FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 232, 24 September 1908, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

BRITISH TEAM'S AUSTRALIAN TOUR. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Xig.it. Among the passeL b «ra wno h.riral from Sidney by the Warrimoo weie Mr. H. W. Kelly, who represented the New Zealand Rugby Union on the British footballers' tour in Australia, and Dr. McEraly, a member of that team who intends to practice his profes-ion in New Zealand.

Dr. McEvedy said the standard of Rugby football in Australia was not so high as in New Zealand.

Mr. Kelly informed a Post reporter tlhut between tl7oo and £18(10 had lKvn cleared in New South Wales In Queensland there was a loss, which would fall ujion thai Union

NORTHERN UNION RULES. The promoters of the Northern Union game at Dunedin have had tiie rules printed. They read as follows: A fair -catch is a catch .made direct and at the first attempt from a ki.-k or knock-on, or throw forward by one ot the opposing side. The catcher'mint claim the same by immediately maki:i" a mark with his heel at the si'iot where j he made the catch.

Kiek-ofl is a place from the centre of the held 0 f nlay. The uppu,ilc side may not stand within 10 vards of the ball, nor charge, otherwise another kicl--off shall be allowed. If the ball pitchin touch it must be scrummaged at centre. °

Drop-out is a drop-kick from within the hall-way line after a try is score 1 or from within 25 yards of the kicker's goal-line after a minor point, within which distance the opposite side may not charge, otherwise another drop-out may be allowed. If the ball pitch in touch it must be scrummaged at the centre of the half-way line or 25 yards line as the case may be. At the kick-off the ball must reach the limit of 10 yards, and at drop-out must reach the half-way line or 25 yards line as the case may be. If otherwise, after a kick-off or drop-out after a t.-j' the ball shall !« scrummaged at centre, and after a minor point in the middle of the 25 yards line. The referee shall accept all decisions of ncutrat touch judges as to touch and touch-in-goal play, but in every other re spect shall have sole control of the game, and may blow his whistle without waiting any appeal. It shall be the duty of the touch judge to report to the referee any rough, foul play or obstruction which may have escaped Ilia notice of that official. The following shall be the mode of scoring:—

A try equal 3 three points. All goals equal 2 points. la. case of a goal from a try, the try to count in addition to goal. ' —Mode of Play.— j When once the game is started, the ball may be kicked or picked up' and run with by any player who is on-side at any time, except that it mav not be picked up—(a) Jn a scrummage; (b) When it is on the ground after o player has been tackled; (c) When it has been put down after it has been fairly held. it may be passed or knocked from one player to another provided it is not passed, knocked, or thrown forward. If a player, while holding or running with ihe ball, be tackled, and the ball fairly held, he must at once put it down in front of him between himself and his opponents' goal-line.

The opposite side may come up to and stand anywhere on or behind a line drawn through the mark and parallel to the goal-line, but must charge or raise their hands higher than their heads. Should the ball not reach the l!ne of the mark the referee shall order a scrummage. —Penalties.— Free kicks by way of penalties shall be awarded if any player—•Not in a scrummage, gets in a line with any of his forwards before the ball comes out of such scrummage; With his hands pushes an opponent running forth or dribbling a ball; I 'Detaches himself from a scrummage once formed and re-enters at the side; Being on the ground does not immediately get up before putting the ball down. —General.— The ball is in touch when it or a player carrying it touches or crosses the touch-line. When the ball drops directly into touch it shall (except in the case of a penalty kick) be brought luuk and scrummaged at the spot from whence it was kicked: in all other cases it shall be taken into play 10 yards from and at right angles to the "touch-line, and there put down and scrummaged.