Football Rules.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 16, 19 April 1884, Page 6

Football Rules.

Now that the football season is about to commence, it would be well for those who indulge in the game to make them&elvis acquainted with recent alterations and amendments in the rules of the game. These will be found embodied in the following circular, v hich Mr S. E. Sleigh sends us from Dunedin :—: — A.MKNUED Rugby Uniov Ili'LKs (in force at Home on Ist December, l>-83).— Rule 17, 20 be 1!), and as follows : A maul in goal is when the ball is hold inside the goal-line and one of the opposing sides endeavour to touch it down. Those players only who arc touching the b^ll with the hand when the maul begins, and then for so long only as they retain their touch, may continue m the nietul. Ihe ball shall be touched down where the maul is concluded and shall belong to the players of the side who first had possession of it before the maul began, unless the opposite side have gained entire possession ot ic, or unless it has escaped from the hold of all parties engaged, in which latter event it shall belong to the defending side.— Rule 28 be "27 and the words omitted, "or from a punt out or a punt on," (Sec Hult -"/ and o<>.) Rule 20, 30 be omitted.— Rule 11 be 41, and the words omitted " except in cases under Rule 5 >." —Rule 4(i, 17. IS, 1!), 50, 51, bl, 53. be two new Rules, Nofe. 13 and 11 to lead:— (l 3.) A side having touched the ball down in their opponents' goal, shall try at ,\oal by a kick-place m the following manner:— Une of the players shall bring it up to the goal-line in a straight line (parallel to the touch-lines) from the spot where it was touched down (unles* between the goalposts, in which case he shall bring it up to either post), and there make a mark on the goal-line, and thence walk out with it in a line parallel to the toucu-lincssuch distance as he thinks proper, and t here placeit for another of his side to kick - (U) The defending side may char, c as soon as the ball touches the ground, the kicker's side must remain b'hitid the ball till the try has been decided. If a gotil be kicked th- game shall proceed as provided in rule 37 present code, but if a goal be not kicked, or if the b ringer out fail to mark on the goal-line, or allow any of his side to 'touch the ball before it has been kicked, the ball shall be dead forthwith, and the game shall proceed by a kickout as provided in Rule 3!) present code.— Rue 64 be 15 and the words omitted, *' The opposite side in case of a punt out or a punt on, and the kicker's side in all cases may not charge until the bnll has been kicked."— Rule 00, n6 be IG, as follows :— (IG) In case of a fair catch the opposite side may come up to and charge from anywhere on or behind a line drawn through the mark made and parallel to the goal-line. In all cases the kicker's side must be behind the ball when it is kicked, and may not charge until it has been kicked. If. after a fair catch, more than one player of the attacking side touch the ball before it is again kicked, the opposite side may charge forthwith. You will notice that the number of laws has been reduced from 60 to 50. The main points of change are as follows :— (1.) Punts out after a try has been secured are not permitted. (2) An important change may be noted in the new Laws 43 and 44—" The ball is dead after an ineffectual shot at goal from a try." As to the alterations in Laws 19 and 20 (old code), this is only defining more clearly the practice as to " mauls in goal." These changes have been very warmly supported in England, and the Unions of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales thoroughly approve of them. Enclosed I beg to hand you a copy of the revised rules in full.— l remain, yours truly, S. E. Sleigh. Southern Club, Moray Place, Dunedin, N.Z., Ist April, 1884.

What may happen to to a man iv Victoria has received a true illustration (says a Melbourne paper) in the fact that Tom Henderson, once the prince of Australian horsemen, may be seen almost any evening selling newspapers in Bourke-street. It does seem a thousand pities that so accomplishad an artist should have to thank himself for his misfortune. Emir Bey, who was purchased by a Napierite the other week, is to be relegated to stud duty. It is estimated that 2069 horses started in races in England last season. £3,506 passed through the totalisator during the Taranaki Jockey Club Meeting. When the mail left, Superba and Royal Fern were favourites for the Two Thousand Guineas, and the Adelaide filly was in most demand for the Epsom Derby. The Two Thousand is run on the 30fch of the present month, and the Derby on the 28th May. The smallest pony known is the pet of the Baroness Bnrdett-Coutts-Bartlett, the richest woman in England. The pony : stands only 13 inches high, and is five years old. A " Standing " Order— " Same again all round !' An anonymous article— a baby before it is chrUtened. A telegraph oftice has been opened at Sulphur Point, ltolorua. There will be a wire to the brimstone lake by-and-by. The Masonic Hall erected at Remuera by the local lodge is now free of debt. To prevent a contract from oozing out— Let the plot thicken.