaining 1 oursllres:m any other manner than through the local press, although we should much ‘prefer doing so through the Invercargill papers, thereby opponents every opportunity of refutingfour statements. I may state at the commencement that our men regret just as much as the Invercargillites the abrupt termination of the game. From independent information gathered, however, it appears that .the only cause for regret is that our team did not wait for their captain to ,take them’ 1 off’ the -field. It 1 ; appwra R. F. Ci 1 were playing > a fifteen'' of the premier club , £>nd j /arte umpire. In the first place T should' like to asf the Invercargill'captain and other prominent members of the club Who- prdfess to knpw the Rugby Union Kules and ihe duties of an umpire, if it is custotaary for 1 - a ; team to take the ball out, after being grounded behind the goal line, and kick for goal before the decision of the umpires has been obtained, and I am given to understand such was the case on, Saturday last, alt appears both umpires were too ’far ajvay to give a decision in the maul between Robertson and Hawke. Such being the .case it was only fair that the home club should have given in to the visitox-3, as it is a recognised rule that in cases the: side to which the iryiwb’Uld score against should get the benefit of the doubt. But, the' Invercargill; captain, with his usual impetuosity, insisted on having hia own way, which I will prove to ibejdlways the case when his side is hard pressed. Then again, I would like to ask. Mr Watson if he intends, starting a new method of as the following will show ’ that he violated, or else knew nothing about, the present recognised rule. In the “ Times ’ report it stated that Mr Watson gave the point in i despute as a try for Invercargill. f Now, I would ask any person with any degree of common sense, how this could' fairly be 'tbs case when Mr Watson distinctly stated that he “ never saw the affair” ; but that he took ; Mr-Hawke's : word for it. - The'simplicity that is shown in this reply is truly refreshing,* i lam sure Mr Hawke must feel grajitlf flattewck jat the' 'high appreciation Mr W. ljfis for*hi# j I,rut hfulcess; “ but. how about the other side ?” i was asked of Mr W. “ Oh, I have nothing to •do with the other side.j lam umpire fpr Inver* jcargill! ” This part of tha’question seems so extremely ridiculous ,that, we wdi now leave it and let it speak for itself, as every rightminded person will awn. that a just deciiion could not be given upon a point that was not [witnessed: by the, umpires. Mr Haiti-in hia [manly letter to the “Times,” defending the, Suction of the R. F. C., asked a question of tha |I. -F. C. which has not beenans-verod tjTy [viz., re the conduct of the I. S'. C. when playing in Riverton last year.: ; The cpnirast bttWaen the gentlemanly and generous, behaviour of the two entertaining teams will bV plainly shown. The following are extracts f wliieh appeared in the Western Stab .of June 11 IBBt: —“ Keyhng, however, rail behtrid goal line and secured dispute:! try Noj 2 for ' his side. Both umpires gave the try in .as being fairly obtained, but the visitors’ ciplain slated that if the ball was not brought back'* a id scrummaged, lie wou.d take; his ;men,-'(jff« the field, so to prevent him acting iii such an arbitrary manner, and to ihake the game as ’ pleasant as pissiblo, the local captain acceded’ to his wishes. 1 The first try was, given in by the local umpire as being f lirly obtained, the visitors’ umpire (Mr Johnstou of tba I. F.C.) not having seen the,affair. After* some argument the local club decided’to giwo** in to the visitors.’! I think, the - above statements will show that the I. P. C. have always been treated in a courteous-and gentlemlnly manner whenever they have us. Any hot words that may have beeii used, by our men on Saturday last, were in■ my perfectly excusable, considering the way in which they were treated and the circumstances of last year s mutch, fresh in their memories. I consider they are deserving of great credit in playing the premier club on Saturday last as they hud only 9 of their first fifteen, in with them ; what the result of the match would have been had their best team been placad in .the field I will leave your readers to judge. All we want when we meet tuem again is fair play, and that for the future we insist upon- i) having. Trusting the I. P. C. will cease acting m such an arbitrary manner.—l am, &e.,

T. Booth,