LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 104, 5 May 1931, Page 14

LEAGUE FOOTBALL

MATCH WON AFTER TIME. DISCUSSED BY REFEREES. When it was stated at the meeting of the Auckland Rugby League Referees' Association last evening that the senior match on Saturday between Marists and Richmond had been won after time was up, Mr. T. Hill said it was an unfortunate thing for the team which lost. According to the rules, when the ball was held or out of play, the game finished after.the bell. If it was necessary to play the ball, that indicated that the ball was dead. The observation that the timekeeper had erred was followed by a remark that an experienced referee should officiate. Mr. Bull moved, and Mr. Smith seconded, that a referee be deputed to act with the timekeeper each week at Carlaw Park. There' were referees always available.

Mr. V. Simpson said that the Referees' Association should be responsible for keeping the time of matches. Mr. Bull said the purpose of his suggestion of co-operation with the timekeeper was to-advise the latter when to stop the game—to ring the bell when the ball was out of play. Another member said that though the ball was. dead on several occasions on Saturday, the bell was/not rung until the last try had been scored. It was decided to request the Auckland League to allow a referee to cooperate with the timekeeper.