FOOTBALL.

Shannon News, 4 July 1924, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

A VERSUS B TRIAL MATCH. . The trial game between A and B teams lor the purpose of choosing a team to represent Horowhenua against • the Bush Uniqn in the match for the Bebbirigton Shield on July 27th, was a disappointing exliibition of football, and certainly does not argue that Bush will have to put forward a very serious effort to heat the local team. The teams as picked represented really Probables against Possibles, the A combination being practically the Rep. team which played in Foxton against Manawatu, and the general opinion was that they would have no difficulty in getting through their op- ' ponenfs’ defence when and where they wished. That the score /was kept down to 13 —6 was largely due to *tlie hard work put in for the B team by their forwards, who had the best of the game right through and kept play in A’s territory for the greater portion of both spells; In the backs, however, -the A team was superior and this was the winning factor. Jacob opened the scoring for, the A

team within ten minutes of the kick-

off, taking the ball from a scramble on the, 25 line and giving a nice dummy to Robinson, ho Walked over and planted the ball, by the posts.. His kick Was an easy one and gave his side a start of s—o.

The immediate impression was that this was only the start of a series of similar incidents, but from. the. kickoff the B forwards got, going and took the, ball down to their opponents line in a solid rush. Udy fo.rced and rrom play a,t the 25 a free kick was granted "to B, which Hop a took in fine style. 5—3. A long spell’ of dull scrambling play followed in mid-field both teams handling the ball freely, but without, finish. It wag almost on the half-time whistle when, after being penned iu their 25 for the greater part of . the. spell, the A team made a break through into thir opponents’ territory and Mita Johnstone kicked the ball towards home. Wallace, playing fullback for' B,'missed the leather badly and Meta, following up fast, lifted it out of his hands and scored. Jacob made no mistake about the kick. 10—3.The B team was anything but done

and another forward rush some, time later took .the ball into the danger zone. Udy missed and a certain score was only averted bv Jacob kicking back over the dead-ball line. B con-' tinned to press and from, a mull, at the 25, Bryant, the smart Hui Mai threequarter, quietly picked out of the ruck and slipped across the line. The kick missed. 10—6. • Meta Johnstone scored the final try for his side after a nice piece of passing right across the-field to the wing from Jacob on the other side , and a swerving rush which beat, two of the opposing backs. .The kick' missed. Five minutes later the whistle went, leaving the score 13—6. . f ‘ " : ' RUGBY UNION MEETING. i The weekly meeting of the above Union was held at Levin last night. Present: Messrs E. Nash (chairman), T. O’Rourke, C. Dimock, F. Robinson, »S. Austin, J. O’Connor, Hutchings, J. \V. Riminer and L. S. Carmichael (secretary). Correspondeiiec was read from the Tokomaru Club protesting against the referee allowing a try to Shannon after the ball had been forced. A deputation supported the, letter. , A tetter was also read from Mr. • Grmiston'o. .referee, who staled that the ground was a very bad one, and also that some of his decisions had been questioned. , Mr. Grimstonc was present prior to the meeting starting but on account of the train leaving before business com-

menc'ed he had to leave for home and could not attend. After brief discussion it was decided to uphold the refierec’s decision. The Forirua Crub wrote stating that ivl. Avthur was not eligible to play in tno iiorowhenua district. A question uas asked if Moki was eligible, and u avus decided that any club playing him Avould do so at its own risk.

Vlie Golden Bay Union wrote relative to a rep. iixtuip, but the secretary .stated the letter from him had evidently crossed the one from south. —Received.

The Weraroa Club wrote stating that Marsiin had been injured in the match with Otaki and would b*i incapacitated for a week. —Received.

A letter from the Rahui Club asked that J. Fogden be elassuied as a junior, lie not hiiviug played senior for two reasons.—Not granted, the chairman rclmirKmg that it avus too late to start Classifying. ■ The; iarunaki 'Union wrote asking for a rep. match at Taranaki.—Deeideu not to make the trip this season. From Oliau School challenging for the Austin banner. —Match to bo arranged for Saturday next.

