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Grey River Argus, 30 June 1925, Page 6

his departure for Australia, where he | intends to reside in future. South Sydney are leading for the premiership in New South Wales, having won all six matches played. Wearing is their match winner. Hardman, the St. George forward, generally recognised as the pick of the New South Wales pack, against Queensland, stands over six feet and weighs Hose on fifteen stone. He is not yet 2<i years of age, and promises to be a big boy by the time he has finished growing. Rather a bumping time in store for some of our New Zealand forwards, I am thinking. Mr S. F. Wilson (President of the Canterburv Rugby Union and New Zealand delegate to the Imperial Rugby Conference at Home last year during the tour of the All Blacks) delivered a lecture to the Canterbury Referees’ Association. During the course of his address he stated that the Leicester team was the biggest he had seen, but that they appea/d to be “sailing pret- t ty close to tlie wind” by the manner in which they had secured their players Against New Zealand they had four Scottish and some Irish and English I liternationals. Exactly ; the same sort of thing was a common practice thirty years ago, and resulted in the Northern I’nion being formed, with open recognition of professionalism, in preference to the veiled professionalisem then existing. Apparently it still survives. Just a word to correspondents: Say what you like in your own sweet way, but don’t blame anybody else for my writings! I am not connected with any club or association. I don’t hanker after any particular club or player. 1 write as 1 see the play, and if I don’t see through coloured glasses, as some partisans do, accept the explanation that “Spectator” is neither one-eyed nor colour blind. LAWS OF THE GAME. The following are thq latest inter pretations of the Laws of the game of Rugby League Football, as laid down by the English and New Zealand Li'agues: — Off-side Rule: —It has been the custom with referees in Australia and New Zealand to allow an oil-side player outside of the five yards’ limit to charge an opponent •nunel , atcly he receives the ball. This is entirely wru*ig and against the spirit of the ru Such off-side player must allow bN opponent to run five yards with ‘/i-.- ’ a’-l before attempting io charge or tackle him,, but should his opponent tou?h lhe ba’.: placed on side. The above only applies io a player who is outside the five v«u !.s’ limit. A p’uyer standing within then five yards’ lii/ it cannot under any circumstance. - and fail to hold it he is immediately Ik placed on-side. 2 —Referees are ag-un reoiindcd that n goal cannot be ki-.seJ from a mark Play the Ball Rnl?:--Tins rule has j probably been tlm must abused rule in the book and after consultation wi’.i ! the English League, it has been decided lo enforce the pr ,>p. ■• interpretation . for the future. That is when a player has been tackled, ih? tackler must immediately break cleo.' and allow his opponent in possession of th? ball ts rise and pl? y the ball. Hone? A will not be legal for jtlayers of either mdc> to pack round, .'•'•rum fashion. U .s against the rule for opponents i»r ro’ieagues to touch a player playing the ball; bit must give clear space bet wee-, player a'lid opponent. The following diagram will serve as an ilhist xitiou: i It must be noted that although the act of dropping the I -ill to the ground brings it into play; <' most also be noted that the ball is not actually in play until it has been played by a foot on either side, and then wa?n si played, | :i player must »not dive immediately on j the ball, or after ball h:« - oe«?n dropped I "•.’!' or be pushed ove? it under pen- | I’;- ' free kick*. 7 Scrum Rule:—Regarding the scrum rule we quote rule entirely relating I thereto, from the latest English Rule I Book. It will be noted that front row of forwards on either side must form up in a straight line to form the tunnel, ami particularly would we poinr out that a foot caninot be lifted until the ball, has touched ihe ground in the centre of the tunnel. This should obviate a good deal of the delays in the scrum, whereby the ball strikes a lifted foot and comes out the way it went in. »f the rule as now interpreted is enforced, there v./d be no such obstruction and less scrummages. Referees must i'nsist upon the players packing in properly to allow of a proper scrum formation. Defending side must have the loose head and the front row men must pack in alternately. Any player not doing so or in any way interfering with the proper form ation of the scrum shall be penalised bv a free kick.