RUGBY LAWS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18890, 4 January 1927, Page 13

RUGBY LAWS.

♦ CHANGES SUGGESTED. THE MARK AND THE DROPPED GOAL. (FBOM OUtt OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, Novombcr 20. The question of alterations in tho laws of Rugby is disouasod at some length by the "Athletic News." "Tho attempt of Wales to improve the gamo from / their point of view," eaya tho writer, "compareß very modestly with the desires of New judging by the suggestions brought to the notice of the Imperial Conference, whioh met in London during the week-end. > "It does not require a great stretch of imagination to picturo tho Die-hards of the game in the United Kingdom,' especially in the northern part, holding up their hands in horror at tho idea of anybody suggesting so many changes, both in rules and scoring values, as is advocated by a large proportion .of Rugby men in the land whore the All Blacks play. There is a familiar air about most of their desires; what is a novelty is the spectacle of so many suggested alterations in the bulk. Wo come aoross, for instance, the old demand that the dropped goal should only count three instead of four pointß, and a penalty goal two instead of three points. Both points have been discussed many times around ft conference table, and the verdict has always been that, while a «ood* case can be made out both for the pros and cons, the balance is in favour of a retention of the present values. , , "Everybody agrees .that some dropped goals are not worth four points; some of them are not worth three. Many an injustice on the field of play ha» been caußed by a match being won by a. lucky dropped goal to a hard-earned try. In other cases, of course, there have been dropped goals which have been worth a full four points. It is the same with penalty goals, and here, if the 'demand for ft reduction in its value is heeded, there is the danger of ft side three points ahead near the end of a desperate struggle, and being penned on their lino, preferring to take a risk of a penalty goal to the probability of a try. A not-too-scrupulous team might feel that the respite of the restart from the centre.was well worth the loss of two points instead of throe, and possibly five. The Mark. "There is more logic in the cry for a drastic alteration in the rules regarding a mark. The New Zealand view that a mark—often lucky and valuable as ft means of avoiding a tackle—amounts to the sama thing as a penalty kick against a side that has broken no rule ,is quite understandable. _ ' "Apparently our friends down under have divided views as to what should be dono with marks. There- is one section who plump for its complete disappearance from the statute book; another who would not allow a goal to result from a mark, while a third would confine the making of a mark to ft team's own twenty-five. Then with regard to minors. Why, ask the New Zealanders, should a Bide that is attacking be penalised and forced to return to their opponents' twenty-five beiause those opponents have been able to touch down? _ In the alternative of the minor not being abolished, it is urged that tho ball should be kicked out, not from the twenty-five line, but from the goal line. \ "Wales have made us familiar this season with the New Zealand desire to have a penalty kick given against a player who advances past the back row of his scrummage; the suggestion that a free kick should also be given against a forward who breaks away while the ball is etill in tho eenrmmage goes further and .is obviously aimed at the winging forward. Bough Flay. "Now wo come to a proposal that two officials, in addition to the referee, should be appointed with powor to bring to the referee's attention cases of misbehaviour, rough p'ay, and breaches of rules which escape the referee's notice. "In principle, the idea is a good one, and if put into practice might do something towards scotching tho over-enterprising player who spends his time in trying to beat the referee. "One way to get over the objection to the appointment of extra officials would be to appoint neutral touch judges and give them 'detective' powers, but,' of course, there is always the question of expense. This might r.ot be a serious item in a good many cases, but might entail a serious drain upon smaller organisations. And it would certainly be invidious to make the rule operative in some games and not in all!"