It was decided that the banner competitions be limited to primary school uoys avlio did not nave proficiency certificates:

From Hui Mai Club, forwarding balance-sheet, etc., duly audited. — i:eeei\'ed.

From S. Norgrove, stating his Avillingness to continue in the employ ol the Union. —A deal of praise avus bestOAved upon Mr. NorgrOAC for the painstaking manlier in AAdiieh he earned out his duties.

From S. P. Eddy reporting the result of the Otaki-Paruparaumu match. —Received, it was stated that Mr. Eddy had pr.oved himself quite capable of refereeing and had given every satisfaction. v -

A letter from the captain of the Paraparuumu third-grade team (W. Pari) was received, protesting against last Saturday’s referee in the Paya-paraumu-Te Horo match, and stating that the referee (Morgan.) avus a disqualified player as Avell as being a member of the To Horo team. —Received. Fro;u N.Z.R. Union granting £ls for school football.—The secretary reported that this Avas a drop of £5. It Avas decided that all iep. playets pay their oavii expenses to the poiiit M assembly. Several accounts, Avere passed for payment.

The following team will represent! Shannon Thirds at Levin' on Satur-| day:—Woodruass, W. Easton, T. H-01-j den, H. Peifticost, B. Holden,‘T. Pic-j ard, j,’ Humphries, M. Dalzell, Lahk-j shear,'S. Pentieost, C. Robinson, W. i Hibell, S. Bowler, G. Me Ewan, Berry, F. Kfimister;; emergencies, H. Stokes, MeEwan. ; ■ • RUGBY NOTES. REFEREES AND THE WHISTLE. Following is & paper written by a ! leading- Wellington referee; that will be.read with interest by all Rugby enthusiasts:— It was humorously suggested,that a paper, be brought down on “The Whistle—When and How to use it,” but it, is a subject that is a decidedly important one and I will endeavour to •bring out that side of it which inter- ! ests our sense of football rather than I our sense of humour. ! Page 21 of the hand-book states that “the referee must carry a whistle, the blowing of .which shall stop the game.” He must whistle in th© following instances: — (a) When a player makes and claims a lair .catch.

(b) When he notices rough or foul play or misconduct. (c) When he -considers the continuation of play dangerous.

(d) When he wishes to stop the game ,iu.r any purpose. (e) When tne naif or a player running wnn it touch mm. Ul_ At half-time and no-side.

tg) ’When he notices a (breach ol laws 5 and 15, be., at “kick-oil” "or •drop-out.” (ij When he wishes to enforce any penalty. U) When a goal is kicked. {&) Wheii the hall goes into touch-iu-goal. U) 1 When a try or touch-down is awarded.

Tne blowing qf the whistle merely stops the game j the decision lor winch j the whistie was blown is given verb- /j ally subsequently. i FAIR CATCH. As play continues until the-whistle j has been blown, referees should wins- j tie immediately they see a player take a fair catch. Quite a lot of bad leel- | ing is occasioned through the player j taking a “mark” being collared or ! tackled through an opponent playing ! to tire whistle. The opponent is en.tit- ; ied to so collar or itackie and it he- j ho-ves a referee to see that the most j is made of those fractions oi seconds 1 by whistling at once, Le., whep- the , fair catch is taken, but not iminedi- j atelv before or when the player reach- ! es ouit.. to gather the ball in. HOUGH OR FOUL PLAY OR MIS- . CONDUCT. The above should be treated as an urgent matter. Whistle immediately hut, be sure you get the guiliy party. But should a player on the non-ollcnd-ing side be running for the goal-line, > do not penalise him by blowing ini- , mediately—the Advantage Rule ap- , plies here. It is not too late after a , try has been scored to deal with the i guilty player. , i DANGEROUS PLAY. *

Whistle' immediately, hut be sure that there is an element of danger before doing’so. BALL OR PLAYER TOUCHES REFEREE.

