SHOULD REFEREES PUT BALL INTO THE SCRUM?

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6873, 1 April 1929, Page 8

SHOULD REFEREES PUT BALL INTO THE SCRUM?

Auckland Remit Defeated CONFERENCE DECIDES THAT ROVERS SHALL STILL DO SO At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Referees’ assoeioGon held in Palmerston North yesterday, the Auckland association advanced the following remit which aroused a very general discussion: — “That the referee place the ball in the scrummage cn all occasions.” On a show of hands, tho Temit was defeated by 13 votes to 10. In bringing forward the remit, Mr. Kronfeld, the Auckland delegate, stated that at the present time Auckland referees consistently placed the ball in tho scrum. His association felt that the present practice of allowing the wing forward to put in the ball, gave a clever rover an unfair advantage, as he could manipulate the ball in any way he pleased. The placing of the ball in the scrummage by the referee was the only really fair method. Mr. Marshall (Waikato) _ seconded the remit, expressing the opinion that the placing of the ball in the scrum by tho wing forward caused a lot of unnecessary trouble. Opposition Voices. On behalf of the Manawatu association, Mr. White opposed the motion. The referee could watch the wing forward and if he saw him attempting to work a point, could penaliso him. Mr. Lett (Bush) was in agreement with Mr. White and expressed the opinion that the referee had already quite sufficient to do. without being compelled to worry about putting the ball in the serum.

Mr. Hollander (Canterbury) added his voico to the opposition chorus and stated that his association was of the opinion that the referee should handle tho ball no moro than he could help. If a wing forward intentionally slewed the ball in putting it in, the referee had his remedy. Also, if the referee put in the ball, he might quite unintentionally give it a twist which would result in bad feeling between the controlling official and the players. The'North Auckland delegate, Mr. A. B. Charters, stated that he was not whole-heartedly in favour of the remit. As far ns he had been able to see, there had been just as much trouble with referees placing the ball in the scrum as with wing forwards. If a referee took proper steps to check unfair tactics, there should be no trouble. The wing forward should not bo able to “put it across” the referee. An Unregistered Dog. Mr. Lynsky (King Country): Where doas the rover come in, anyway? Mr. Charters: On the blind side of the referee, if he is up to his job. Mr. Lynsky: To my mind “rover” is' only tho name of an unregistered dog (laughter). If referees Tuled according to the laws, there would be no rover on the ground. There was no place for him in football. Opposition to tho remit eamo from Mr. Spooner (Wairarapa).- His association was against the referee handling the ball at all. Support Forthcoming.

Mr. Forrest (Hawke’s Bay) contended that the practice of allowing the wing forward to place, the ball ix the scrum opened tho way to a great number of infringements. In 99 cases out of 100, the referee would place the ball in fairly and the result would ba that there would be less delay and less penalising. Support for the remit was also forthcoming from Mr. Clancy (Otago). At a previous conference, this remit had been carried by the Referees’ association and rejected by<-tho N.Z.R.U. Ha did not know whether the same treatment would be meted out again by tho governing body, but ho felt that the referee should not be compelled to watch the wing forward continually while the latter was putting the ball into the scrum. Appeal For Uniformity.

The president, Mr. McKenzie (West Coast), pointed out that all the previous speakers had assumed that the wing forward went on to the field with the fixed intention of beating the referee. The players wero as honest as the referee. A voice: They are not. Continuing, Mr. McKenzie appealed for uniformity in the carrying out of the association’s rulings. At present Auckland referees were putting tho ball into tho scrum, while other associations were not. What guarantee had they that even if the remit., were carried, it would bo observed? Rules Differing. Mr. Kronfeld in reply stated that an almanac issued by permission of tho English Laws committee contained a ruling that the referee could still place the ball in tho scrum. This ruling was not in the New Zealand code, although there was nothing in these, either to say that tho referee could not put in the ball. -Vjckland, which was the biggest union in New Zealand, had played the rule of the referee putting in the ball consistently, although it knew this action to be contrary to the wishes of the N.Z.B. U. It had done 1 this, not to flout the union, but because it believed that it was in the best interests of the game for the referee to put in the ball. Both during the Springbok’s and last All Black tour, it had been agreed that much trouble had been caused by giving this duty to the wing forward. The trouble was jthat in successive reprints of the rules the wording of tho section governing | the nutting of the ball into, tho scrummage, had been altered to suit tho ideas of different compilers. I Messrs McKenzie (president) and ‘Hylton (secretary) assured Mr. Kronfeld that this was not so; Tho New Zealand rules wero an exact reprint of those approved by the English Rugby Union. The motion was then put to thi meeting and lost on a show of hands.

