DANGERS OF THE MARK

Evening Star, Issue 22362, 11 June 1936, Page 4

DANGERS OF THE MARK

DISCUSSION BY CANTERBURY UNION IGNORANCE OF RULES BLAMED The danger to players of the present practice in taking a mark was discussed by the Management Committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union on Tuesday night, but although the com mittee" decided to recommend to the Xcw Zealand Rugby Union that steps be taken to have the word “ simultaneously ” deleted from the rule, it was stated that ignorance of the rules led to much of the danger. Players will bo advised through the clubs, therefore, that when taking a mark it is not necessary to stand by the mark and be charged by the opposing team. Dr D. M‘K. Dickson, the representative of the Referees’ Association on the committee, said that a player could even take a mark on the run, provided he caught the ball cleanly and simultaneously made a mark on the ground with a heel. It was not even necessary to call or signal that a mark was being claimed, and Dr Dickson said that occasionally a referee might be compelled to award a mark even when the player did not claim it and did not want it. If he marked the ground with a heel while actually taking the catch a mark might be awarded. The subject was brought up by Mr R. W. Britton, who said that taking a mark in present-day football was “ more dangerous than big-game shooting.” In nine cases out of ten a player who took a mark was not awarded it, and ho had to face opponents who were charging down on him. Dr Dickson admitted that the particular rule caused more trouble to referees than any other. It had been suggested at the annual conference of the New Zeala'nd Rugby Referees’ Association that the deletion of the word “ simultaneously ” would get over the difficulty, but the proposal was rejected. There was, unfortunately, a great deal of ignorance among players ns to what constituted a mark, and he thought that much of the danger would be obviated if they were acquainted with the conditions in which marks may be made and allowed. Dr TV. S. Seed: A player is not allowed to jump to take a mark, of course ? Mr Britton; No. Dr Seed said ho presumed that before a referee awarded a mark to a player who did not “ call ” he would want to see some definite movement of that player’s foot in making the heel mark. KENNETT GUP CROSS-COUNTRY RAGE AT CHRISTCHURCH Entries for the Kennett Cup race, which will be held by the Christchurch Harrier Club at the Riccarton racecourse on Saturday, have been received as follows: Civil Service, Dunedin.—A. R. Geddes (captain), J. G. Barnes, J. Hollands, J. S. Asher, C. A. Broad, M. M‘Kinnon. Baptist.—A. D. Park, I). Brown, J. Turner, G. S. Harrison, F. Mair, E. Riddle. Christchurch A.—L. E. Fox, D. H. Pannell, F. H. Cookson, R. Rogers, T. Bartlett, T. ,Barker, L, A. Watson (emergency). Christchurch B.—T. H. Wilhelm, W. Kennedy, J. Pritchard, L. Knight, S. Riley, S. Wilhelm, E. Willetts (emergency). Methodist.—C. S. Ell, G. R. Clothier, C. N. Thornton, H. D. Ford, R. A. Rudkin, A. H. Wayman. Technical.—M, W. Busby, C. A. B. Stevenson, L. C. Richards, R. M. Dynes, M. W. White, J. G. Hay, A, N. Thomas (emergency). Individual Runners.—T. Allen (Anglican, Dunedin), K. W. Robinson (University),