Too Many Scrums

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 204, 14 September 1937, Page 6

Too Many Scrums

JAS. HEFFERNAN.

Sir, — Having watched a number of representative football matches played at Napier and at Hastings this season, 1 have been impressed at the number of scrums anacte-d during the games. Why so many scrums occur during a gaxne is beyond me. During the game Wellington versus Eawke'ss Bay there were no less than lifty scrums ordered besides prolonged rucks. the outcome of ..the ball not having been put in properly. This game was easily a record for scrums — one every minute and 48 seconds for the two forty-fives played. The referee merits the title of "the whistling referee." For every triliing knock-on or throw-on there was a scrum. I cannot see how the referee justifies himself in ordering so many scrums. Every knock-on or throw-on that I saw was quite unintentional. Now the object of the riile in respect of the knock-on or throw-on is to penalise the side for one of its playors wilfully throwing or knocking the ball ofiff This ,is a good rule providing the tule is enforced with common-sentlR. Adhering strictly to the rule how can an unintentional knock-on or throw-on be deemed a breach? No just law or rule can hold a person guilty of a breach or an offence unless he wilfully breaks the rule or commits the offence. The unkindest cut of all is that both sides are penalised by having a Scrum because of an alleged breach by one of the sides. It appears to me that the game will degenerate into a scrum game if re* ferees enforce too many stoppages. — Yours, ete.,

Hastings, Sept. 13, 1937.