FOOTBALL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9188, 10 September 1908, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

_ ,—« . BT TELEGRAPH —PRESS AS3CCIATTON. WELLINGTON, September 9. The discussions that have been going on for some time on the question cf reforming the rules of Rugby football are now in a fair way to assume a practical shape. A special meeting of delegates to the New Zealand Rugby Union is to be held on October Ist, when it will De proposed that the following amendments be made: —Law 2 (a tackle)— That a player brought to the ground be allowed to pass the ball even though it has touched the ground, provided it be done immediately. Law 2—To a scrummage add "in, every case when the referee qrd.Ojrs a scrummage he shall himself pui. the ball into the said scrummage." Law 2 (ball in scrummage) —A player cannot-lift his leg until the ball touches the ground, and unless the ball is put past the first man of'the scrummage that has the shorter front, it shall not be considered to have been fairiy put into the scrummage. Law 2 (knocking on and throwing forward) That it should not be considered a knock-on if the player so doing recovers possession before the ball touches the ground. Law 2 (fair catch) Add after "catch'* in last line of definition "or by immediately calling out mark." Law 3, section E—That the referee be allowed discretionary power as to whether + he game shall be stopped. Law 8, Eect.on the r'ords "held or". Law 4, sJOriiJg gdfli frois mark or a penalty kick to c'OUnt twe points. Law 6, section C —To be da< lected. Add after "goal line" in last line of notei "but when the ball is on the ground after a player ha 3 been tackled it may be picked up by any player other than man so tackled " Law B—Add new section, (E) when he lias run behind one of his own side who has la t played the ball. Law 12, section A, to rear! — Throwing it out so as to alight a minimum distance of five yards from and at right angles to the touchline." ASSOCIATION MATCH. MASTERTON v. WELLINGTON. The team selected by Messrs B. L. Salmon, A. Newson and Dalziel, to represent Wellington in a match against the Masterton Club on the Masteiton Showgrounds, on Thursday next, September 17th, is as follows:—Goal. F. M'Lean (Ramblers); back, G. Wilson (Swifts), F. Hart (Wanderers); halves, G. Guise (Swifts), P. R. Pye-Smith (Swifts), Hatcher; forwards, J. A. M'Lean (Swifts), G. Taylor (Wanderers, right wing), A. Elliott (Hospital, centre), A. Macklin (Y.M.C.A.), and A. Holland (Wanderers, left wing). Reserves: Back, G. Roberts (Diamonds); half, Emily (Diamonds) ; forwards, Fergusson (St. John's), S. J. Wills (Ramblers). The local team will be selected during the week, and as most of the best players are available, a strong combination will oppose the visitors.