FOOTBALL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12535, 24 June 1901, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

NELSON v. CANTERBURY. . The first representative game of the sea* son was played at Lancaster Park on Sat-urday—-Canterbury meeting Nelson. _ The weather was fine, but the recent rains had made the turf a trifle slippery. The visitors proved no match for the home team, and were easily defeated. Afternoon, tea was provided by the Union, and the takings at the gate were £B2 17s. . , Play early fettled down in the visiters twenty-five, but- a sound kick by King relieved the- pressure, and inaccurate passing of the Beds also assisted the visitors. A dodgy run by Bush right to the Nelson goal-line, resulting in a force-down- soon after, and a good piece of loot-work by Martinet enabled Halliday to score, but Drake’s kick was a failure. Smith was prominent, in some sound defensive work, and tackled the opposing backs in fine style, but he received little assistance from his co-a-dtutors behind the Nelson pack. Finally, a passim* rush in WhicffiiMiddleton, Mer.zies and-Bush took part, enabled Gordon to score, Drake again failing to increase the P °Upon resuming, Bint headed a forward rush* ■which resulted in the home team bsine forced, and soon after Drake did a fine -piece of footwork right to the Nelson line, and Holliday spoilt the likely score by hard kicking. Levin saved cleverly, and several attempted, passing rushes by the local team were promptly stopped by accurate tackling. Finally, however, Ormandy and Bush’s combined phly enabled. Menmes to score. Weston missed the kick. For some time the Nekon team were on the defence, and Blackwell scored, Race missing with the kick, then Menzies dashed over and Drake kicked a goal, and from a long kick by Bush, Riee up fast, and beating Bonor, the Nelson full-back, badly for the ball, scored behind the posts, Drake kicking another goal. The Nelson team then rallied, and had much the better of the play, and the home team were forced several times. Just on the call of time, however, with the play between the home team s twentv-five and centre flags, Drake obtained possession, and outracmg all opposition, scored behind the posts, and taking the kick himself, easily converted. Final score— Canterbury three goals and four tries, twenty-eseven points to nothing. Mr t • T. Evans Was referee.

[Pbb Press Association.] AUCKLAND, June 22.

The Senior Football Competition was continued this afternoon. , u North Shore, six points, heat Parnell, v. City, a draw, six points «Kb. Grafton, five points, heat Suburbs, nil. DUNEDIN, Jute 22. Southern defeated Alhambra, the first time for nine years, by eight ponnte te nil. The win was very popular. Union heat Dunedin by three to nil, Kaikorai beat Pirates by eight to three. Duncan, of the former team, had to leave the field, owing to an injured ahkle. University beat Zingari-Richmond by fifteen, to five. O’Brien, late of Wellington, and one of Alhambra’s best forwards, was ordered off the field in the Second spell.

REFEREES' CONFERENCE. [Fbom: Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, June 21. The Conference of New Zealand referees which has been sitting here concluded its deliberations last night. During the sitting some valuable work has been done of interest to footballers, delegates being present from every Union of the cdlony. Mr Garrard proposed that all rulings arrived at by the Conference should be submitted to the English Rugby Union for approval, and that pending such decision, the rulings should be given effect to in this colony. This was agreed to after discussion. . 'Mr Restieaiix asked to have the matter of wing-forwards made the subject of a strict ruling by the Conference. It was decided that it was impossible,. under the rules, to prevent wing-forward play/ but an agreement was made that all offences by wingfoxwards against the rules should be strictly dealt with. . . In reply to a question bearing On Rule 3, in the event of a referee neglecting to report a player, or players, whom he has ordered off the field, what action should be 1 taken, it was decided that it is competent far anyone conversant with the facts to report stick to the New Zealand Rugby Union through the local Union, In a case-submitted to the Conference, in which a referee asked a touch-judge's opinion, and then gave his decision subsequently* finding the touch-judge in error on law, the question being asked whether the referee was justified ill reversing his decision, it was decided to answer “No/” inasmuch as the onus was on the'referee for not appointing competent touch-judges. The following decisions Were arrived at: —Rule 10—In all flee kicks, ii is not necessary for the ball to reach a line drawn parallel to the goal-line through the place where such kick was allowed. In all place kicks, the kick is forfeited if the ball be not “ placed ” on the ground by the pkoer. If the kick be so forfeited (1) .when a try has been obtained, kick-off from the twenty-five; (2)/When a free kick or fair catch has been awarded, a scrum where the mark Was made. Not dropping the ball on the ground, while in the act Of placing, shall not be considered placing. Law 11, Section E—Referees should inflict penalty if wing-player in any manner handles an opponent not holding the ball. Section F Referees axe instructed to strictly enforce penalty for wilfully holding an opponent who has not the ball. Section H—Ball may be put back in scrummage by foot. Section J— Wing-player placing his hand on serum shall Hot be considered part of the scrummage-' Section K—lf a player in the scrum lift his foot before the ball be fairly put in, he “may” be penalised. Section L—Flayers calling Out for the purpose of intimidating an opponent may be dealt, with. /

The following suggestions to the English Rugby Union were made by the Conference ;—{l) '.That in the event of a scrum overlapping the g6al-line, it shall be lawful for the defending forwards to heel bock the ball, and if the ball be not clear of the overlapping part of the »cnim it shall be made dead. (2) That a fait catch shall be allowed if a player claims with his voice simultaneously with catching. (3) When a player drops the ball in the act of playing, should not such place of dropping be the spot at which the scrummage should be formed? (4) That fll charging of free kicks of kicks at , goal should be deleted from the rules. (5) Is it lawful to bring the ball into play from the touch by a dropkick or punt, the player himself being out of touch, provided the bail be thrown alright angles? (6) The Conference would like to know from the English Union the meaning that is given under Section 0 of Rule 12, mentioned in the circular letter of 1899, to throw the ball out a second time by the opposite side if it is not thrown.’ out straight originally. (7) Is it a breach if the hall he kicked hack into the scrummage by a player outside?