LEAGUE & LEAGUERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1860, 20 September 1913, Page 17

LEAGUE & LEAGUERS.

POINT OP INTEREST*

REFEREES & THE KNOCK-ON.

Last woek Wellingtonians who wore present at the match New South Wales v. Wellington found food for a little discussion over. Mr. T. Cunningham's rulings on knock-ons. Mr. Cunningham is recognised as tho premier League referee in New Zealand, and, naturajly, iu such a matter as this, wnen tho (entire judgment of the matter is loft to tho refereo, tho matter becomes of inTho advantage ,law is well-let-tered in tho Rugby code manuals, but, as a rule, it is not very efficiently observed by amateur Rugby referees, and, when some referoe is seen on tho field who can enforce it, has action naturally brings up discussion. On this point Mr. Cunningham has morely carried very efficiently carried out—tho instructions which are laid down in the "Northern Union Official Guido." Tho "guide" states tho point with emphasis, as follows:— Rulo 3 (a): Tho referee must blow when an infringement takes place whoreby the side committing such gain an advantago. This is a most important rulo, and at presont is not so generally observed; by referees as it should be. There is unfortunately a pronounced tendency on their part to whistle immediately a law has been infringed, without waiting to see who gains tho advantage of tlie infringement. Tho union desire to urge referees to pay greater regard to this rulo in futuro.