FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1929, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

WESTLAND SUB-UNION. MONDAY, MAY 27th. The Executive met at 8 p.m. Present:—Alessi's H. M. Coulson (Chairman), Stafford, Adam, Cuthush, Breeze, McJVlanaway, Williams, Dowell, McGregor, Cooper, McDonald, William son and IToenan. The mutates were confirmed and correspondence outward approved. INWARD CORRESPONDENCE. From Refarees reporting on various matches. Referee Cuthush reported having ordered off J. O’Connor (Rimu) for striking an opponent.—Received. It was resolved to caution the player. J. King wae reported for having used insulting language. It ivas resolved that he he asked to attend next meeting. It was resolved to grant small footballs to two- schools. From Raili-w Club, seeking reclassification to junior grade of two players, Alairhead and Wilson.—Received and granted for J'une 3rd only. E. Boyd iwas reclassified to third grade. From West Coast Rugby Union asking information of Club status of P. T. Ryan.--Received; information to be supplied. From Man £.mu Sports Committee asking for a clear day on Satui day next on the occasion of their sports gathering.—Received and resolved that all junior game*? he postponed. seven aside. NOMINATIONS FOR JUNE 3rd. SENIORS. Kiwi A and 13: Excelsior A a.cid B. JUNIORS. Kiwi A and B. Excelsior A anil B. Arahura A and B. Ross A and Bl Rimu A and B. Kokatahi A and B. Harihari A and B. Railway. THIRD GRADE.. ■ School A and B.| ; Rimu A and TI. ’ Arahura. •A SHRIMPS, 8 STONE. ■: Harihari. • School- A, B, C, .IX, E. . Excelsior. Ririiu. ': ’' Kiwi. ; Arahura. : Convent. Ross. BANTAMS, list. 71bs. School A, B, C, D.. Convent A and B. Rimu. It is reqested" that all seven-aside trophies be handed in by Thursday evening. FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY. SENIORS. Kiwi v. United at 3 p.m. (Mr A. Cuthush.) THIRD GRADE. School v. Rimu at Hokitika, 3 p.m. (Mr D. Heonan). From West Coast Rugby Union enclosing school grant.—Received. A grant was passed to the Referees’ Association. It was resolved to procure two dozen referees handbooks for the Referees Association. It was resolved that no re-chissifica-tions be granted after May 31st and that no transfers be granted after that date except under special circumstances. Trophies for the seven-aside tourney are:— Seniors —Toohey Cup. Juniors—Preston Cup. Third Grade—Devane.v Cup. Shrimps—Justfrute Clip. Bantams —Coulson Clip. It was resolved to meet on Thursday at 7.30 p.m. to make the draw. The tournament on Monday to commence at ff a.m. Players nominations fee to he entrance at the gate, Is. Various other arrangements for the tourney were made and the meeting terminated. R.UGBY rulings. ; SOME INTERTOETATIONS. (Reprinted from Christchurch Sun.) The interpretations which are in force now vary in importance, but every one of them should be well understood by referees, players, and public. Some of them certainly should speed up the game. THE TRUE KNOCK-ON. One important interpretation is intended to secure uniformity in definition of a knock-on. Many referees fail to differentiate between a rebound and a knock-on. The English Rugby Union’s law is quite definite; it says, inter alia, “a rebound is not a knockon.” But it also bad to be remembered that a fumble is not necessarily a knock-on. A knock-on is a definite forward motion propelling tin- ball on only by hand or arm. It is considered that referees stop play too often fur what are only families or rebounds. ■S-) lilW 1-! lIITb •••• i •••'<! , ‘ •

Under law 15, dealing with the scrummage, a front-row for,card, ma.yj under the English Rugby Union's interpretation, lift bis feet betore the ball is put in ! but he may not lift them in advance of the front line of feet of his own players. That is rather different from the • Canterbury method of letting a hooker’s lifted feet advance to half-way between the two rows of bookers. The proper rule is to be carried out.

One point in connection with this scrummage rule that is overlooked sometimes is that the hall is not fairly in the scrummage until it has touched thq ground between opposing players, as well as passed both feet of a player of each team.

Further, it should be noted that if the hooker on the side of the scrum from which the hall is being put in hooks the .ball, with his iupidc foot, before the ball lias touched the. ground between the opposing players, ;-his side will bo penalised. The,hooker may follow the ball into the scrum with bis outside foot, but he may not hook the ball until it reaches the ground in the correct position; ’

If a player' is brought down by the legs of feet, and rtlie, jball is in such a position underneath him that there is a perceptible moment during which ho can neither pass nor play the ball lie must be considered as tackled.

It is intended to tighten up the application of that' part of rule 17 (dealing with off-side), which says that “no off-side player shall play the ball or actively or passively obstruct an opponent, or approach or wilfully remain within 10 yards of an opponent waiting for the hall.” Referees arc instructed now that they should whistle at once if an off-side player approaches or remains .within 10 yards of an opponent waiting for the ball, and they should not delay until the ball lias reached the opposing player.

