FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18369, 30 April 1925, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY. LANCASTER PARK. Judging by the .record opening crowd which attended the Christchurch Old Boys' game at Lancaster Park, it looks as if interest in the senior competition will be keener than ever. Next Saturday's game on the oral is between Christchurch and Linwood. On their showing against Old Boya, the Red and Blaoks proved that they are a formidable combination and can play fast, dashing Bugby. Linwood, with a yonng team of fast forwards and nippy backs, are in great heart after their opening game, in which they defeated Merivale by 16 points to 5. They are quite confident that they can extend the meeting of these teams must pre/vide an exciting encounter. On the south ground, 'Varsity, with a brilliant set of ex-Taranaki High School backs are determined to fling the ball about against Merivale. As the Sydney University team will be playing a test here next month, there will be considerable competition for places in the home side, so the local 'Varsity men will be sure to be on their game. Albion will make their debut on. the west ground led by Reade Masters. They have a. greatly improved eide and will keep Old Boys on the move. At the show grounds two senior "B" games will be played., Biccarton, who played in the junior competitions with fair success, are to ineet 'Varsity, who on the opening day had a. sensational win against Christchurch by 2o to 16, making a great recovery in the second half. The other game is Menvale versus Chriatchurch, both of which had splendid junior teams laet year, Merivale being the winners of the championship.

OLD COLLEGIANS' CLUB. The following will represent Old Collegians on ■ Saturday: Juniors v. Technical, on Elmwood ParkCooke (captain), Richardson, ChrystaU, Leckie, Cooks, C. J. S.; Henshall, Manning, Young, J. H.; Wait, Turnbull, Joseph, Morris, Day, Harris, .Francis. Emergencies: Orchard and WilHams, A. B. Third Grade v, ."Varsity, on Elmwood Park—Pritchett, Macandrew, Stewart, Harrison, Cowliflbaw, J. I. M.; Hobbs, Talbot, Wyles, Loughnan, Fakk, Coctos, P. b.; Konalds, Cooper, C. T.; Banks, Wratt. Emergencies: Beckett and Black. Anyone unable to play should inform the secretary immediately.

OKAIN'S BAY CLUB. The annual meeting of Ihe Okain's Bay Bugby Football Club was held in the HaU on Tuesday evomng. Mr W. Robinson presided over a good muster of members. The annual report and balance-aneet, which were adopted, showed the <-lub to have a credit balance of £9 17a 2d. The election of officers for the ensuing season resulted as follows: -Patrons the Hon. Sir B. Heaton Bhodes and Mr J. McCombs; president, Mr U Robinson; vice-presidents, Mearfs E. Halt Reg. Mason, H. Mason, A. W. Coffin, P. Moore, E. G. Mason, A. Ware, E. Moore, J. Harris, sen., S H Thomas, Archie War?,rH. Muir, C. Mason, and P. Cnmmings; secretary and treasurer, Mr W. Thomas; cluVoaptain, Mr vke-presidente, Messrs E. Hail Beg Mason, J HarrM, sen., and field captain; delegates to Sub-Union, Messrs R. C. Mason and J Harris, sen.; general committee, J. Harris inn* J. Maeon, L. McEwan, K. S, V. Mason, C. Mould, H. Thecker, G. Graham.

METHVEN CLUB. The following teams have been elected to represent the Methven Football Club in their matches on Saturday:— Seniors v. Old Boys at Methven-D. r McDonald, L. F. Dore, E. Kilworth, A. Lawrence, G. Stephens, P. A. Watson, L. Crooks, • F. McKendry, R. J. Duff, Gns DoJan. J.i Goodwin, L. Dalton, G. Dalton, L. Gillespie, X Crooks. Emergency, W. A- Painter. ...._! ~-, Juniors v. Ashburton, at Ashburtan— Gillespie, C. Houston, W.'Dolan, M. McKendry, W. Bnchan, K. MeConmck, W. Grieve, J. Crooks, C. Debson, 3> Doha, K. Scoob, B.

Carlcton, W. Stephens, K. Ireland, D. Anderson. Emergencies. Backs, B. Mauger; forwards, A. McDonald, S. Hampton.

RAKAIA CLUB. A general meeting of the Bakaia Football Club waß held in "the Library on Tuesday evening, Mr B. Pox presiding over a good attendance. A letter was received from the Mount Soir.ers Club in regard to home and home matches, and it was decided to play the first match at Bakaia. ' A letter was received from i\e Ashburton Referees' Association stating That members of the Association would visit Bakaia to give lectures and demonstrations of the rules governing football. It was decided to call a general meeting on May 6th to meet these delegates. It was decidsd to hold oard parties again this winter on "Wednesday evenings. It was also decided to hold a dance. Mr W. A. Smith was appointed manager member of the senior team.

