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Otago Witness, Issue 1941, 31 January 1889, Page 26

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There is a strong feeling in the South of England that the free kick or dropped goal should not oount as highly as one kicked from a try. Now that Wales has set the example the Rugby Union Committee may make some move in this direction. The ;Athletic News reproduces a note from the old Oxonian, Mr H. Vaseall, of Repton School, who •ays j—" With reference to the note in your last issue about scoring in the Rugby game, can you find room for me to state that the alteration which I should like to see carried at the next general meeting Is in Law 7. For the words ' When a goal is scored from a try the goal only is scored,' to substitute the words ' When a goal is scored from a try the goal and the try are both scored.' This seems to me the klmplest way of attaining the object of making a goal from a try count ono point more thau any sort of goal | from the field of play, because the goal and the try are two totally distinct pieces of play, each of which already has a fixed value in points, and it has the 1 merit of avoiding the (to my mind) unnecessary complication of having a different point value for every sort of goal. A change In this direction seems to me rendered necessary by the new laws, under which the possibilities for scoring goals from the field of play nave been so largely increased." I think (says the writer in the News) with Mr Vassal], that the idea of scoring both the try and the goal is by far and away the best, and one that is most unlikely to lead to complications. There is a club at Stoke, known as Stoke St. Peter'i. and In five consecutive matches they have scored 69 goals to none. They defeated one team by 20 goals. It looks as if Stoke will have some football players in the course of a few years. The South of England has a splendid team to meet the North this season—something like the following;—Mitchell, back; Stoddart, Brooke, and Ghristopherson, three-quarters; Richards and Leake, halves; and Jeffrey, Dewhirst, Robinson, Hancock, Collier, Cave, Budworth, Surtees, and Hammond, forwards. A fine team without a weak spot in it. The gate money in the Harfclepool Rovers and Maoris match amounted to £150. The NewZealandors had a great reception, and promised to return if possible. At the match in question a little ragged lad tendered 2§d for admission, saying that was all the money he had been able to save. A somewhat similar incident occurred at a match in Duuedinlast winter. The hon. treasurer accepted 4Jd froma man at one of the trial matches. The Rugby Union Committee have decided to give caps to the players in North v. South matches. The cap will be the same as that given in international matches, except that there will be no rose on the front, where the letters "N.S." will be embroidered and substituted. I understand the Rugby Union Committee have sanctioned the payment of referees, and the receipt of such payment will not make the referee a professional. At Home each county, through its committee, will be given the power to frame its own scheme for referees. An important step has been decided upon by the Rugby Union in regard to professionalism. In future, county comittees will have power to try cases themselves, and suspend the delinquents as they may deem fit. Shorthand notes will be taken of each trial, and forwarded to the Rugby Union, whomayinterfereof theirownaccord, j to prevent injustloe or laxity of treatment. Clubs or players will have tho right of appeal to th* Rugby Union, subject to depositing a sum which will proDably be put hat high as £50. Londoners were very pleased to see A. E. Stoddart in field on his return from New Zea'and, but some people thought it a bit rough on the two gentleman who had been chosen as reserve threequarters that their claims had been passed over when Hubbard stood down. I wonder, too, says writer in the Athletic Newß, whether Stoddart had given the Rugby Union that explanation which was t© bo demanded of the whole of Shaw and Shrewsbury's men as soon as they reached England. Lancashire in two Saturdays failed to convert 12 consecutive tries, but then they dropped across a placer who kicked five goals running. Strang, the much-desired place-kicker, is brother to the player of the same name who assisted Lancashire some few seasons ago, and who had a wonderiul reputation as try-converter at Liverpool. The latest advices show that Preston North Bnd still leads for the Association championship in the North of England with an unbeaten record. Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers come next. West Bromwich Albion come sixth on the list.