Whistle immediately in* this instance also, but remember that quite a variety of decisions govern these episodes of play, i.e., should it hapi>eu in. the field of play (between goal-line • and goal-line)' the ball is dead and must be scrummaged at the spot. A player running out with the hall in liis possession from .ins own ingoal touches tl» : referee— the hall is defed'kiituf a'drop-out is the correct decision, but should the player run back behind his own’ goal-line, the hall must he scrummaged at the spot from whence it was carried back. ■ A player carrying the ball crosses his opponents’ goal-line, but, before grounding the ball, touches the referee, shall be allowed a try at the spot.

If the ball, not in 'possession of a player, strikes the referee or touch judge when in imgoal, a try to the attacking side should be awarded at the spot if, 1 in the referee’s opinion, a try would undoubtedly have been ob-tained—-otherwise a drop out should be ordered. AT HALF-TIME AND NO-SIDE.

A referee shall not whistle lor half; time or no-side until the ball be held or out of play, but, under “Notes and Rulings” on page 23 of the Handbook, referees are recommended to call time only when tfis ball is out of play, i-e., should play be- stopped lor a penalty, fair catch or scrummage-, the game should he proceeded with before time is called. SIDE COMMITTING BREACH GAIN ADVANTAGE. Whistle immediately should the offending side gain the advantage, but should the non-offending side gain the advantage, forget fqr the moment, you have a whistle: KICK-OFF AND DROP-OUT. Wait—don’t whistle immediately. The advantage rule applies here. Note.—Thee English Rugby Union docs not apply the advantage rule to Tick-off, drop-out or fine-out, but in New . Zealand the advantage rule operates during every phase of the game

and the advantage rule -must apply to man in front or hail not, reacning ion yards'-at kick-off and drop-out.. WHEN A GOAL 16 KICKED. Wait until the goal Is kicked. A good time to vyhisile-is' when the ball lias crossed-the crossbar, even though it may he blown hack, aiud it is not necessary lor the hall to land dr - be caught- by a defending player,, but don’t-blow when the ball looks like going over as very often it does not and the blowing of the whistle prematurely leads to unpleasantness, especially when a 'free-kick is- being taken. The blowing of the whistle stops the game x and robs the attacking side of the -opportunity of loilqw-ing-up their kick. ’ WHEN THE BALiL GOES! INTO TOUGH-IN-GOAL. V Another of the- immediate .whistles required here. WHEN A TRY OR TOUCH-DOWN IS AWARDED Whistle immediately and then give your decision, but do not .whistle if a defending or a,n attacking player merely touches or toomiees* the ball in in-goali as the ball is still in play. * WISHES TO STOP GAME FOR ANY PURPOSE. WISHES TO. ENFORCE ANY : ■ PENALTY.

These .two headings could easily, be grouped under the Advantage Rule. It is seldomYhat a referee wishes t to stop.;, the game unless he wishes to enforce' a penalty or give a decision under j the various other headings mentioned, I but whenever you make up your mind to blow, blow, at once, after the Advantage Rule has been applied, i Bear in mind ''that'in. the case of rough or -foul play or miscohduct the continuing of play under 'the Advan--1 tage Rule does not condone the offene e ! and tfche guilty playq-r or'players can be [ (dealt with subsequently. . ' . fc . I One other qecasion when a ‘Tqferec Avhistles is at The reason' “why” is not to- be found in the Hand- ; book, but do it all the same. It is an indication 'to players and timekeepers that play may start, and is the exception to the rule that the blowing of the Whistle niere-ly stops the game-. The above remarks deal mostly ' with "When to whistle” and I think I will leave the “How to wliistle” part to referees themselves. But I would suggest that tin whistles with finger stops be donated to the various drum and fife bands and an ordinary pea whistle such as railway guards use- be the standard lor- Rugby referees. In conclusion, I,will'quote from the pen of F; C. Potter-Irwin, in “Rugby Football,” November 3rd, 1923: “Whistle only when necessity demands. Avoid as much as possible any mannerisms—they irritate everybody. Do not strike attitudes or adopt a pose—the proper place for these is the thealre. Pay particular notice to the advantage rule. Bear in mind that the advantage must be gained.”