FOOTBALL

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 318, 3 October 1908, Page 9

FOOTBALL

(By Amstobulus.)

In deference to; the wishes of a considerable number of - members' of the Cardiff Rugby . Football Club, Percy Bush has once again-, consented to be nominated for the captaiiicy for the forthcoming-. season. .: J. L. Williams,: who. went-.to 'Australia, and W. Neill, the Welsh-International forward, are also to be;'nominated. Should . Bush, be cli'osenj.'as*'he ;,undoubtedly 'will, it will be the third time for him:to lead tho-Blue and Blacks, arid never had tho boys such a popular ;or , more. 'successful- leader.—London " Sportsman.V ' The amenamonts to' the laws which have been suggested by the New Zealand Union aro nearly all good, yet "not of really great importance, even in the;:a"gregate, remarks the Sydney " Referee.".-\Tne laws as they 'stand to-day, if -properly.":interpreted - by Rugby unions and referees, would make the game far more attractive'thair it ; usually is.', Why the "advantage", rule should - not apply to the, throw-out from touch is a puzzle; the laws do not make any exception, aud thero is no. legal justification for the International' Board, exempting' the. throwout. .'And the«laff ris'i'to ■hfeld I 'lpaliydiid play,-;' ,fng the ball "on the ! ground , '--¥fte , simply ignored \>y oon! n Rugby is 'a difficult' l game;to' ! feferee,' I largely , because there-' are too many ' rules find too many meanings-attachable of;them,and partly because it; is more'difficult to develop ; a first-class refored than' a "firstclass.player.' "Vi'': , :'. - Referring to the . British-Hawke's Bay match in ■ the London "Sportsman," Dr. M'Evedy, 'vice-captain of the visitors, .re-, marked:—'-'Before the, game was many minutes old it was evident that tho whole side were imbued with, a new. Jease of life. In no match since the'tour began did tho forwards sta.rt off with so;-'touch"; dash. In. the scrums they pushed,, the homesters all oyer the field, and only the'solid defence and splendid line-kicking of the-home backs prevented an early;' score'.,.; Thereferee ,; was, perhaps, the weakest;"we- hav6"; met-with throiighout the tour .to date,', and the .flagrant, j manner in whicli he,'allowed the opposing backs' to stand off-side was. pitiful ' in . tho extreme. In consequence, all attempt's atiack play were tiiscless, and'we resorted to. forward play."i' ' i; • " ■-