FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14981, 1 May 1912, Page 9

FOOTBALL.

THE NORTHERN UNION GAME.

THE RUGBY GAME. , NOTES AND COMMENTS. A series of eight articles on various matters of great interest to Rugby enthusiasts will* bo published -in these columns during the next few weeks, by special arrangement. They are all written by men of experience and ability, and* their lessons will not bo the loss soiuid because the writers aro more accustomed to English football than to colonial. In fact, several of them have played in New Zealand with visiting teams. For instance, E. J. Jackett has written of combination in tho back division, T. H. Vile of the art of halfback play, and J. L- Williams o'f wing-throequarirer. play. Scientific forward play is dealt with by a lamous Welsh forward. Relereeihg is not overlooked. The first; article'.will appear tomorrow, and tho remainder every Tuesday and 'Ihuriday until tho series is completed.

Wainwright, a Wangamu rejnei*sntativo forward, has jomod the City Cluii. . ■• 1 At a. meeting held last night, the City Club decided that tho senior selection committee tiliould consist, of Messrs. A. lionelia, W. Heath, and whoever is elected captain of the team. • • ... Tho City Club will not enter a third grado team in the union's competitions this season. Most of last, year's thirds will be in the second grado team. Tho club was not represented in the second grade last, year. A team, of which F- W. Khun will bo captain, will play in the fourth grade. Both spectators and players should appreciate the groat improvements whioh havo been mado at Alexandra Park. Since last season the appointments at that portion of the' nark more familiarly known as Potter's Paddock have 'been greatly" improved and beautified by tho Auckland Trotting Club, from whom .the Rugby Union rents the ground during the football season. The formation of the new race-track has caused the shifting Of the senior grounds a little further from tho grandstand, but this does not adversely affect th© view of the matches which patrons of the stand will enjoy. The stand itself has been renovated, and in" front of it a orettr lawn, with little flower-plots, has been laid out. The dressing-room accummodation has been greatly improved and' enlarged. At last week's meeting of tho union's management committee reference was. made to the awkward access to tho shower-baths. This difficulty is being remedied. There is also plenty of accommodation for players in the" ground floor of the grandstand at the Agricultural Ground. Last week I wrote of the tinkering with tho laws of tho game which is so unfortu-• nately a feature of tho control of Rugby, and I specially referred to the last alteration in the definition of a tackle. Since that paragraph appeared the mail from England: has brought advice of yet another alteration in that particular definition. It is now as follows:—"A tackle- is when the holder of the ball is held by one or more. players of tho opposite side so that he cannot at any moment while it is so hold pass.or play it." Not only does this definition allow oven more room for argument than before, but it affords a tvbical oxample of tho International Board's careless use of language. The definition at first refers to a player who is held, but the last few words speak of thi ball being held. When will commousen so to the basis of the International Board' 3 decisions? : , The Board has decided, that the ball ,is not fairly in the scrummage until it has passed a player on each side .. An addition to tho rule regarding a knock-on or throw-forward (rule 16) has been mado by the board. v The rule "before was this: "In case of a throw forward or knock-on, tho ball shall be brought back to the place where such infringement occurred, and there be scrummaged, unless a fair catch has been allowed, or the opposing side gain an advantage." To this will bo added th© words, "or ..unless in the opinion of ' the referee such throw forward or knock-On is wilful, when he may award a free kick, to bo taken at tho snob whero such infringement occurred. This shall not apply to a wilful throw forward or knock-on into touch, which must be dealt with under Law 16 (a)." Law 16 (A! is a new regulation, and is in tho following terms:—"lf a player shall wilfully pass, knock, or throw tho ball into touch tho opposite side may claim either a 1 free kick' a scrummage. Such free kick or scrummage is to be taken at their option, either (a) at *a spot at right; angles to the touch line, ton yards from the place where the ball went into touch, or (b) at the spot where such pass, kick, or throw occurred. In the case of a free-kick the ' snot," whether under (a) or (b), «hall be taken as a mark. This law shall not- over-rldA the power of tho referee to allow or disallow a try under Law 13."

NEWTON RANGERS CLUB. ■ The Newton Rangers Football Club (Northern Union) held a well-attended meeting last night, at which it was decided to grant A. R. H. Francis a transfer to tho Wigan Club. Messrs. J. Bennett, A- B. EL Francis, and G. Gillett were appointed the senior selection committee. Francis was appointed club captain, and W. Mackrcll Ticocaptain. . Ton new members, wcro elected. Tho club will enter a senior and a second grade foam in the Provincial League's competition*. A third team may also be entered. The club will hold a practice at Victoria Park to-morrow evening, between five and six o'clock. An A and B match will be played at Eden Park on Saturday. THE ASSOCIATION GAME. . The Poneonby team holds. its meetings every Wednesday evening in Drake Brothers' stationer's- shop, Karangahape Road. All plavers and members arc invited to attend. i The Everton and Ponsonby teams will play a practice match tit Victoria Park on Saturday afternoon next.