The secretary was instructed to write a letter to Mr A. B. Binger expressing the club's appreciation of his services- as a member of the senior team. A medal valued at £2 2s was presented by the president. Mr.E. Fox, to be awarded at the discretion of the A donation of six packs of cards was received from Mr B. Borland. A vote of thanks-was passed to these gentlemen. The following teams have been chosen for Saturday's matches:—Senior v. Hinds, at Show Grounds: Crothers, McDonald, Daly, Burns, Golombus, Sides,. A. Watts,' Taylor, Blazey, Pickering, E. Tatteraon, B. Moodie, A. Mead, W. McPhail, Lightfoot, Bamsay. Juniors v. Allenton, at Bakaia: —Henderson, V. B«ag, J. Eapley, L. Boag, J. Connolly, P. Smith, W. Eapley, A. Dunstan, E. Kerslake, A. Hooper, *W. Tatterson, B. Smith. "V?. Mead, D. Cornelius, F. Breading. Emergencies: S. Laraman, S. Hooper, B. Smith. Third Grade v. High School, at Show Grounds:—H. McDonald, M. Brown, E. T>ye, T. Greygoose, C. Greygoose, B. McTionald. M. Brice, J. O'Reilly, Arnold Mead, T. Hooper, K: Bedraond, G. Cornelius, E. Mead. S. Street, H. O-Reilly, E. Hood, W. Shannon. _ , _ Fourth Grade v., High Sohool B, at Eaknia—T. Shannon, J. Craig, B. Hooper, A. Sennett, J. Kaan, G. Henderson, J. Wright, G. Mead, N. Breach, O'Connor, Cameron, Lawler, Jamieson, J. Hooper, Connolly.,

RUGBY RULES AT HOME. ADDITIONS AND AMENDMENTS. (IBOM OUB O.WK COKBZSPONDIHT.) LONDON, March 24. At the meeting of the International Bugby Board, held at Edinburgh, representatives of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales met under the chairmanship of Mr W. S. Donne. An official report was afterwards issued to the Press.

A long agenda, dealing with alterations to the rules, was disposed of, and, while no alterations were made «s regards the scoring values, several additions were made to the by-laws affecting penalties. To Law 10, the following addition was approved: "When o. penalty kick is awarded the opDosite side may not charge. They must remain passive on or behind a line drawn through the mark where the penalty kick is awarded and parallel with the goal line." A change was made in Law 12 to the effect that no penalty should be awarded if the ball does not alight at least five yards at right angles to the touch line unless persistently thrown less than that distance. An alteration was also made in Law 2, referring to a goal, to read "a kicker and placer must, except in the case of a penalty kick, be a distinct person and the kicker may not, except in the case of a penalty kick, touch the ball." A new sub-section added to Law 11 was made to read "not himself running with the ball wilfully charges or obstructs an opponent who has just kicked the ball." This was agreed to as an addition to Law 11, or breath of the prsrious sub-section—the opposite aide shall be awarded at their option a free-kick, either at the place of infringement or the spot where the ball alights. In the event of the ball alighting ir. touchy the kick shall be taken on a spot ten yards, from the touch-line, or in the event of the ball alighting in goal, on a spot not less than ten yards from the j»oal line. The Board intimated' that they had received an invitation from New Zealand to

send a team there in 1926, and the request waa referred to the several unions for consideration.

A New Zealand Suggestion. One of the few suggestions from New Zealand to be. carried into effect concerns the throw-in from touch. At present (says the "Athletio News," referring to the alterations) the ball may be thrown in. any distance, and tho short throw has undoubtedly led to a lot of unnecessary barging. It was also shown as recently as in the Irish match with Scotland, at Dublin, that there was nothing to stop the thrbwer-in just tilting the ball forward and catching it himself. •*. One effect of the new rule will be to diminish tho opportunity of the short-liao understanding between the first forward and the thrower-in, an understanding which Kershaw and Luddington reduced to a fine art.

Among the other alterations was an insistence upon tho offending side refrain-, ing from the charge when a penalty-kick is being taken. Referees, who are required to be more strict upon the enforcement of penalties, are given the option of a freekick or a Borummage for off-side, and pen-alty-kicks in future may be placed by the kicker, and not, as at necessarily by another member of the side The Scrummage. The Board decided to oak the _ various unions to consider amendments aiming at getting the ball more effectively into the scrummage. These are: — That a penalty shall be given when ft player moves either of his feet beyond the front line of lis forwards, and when a player follows the ball into the scrummage with either foot, and That such an award be given when tho player, being in a. scrummage, lifts a foot from the ground before the ball has been put in tho scrummage. Nothing, it may be pointed out, was done regarding the proposals to alter the scoring values. ' It may also be added that none of tho proposed changes can come into effect before the various unions have approved of them.

ASSOCIATION. GROUNDS FOE SATURDAY. The following alterations of grounds for Saturday have been decided upon: Friendly games: Sumner v. Linwood (a), to be played at North Park No. 1; Technical Old Boys (c) v. Spreydon, to be played at Elisor's road No. 2. ST. ALBANS CLUB. The following will represent St. Albins Club on Saturday, at 2.30 p.m.— Senior B v. Vilk*, at North Park No. 3 Cullen, Biyan, Hilgrove, Liddon, Henderson, "elleher, Donaldson, Gaecoignc, Cohille, Taylor, Spiers. Juniors v. Rangers, North Park No. 2 EdwardL C. Watson, Smith, Thackwell, Sutherland, Bridgeman, Hoban, H. Watson, Parsoni, Kiagsford, Reeves. Emergency, Patrick. Third Grade v. Technical Old Boy*, fit Albans Park (friendly match)—Phelps, Ramp, Lindle7, Reid, Cullen, Bagot, Donovan, Palmer, Silvester, Thomas, Brown.