FOOTBALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16485, 26 February 1914, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

CANTERBURY RUGBY UNION. ALTERATIONS TO RULES 'RECOMMENDED. The executive committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union met last night; present—Messrs ,G. H. Mason (president, in the chair), F. T. Evans, A. M'Phail, F. J).' Kesteveri, S. F. Wilson, W. Tracey, C. Hasell, L. Corbett and C. Evans.; : , The chairman, said that the sub-com-mittee appointed for the purpose had carefully considered the interpretation of various rules, designed to improve the game, and;had certain recommendations to bring down. The alterations, ,if adopted, would go forward to the annual meeting of delegates as coming from the executive and, if pas- : sed, would govern the competitions during the approaching season. It was desirable that the results of the committee's deliberations should be forwarded to the clubs in time for consideration at the annual meetings. The-.first recommendation was that provision should be made enabling a player to recover a knock-on by catching the ball before it reached the ground. '• • :; "'•' The recommendation was adopted without discussion.

Regarding penalt:tes it was'suggested that clause K of Rule 11 should be altered to read, "Free kicks for penalties shall be awarded if any player not in a scrummage crosses an imaginary line drawn through the back rank of his own side of the scrummage and with; the goal line while the ball remains in-the scrummage." • The chairman said that the alteration was designed to keep the wing forward on his own side of the scrummage, while the ball was in the scrummage. It would stop any " coming round."

The recommendation was adopted after discussion. The third recommendation, to the effect that in line-out play the advantage rule should strictly be applied also was adopted;, , The chairman reported- that the date fixed for the annual meeting of delegates, March 13, was not suitable as the Union's financial year did not end till February 28. It was almost impossible to get the report and bal-ance-sheet prepared and printed and forwarded to the clubs. The financial J ear could be closed just as easily on anuary 31, or December 31, of the preceding year. He felt that each club should have, plenty, of opportunity -:to consider and discuss the report and balance-sheet at its annual meeting, when the delegates were appointed. Mr Kesteven moved that the date should be altered to March 20. That would give the auditors and officers reasonable time to get the report and balance-sheet drawn up and printed. The motion was carried.