RUGBY CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 259, 2 August 1928, Page 15

RUGBY CONTROL

MEETING OF NEW ZEALAND UNION INVITATION TO SYDNEY UNIVERSITY TEAM 4 A meeting of the Management Committee of the New Zealand Rugby Union was held last evening. Mr. S. S. Dean presided, and there were also present .Messrs. A. C. Kitto, 11. S. Leith, J. G. Roache, T. A. Fletcher, E. Wylie, K. Tahiwi, and A. E. Neilson (secretary). The following reinstatements were approved: S. E. Madden, W. Donald and W. R. Young (Auckland). The Waikato Union forwarded an application by tlie Hamilton Union for a grant of £2OOO for the purpose of erecting a grandstand and dressing-sheds on Rugby Park, Hamilton. It was decided to replv that no funds were available. The North Otago Union notified that the following motion had been passed: “That in the opinion of this-union, the method adopted by the New Zealand Union of selecting the South Island minor unions’ team is not in the best interests of Rugby football.” Challenges for the Shield. 'The Mannwhentta Union notified that tliev were playing a match against Wairar'apn on September 15, and desired that the game should be for the Ranfurly Shield. The Wellington Union made a similar request regarding their 1 with Wairarapa on August 22. lhe letters were referred to the Wairarapa Union. Sydney University Team. The New Zealand University Football Council notified that they proposed to invite a Sydney University team to tour New Zealand in May, 1920. It was proposed to play three test matches against New Zealand University representative teams, and also matches against the lour university colleges. ’ West Australia Wants All Blacks. \ cablegram was received from the newly-formed West Australian Rugby Union, asking permission for the All Blacks to play a match West Australia on the return journey. . It was decided to communicate with Mr W F. Horni? the manager of the New Zealand team, to see if such a match was possible. Hold up by Floods. The secretary of the East Coast Lnion telegraphed; "Nepia ill. . Owing to floods, cannot communicate with Mill, tattle hope of him going to Palmerston North. No instructions received. Hope to send Leacli.” , . , This telegram referred to the match between the minor unions of both Islands at Palmerston North. TO THE RESCUE An offer to act ns stretcher-bearers for the All Blacks in bouth Africa. was received by the New Zealand Rugby Union last night, from two volunteers from Okaiawa. “Having noticed in the papers, hey wrote, “the somewhat heavy casualty lists amongst, the players of our team in South Africa, we offer our services as stretcher-bearers, should the union be prepared to pay our fare across.” The need for uniformity in the taws ot the game was again stressed at last night « meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union.

NEED FOR UNIFORMITY OF RULES TOO MUCH "CONFUSION AT PRESENT The matter came up through requests for rulings which were received from various unions. , The Manawatu Union reported that m a game at Palmerston North recently, just ns the bell rung for time, a player caught the ball and appealed for a mark, .the referee whistled, and the time bell having rung he declared "no side.” A protest was made against this decision by the losing elub on the ground that the ball was not dead. A ruling was asked for from the New Zealand Union. . Mr. S. S. Dean explained that a similar happening had occurred when the New Zealand team played Cambridge University in 1924. Mr. T. Vile, the referee, blew for "no side” when New Zealand was hotly attacking. His action had created an animated discussion, and as a result, the rule had been altered to provide that time should be called no matter in what position the play stood. The referee in the match! at Palmerston North had been quite correct. The Taranaki Union also asked for a ruling on an unusual point. The referee (Mr. F. J. Egglcton) reported that in a match between Inglewood and Tukapa an Inglewood player punted high and followed up. Petty made a fair catch and immediately drop-kicked at goal. The referee heard “Mark” called just as Pettv kicked, and blew his whistle. The ball went over the bar and, realising that Petty had never claimed a mark, the appeal having been made by a spectator, he awarded the potted goal. It was decided to reply that under rule 2 the bail becomes dead as soon as the referee blows his whistle, and consequently the dropped goal could not be allowed. A serum should have been ordered where the ball was last played. , Mr. Dean said that it was high time that there was an understanding concerning interpretation of Rugby rules. Every time a New Zealand team went overseas there was misunderstanding, and overseas players and referees wanted to know what kind of referees they had in New Zealand. For instance. Dominion referees gave a free kick for a pass forward taken offside, whereas refereees in every other country gave a serum for the pass forward.,. Another rule which was being infringed in New Zealand was that relating to injured players. In other countries players were allowed three minutes to recover from injuries, after which they had to be carried to the sideline, and play had to proceed. “Saturday after Saturday, said Mr. Dean, “we see the game delayed while players are receiving ambulance attention. This is quite wrong. Mr. A. C. Kitto said, that the British team would be here in 1930, and it would be wise if English rulings were adopted. Mr. T. A. Fletcher contended that New Zealand referees compared favourably with those of any other country. Mr. Dean: Quite so, but we should put our own house in order before we criticise referees in other countries.

UNDUE LENIENCY IS RUGBY BECOMING TOO ROUGH? The Hawke’s Bay Union reported to the New Zealand Union upon the action which had been taken witli several players who had been ordered off lhe held for various offences. The Hawkes Bay Union reported that two players reported for fighting, one for striking an opponent, one for tripping, and one for cheeking the referee ha'd been cautioned. . “I consider that undue leniency is being shown in many of these cases,” remarked the chairman (Mr. S. S. Dean). “I am not referring to Hawkes Bay in particular. All through the. Dominion there is a tendency for play to become too rough, and when players are ordered off the field for rough or foul play, unions should treat the offences more seriously.” Mr. A. C. Kitto: Yes; there appears to be a tendency for players to lose their tempers on the slightest* provocation. Mr. Dean: We sec it every Saturday in local matches. Mr. 11. S. Leith: I am afraid that it is the spirit of the age; mor? discipline is wanted. Mr. T. A. Fletcher remarked Unit the trouble was that often Hie player caught hitting a blow was often not the mnn who started the trouble. Mr. Dean: Quite so, but the sooner we take a firm stand on lhe blatter, the better it will be for the game. On the motion of Mr. Dean, it was decided to circularise unions, requesting