FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2139, 23 July 1907, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY UNION. iig A meeting of the Poverty Bay h Rugby Union was hold last evening, there being present Messrs. Maude (Chairman), Waucliop, Sherrifr, Malone, G. Willoclc, and Cowan (hon. tc sec.) Ro Cup fixtures it was decided tr to continue the matches, Kaiti-City a meeting West End on Saturday next. j It was resolved that the senior comvietition -finish at the close of the fourth round, which commences with the next match. A letter was received from Auckland stating that tmey will be pleased to play Poverty Bay . at Gisborne on Saturday, 14th beptcmber, should it be possible tor the P.B. Union to arrange about the h delaying of the boat. As the date is i a Saturday, an endeavor is to be c made to have the match played in s the afternoon. Re the Reji. lour, i the final arrangements have now ] practically been made and the itinerary is as follows:—Leave Gisborne, ; Sunday, lltli August; arrive Napier, Monday, 12th August; leave Napier, Tuesday, 13th for Mastorton; play Wairarapa on Thursday j 15th ; leave Masterton for Wanganui on hriday, 16th; play Wanganui, Saturday, 17th; leave for Palmerston Tuesday ; play Manawatu at Palmerston, Wednesday, 21st; and leave for Napier on Thursday, 22nd ; play Hawke’s Bay on Saturday 24th and Hastings on Tuesday 27th; leaving for Gisborne same night. All theso Unions have promised return matches within two years. , The Secretary was instructed to obtain the names of all the senior players who a-re able to make the tour if selected. The matter of trial matches has been held over meantime. - Intimation ivas received from the ! Kaiti-City Football Club to the effect i that it was the intention of a ' Hawke's Bay third fifteen club team ’ to journey to Gisborne about August 31st to try conclusions with the Kai- ’ ti-City third players. ' LAWS OF THE GAME. The New Zealand Rugby Football Union has issued as a booklet a copy of- the International Board’s circular letter to players and referees, dated . September, 1906: Following are extracts from the i letter: e When a player is tackled with the - ball, it can only be brought into play e with the foot. Ii If a player carrying a ball Do e thrown or knocked over (but not tacke led) and the ball touches the ground, e he may nevertheless get up with it •- and continue his run or pass it. e It was decided by the board at their t last meeting that law 3 (b) covers the s case of wilful obstruction or interfero cnee. Referees must deal very slxarpe ly with all cases of- this nature, as 5- this has been a growing practice 11 through players-deciding to take the 0 risk of a penalty to gain or save a try e by unfair play. This practice is so IK contrary to the spirit of the game ’• that the board have decided to deal with it upon the same footing as _ rough or foul play or misconduct. ’’’ Referees too often give offending players the benefit of unintentional ; e offside instead of inflicting .the free kick penalty. M .. 1 n,Jhe hgard , j>, iS ffiada,tiJtf«igß?n& • e s’ection (K). then lettered (h), that it prohibits the habit of three-quarters n and half-backs standing? in front of ,] the ball, so as to mark the opposing J backs, and that it should be sti-rctly Y enforced. The board, whilst now i, wishful to -emphasise this, and also 5 that it applies to forwards as well as r. backs’ would also point out that it ’s

not intended thereby to penalise :. half-back who unintentionally overruns the ball in a scrummage. In cases where two opposing players are running for the ball, a player overtaking another may not shove the overtaken player from behind. If he dpes it is illegal, and'should be penalised by a free kick.