CHESS WELLINGTON BEATS PALMEBSTON NORTH. The tenth annual' chess match between a visiting Wellington team and the Palmerston North Chess club was played during the week-end, Wellington winning by 17J games to SJ. Scores were as under:— Palmerston North. Wellinsrton.

On Saturday evening the visiting players were accorded a civic welcome by the Mayor (Mr. A. J. Graham) who was introduced to the gathering by the club president (Mr A. G. Richards). Tho president also referred to the presence of several distinguished chess players, naming Messrs R. Scott (champion of Wanganui), T. A. Morine (several times Palmerston North champion), A. E. Clemas (president of theMasterton club), C. W. Tanner, (secretary of tho N.Z. Chess association), H. Christensen Taihape), L. Sim (Hastings), F. K. Kelling (official recorder of the N.Z. association) and Mr. J. C. McCrea (Wellington) who was. tho secretary of the first chess club in Palmerston North.

Mr Graham remarked that one of the few joys of Mayoral office, was that of extending welcomes to visitors to the town and it was always a pleasure to him' to extend the hand of friendship. The sight of the chess boards before him took him back to a time many years ago, when the first chess club was formed. A great deal of the success in those days was due to the enthusiasm of Mr McCrea, who was then a young man and it was in Palmerston North that he got his first training that was to fit him finally for the high position from which ho had just retired. The Mayor referred to the progress that the town had made since that time and the fact that its prosperity was largely identified with the progress of Wellington, especially from a commercial viewpoint. Palmerston North had a great many problems to solve, like tho chess player, yet a great deal had been accomplished in the last half century in bringing the town to the position it now occupied. The Mayor concluded by oxpressing tho pleasure it gave him to meet some of the leading chess men of New Zealand. Mr F. J .Bvooker, captain of Wellington team, replied to the welcome. He congratulated the peoplo of Palmerston North on the progress made during the last 15 years. It was astonishing to see the many improvements in buildings and gardens. He recollected that discharging places for rubbish were now beautiful bowling greens, while the Esplanade was a credit to the town and a Wonderful sight for visitors. The future of Palmerston North was assured as there was a splendid country behind it. In fact, there wore very few places more fertile than tho Manawatu district and with tho assistance of Massey college and similar institutions, more wealth ■would be produced than in the past. Mr Brooker concluded with reference to the part chess played in making splendid friendships. Mr F. Iv. lvelling, supported the last speaker, adding that when lie first saw Palmerston North it was when the railway was opened in the SO’s. The progress since then had been amazing. Ho appreciated the welcome extended and was pleased to see old faces present. Mr A. Whitaker,,' secretary of the Palmerston North club, moved a vote of thanks to the Mayor, which was carried by acclamation.

.raimersron .non A. G. Richards ii. w umug tun, 0 F. J. Helling 2 E. 0. Scott 0 S. Faulkner 2 H. L. Thirtle \ E. E. Hicks i A. H. Wright 0 J. C. McCrea i W. H. Messenger 0 F. J. Brooker 2 A. W. Whitaker | D. Purchas £ L. Sim i H. I. Bennett A. Clemas 1 C. W. Tanner 1 A. Site wart 1 J. A. Glasgow 1 H. Christensen 0 F. Grady 2 W. Mitchell 1 I'. Gough 1 W. Lnttimore' 1 H. Anderson 1 Changes in 2nd II. L. Thirtle round:— 0 J. C. McCrea 1 A. H. Wright 0 E. E. Hicks 1 Total .. .. 51' Total . .. 173