TREATMENT *OF OBSTRUCTION. On this point, the Sports Editor of the Sun remarks that the New Zealand Rugby Union’s rule lias the word “wilful” before the word “remain.”, There are situations in which the question of intent or otherwise has to bo considered. In effect, tlie rule provides a penalty v for a player who is already off-side and who remains in an obstructive position. Another of the new official directions calls the attention of referees to the fact that,' generally, they are not particular enough in their treatment of obstruction. If a luilf-baek receives tlie ball from a heel out of the scrum, and returns it. or dives into the midst of bis own forwards, he should lie penalised. An off-side player wilfully standing or running in front of a man of his own side who lias'tlig ball should also be penalised. If a referee awards a try without having noticed that a touch judge has put up bis (lag because tlie ball lias gone into touch, the rule about altering of decisions does not apply, as the ball was out of play onec it went into touch, and anything which happened afterwards had no bearing on the game. Of course, a referee lias tlie right to over-rule the touch judge if he considers that the ball did not go into touch. Now wo come to an interesting fact that, is not known to many players, especially of the older brigade.

A plover who is in possession of the ball may go forward on both knees for any distance, provided that lie has not been tackled, and may score a try in that position. One sometimes hoars references to “rnbbitting,” although there is no such thing in Rugby. Tt is only in a scrummage, or after a player lias been tackled, that a man on both knees may not play the ball with his hands. THE FAIR CATCH. Tliere is. however, some inconsistence between that fact and a decision of the New Zealand Rugby T7nI n. that while a player who is on one knee or both knees may go Tur-

ward with the ball lie may 'not take a fair-catch—or mark ) as it is generally knot, u—when he is • m tlm position. Tlis definition of lair-catch, in the English Rugby Union's rules, loes not itself prohibit the taking oi a mark by ii player who is on both kne.es, if that player can make a marl' with his heel at the spat where he made the catch. However, the New Zealand Rugby Union’s ruling has gi be followed in this Dominion.

Except in a scrummage, or after a tackle, a •player who is lying on the ground may reach out and get possession of the hall. He may also pass or kick the ball without getting up.

That definite instruction is necessary because a simple rule has often boon -misunderstood. Apart''from ascrummage, i.ts is only after*>u. tackle that theub'all must bo'brought into play with rthtv foot lief ore'it can 'be, handled day anyone who rife!' in’ • runy position, RO'lpng ns he if; on-side. One notices; : .sometimes)'-that avlkMi the wind ohrries the ball'n'ln tlieoiuv over the*•touch-line- and .bhetr-iblows* it hack into''the field of pin,vi’-before iti touches the ground, there -ism little doubt; in sumo quarters,ublbnnt whether or> hot the ball Should! Ac Treated as in ■ touch. The point is<. pit tied' by a direction that the touch line is not only the line marked oil the • ground, but all the air space-directly above it. Therefore if a • ballo,in flight crosses the air space directly ahovp the touch lino and then comes into the field of play again the hall,is 0pt;,.,-, ■. . .. THROWING IN, FIVE.,); A RES, If the hall, when tju'.qvy.h,, in fro;'.' 1 touch, does not reach .the five-yard minimum,(it shall, b? tlirpw;! ;in again by the side which fii'rtj,t-hrew it in. Repetition, of , the offgqpe, however, should.bo.dealt with umlyr 1aw.35 or law 34. This applies alsp r tiq,a player, who prevents: the be 11..., fr.um being thrown in five yards. .

in the application. ol' ; i;u]es which have been mentioned .so far. uniformity throughout New Zealand should be obtained. There is } though, one point on which there will not yet, apparently, be complete accord. In Auckland, a wing-fonvard may not advance beyond the back row of bis own forwards when a scrummage is formed. Now, there is nothing in the laws of the game which warrants tint restriction.

The. wing-forward is governed by tlie simple law of off-side. A player can be off-side in only four ways, and one of these is: “If, while the ball is in a scrummage, lie, not being in the scrummage, remains in front of the ball.” The rest of that particular clause, 'referring to attempts to hook the ball out of tlie scrummage, does,not enter the present discussion. “KEEP HIM THERE!’’ In most instances, when a scrumin ago is in progress, one wing-fonvard is either off-side, or is obstructing. The New Zealand Referees’ Association has laid it down that referees must decide on the wing-forward’; place on the field, and must keen him there. All off-side and obstructive play must be penalised immediately.

The wing-forwards must keep bohind the ball. If two wing-forwards arc standing together after the bal’ has boon hooked, one of them must be off-side or bo obstructing. The offender is to bo penalised immediately.

This moans, of course, that a halfhack ivlio is receiving the ball from a scrum is not to bo “shepherded” liv his’ wing-fonvard. Tf that wing-for-ward is wise, he. will get well away from the scrum as soon ns lie sees that his side is hooking the ball.