REFEREE’S RULING

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1932, Page 6

REFEREE’S RULING

APPEAL AGAINST-DECISION. WAIRARAPA RUGBY GAME. ? CARTERTON, October 10. At a special meeting .of the ,|Vair.a-: lapa Rugby Union at Carterton tonight, an appeal was considered from the jßed Star :Clv|b, M.asterton, against the action of jtlie referee, Mr 11. J. McKqnzie, in altering ope of his.rulings in the sqni°i' championship final: match, Red Star v. Carterton, played, at Carterton lask Saturday. Mr McKenzie had awarded a fair try, and' then, \vhen-the, .ball was about to be: olaced for the -.kick at . goal, his attention was drawn to a line umpire whose flag , was .raised .‘on or about .the .twenty j five line in the Red Star territory. He immediately/ altered his decision, a hd' ordered a lipeout where tjie flag was raised.

The referee said that the whole mtoil r hinged upon his changing his deciflon. iln /support of the right of areferee to alter his decision Mr Mc- ' Kenzie quoted 'a ruling given by theEnglish Rugby Council in 192-5-23. The decision was that if a refen’-e awarded a try afterward discovered that i a touch-judge had his ‘Hag up for touch, the law regarding altering his decision did/ not apply, as the ball, having previously gone into touch, was out of play, and anything which happened afterward had no bearing on the game. ...... The union decided by 7 votes to 4. to forward the whole of the facts of the inedent to the New Zealand Union without comment for its ruling.