LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

Franklin Times, Volume XXII, Issue 81, 13 July 1932, Page 7

LEAGUE FOOTBALL.

RULES AND COMMENTS. SOME INTERESTING POINTS. (Contributes). Last week I dealt with the play-tho-hall rule and before passing on I would like to call special attention to the following points: — (1) That when the opponents have possession they have the advantage and only by tackling them so as they have to play it do you make them lose that advantage and give yourselves an equal opportunity of securing possession therefore:—(a) Always effectively tackle the opponent in possession making it impossible for him to pass and vice versa: (b) Do not be tackled in possession unless by passing you must give it to a supporter in a worse position than yourself.

(2) When a player on youi side is playing the ball all the other members of the team must get into position quickly and then: —(a) If the opponents get the ball your defence should be secure; (b) If you secure possession your attack should be at its strongest.

(3) In playing the ball the one objective is to play it in such a way as vour own side will secure possession.

"Ain't this my husband's place of abode? Ain't possession nine points of the law?' asks Justin M'Carthy. Possession may not be nine points of the law but it certainly is nine points of the game of League football.

Scrum Rules.

Scrums are most common in League as there are not any line-outs and therefore it is essential that a player should be well versed in this department of the game.

Scrum Formation.

The front row of the scrum shall be composed of not more than three players and not necessarily three. The orthodox scrum has three forwards in the front row-, two in the sepond row and one or the lockman in the third. The only obligation in this respect 5s that not more' than three players can figure in the front row and the formation of the scrum is left to each team. One player from each side would constitute a scrum. When a scrum is formed it must provide a clear opening or tunnel in which to insert the ball. Note the following instructions: (a) The front row forwards on each side must form a straight line so as to provide a clearly defined tunnel. The hooker cannot have his foot or feet in front of the other forwards; (b) The forwards must keep their feet on the ground until the halfback has put the ball into the tunnel and at no time must any forward have both feet off the ground at the same time. This means the elimination of the swinging rake, or the hooker that would swing with both feet in the effort to win the ball. Any man who lifts a foot in the scrum before the ball is in the scrum is committing a breach; (c) The two front row forwards on the far side of the scrum may put their legs across the tunnel so as to prevent the ball from going through. Note that a player must lock with his arm around the body of his colleague and not hold him by a portion of his attire. Hookers are not allowed to keep one arm free in the scrum; they must bind with both arms.

Putting Ball into Scrum

(d) The half-back must put the ball in without delay, either by rolling, or by pitching it into the centre of the scrum by a downward movement from the level of the loiee. The ball is not deemed to be. in the scrum until it passes both of the inside legs of the two outside forwards, and when pitched into the centre of the scrum the ball must be allowed to reach the ground before any player can lift his foot in the scrum: (e) Immediately the half-back has put the ball in he must retire behind the pack. Half-backs should remember that the manner in which the ball is to be put into the scrum is clearly defined and that their side will be penalised if they throw the ball in waist or shoulder high or bounce the ball into scrum contrary to the spirit of the game. A half-back must not tantalise the opposition by delaying in putting the ball into Ihe scrum or feint with the ball so as to make the opposition strike or lift his foot to strike before the ball is in the scrum, in these instances the half-back commits the first breach and he should be penalised. The ball is supposed to be put into the centre of I the scrum so that both sides have an equal opportunity to win the ball. In connection with the requirement of half-backs retiring behind the pack after putting the ball into the scrum it should be kept in mind that referees are instructed to be on the alert and note the action of the half-back. Many half-backs have a tendency to stay and watch the progress of the ball and if the opposition gain the ball they do not conform to the rule: some partly carry out the rule only retiring in line with the second row or the lockman. A position that often arises under the present system of hooking is that the half having put the ball into the scrum retires in conformity with the spirit of the rule but has only retired as far as the second row or the lockman when the ball comes out from behind the front row of forwards. He is allowed to turn and pick up the ball, if in the opinion of the referee he made an honest attempt to retire behind his pack before the ball had come clear, but should the referee deem laxity on the part of the half he would then exercise the advantage rule before enforcing the penalty agr.inst the half.

! The half puts the ball into the scrum, retires behind his pack and notices that the opposition are gaining the advantage and are winning the ball in the scrum; he comes into line with the lockman then to the second row and when the opposition half gains possession he runs in and tackles him. The referee should penalise him for coming into lihe with his scrum; no player is allowed to be in line with the lockman and even if any player is standing in line with the lockman he is giving away a penalty kick. In all these cases the advantage rule is played. The laws of the game lay down the system of hooking to a degree that the hooker must strike with the foot farthest from the referee, therefore should the hoker strike with the near foot he is giving away a penalty kick unless the advantage rule is played. Hookers should also pay special attention to what has been said above in connection with scrum formation. Loose-Head.

By the loose-head is meant having the outside head in the front row of the scrummage on the side on which the referee stands. You will notice therefore that as two forwards on the one side cannot have their heads together in .the scrum that the opposition will have the loose-head on the side of the scrum farthest from the referee. The 1931 amendments state that the attacking side is to have the loosehead whilst the defending side must put the ball into the scrum. The referee may order the ball to be put into the scrum from either side. The Lock-Man. It is permissible for a player at the rear of the scrum to detach himself and pick up the ball, to bore his way through the pack or for a player in the scrum to hold the ball with his knees, or for the players on either side in the scrum to screw the pack and take the ball with them. Should a half-back or lock-man elect to bore his way through the pa'ck as is permissible referees and touchjudges are instructed to be on the alert for any obstruction or shepherding. Ball Coming Out of Scrum. (f) The ball must come out from behind the front row of forwards and on no account should it be allowed to be played if it comes out by way of the tunnel. It is the duty of the referee to order the ball to be put in until it comes out as stated, and to award a penalty kick for any infringement, providing the non-offending side has not gained an advantage. For instance "A" puts the ball into the scrum the centre-forward on "A's" side has his foot uplifted before the ball goes into the scrum and the ball is driven out by that centre-forward, out Of the same tunnel and the "A" half-back got possession, the referee would enforce the penalty for the reason that the offending side gained the advantage but take it that when the "A" centre-for-ward after committing the breach drove the ball out of the same tunnel and the opposition gained possession and advantage the referee would then play the advantage rule and permit play to go on being of the opinion that the advantage gained would be greater than the penalty. Setting Down a Scrum. No scrum shall be formed within 10 yards of the touch-line or within five yards of the goal line. The object of this rule is mainly to eliminate the number of scrums and create more play by giving both sides more room to work in. Special notice should be given to the fact that irrespective of the breach that warranted the scrum being held close to the lines if must be taken out the full distance of 10 yards or five yards. A scrum is set down near the goal line and the attacking side in the scrummage pushes the defending side over the goal line into in-goal, and the attacking side touch the ball down a try would be allowed but if the ball is touched down by one of the defending side a touch-down shall be allowed and the ball brought back into play by a drop-out from within the centre of the goal-line.

JUNIOR FOOTBALL. The .following table shows the position of the various teams at the end of the first round: — Second Grade.

Papakura has scored 113 points, while 40 have been registered against them.

P. W. L. D. Pts Ofcahuhu .... 8 7 1 0 14 Papalcura 8 (5 2 0 12 Alt. Albert . . 8 C 2 0 12 Ellerslie .... 8 5 3 0 10 Northcote 8 5 3 0 10 Mangere .... 8 3 4 1 7 PL Chevalier 8 2 5 1 5 Devonport o 1 7 0 2 Ponsonby 8 0 8 0 0