THE LEAGUE CODE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23426, 16 August 1939, Page 18

THE LEAGUE CODE

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP PONSONBY'S BETTER FORM MORE ATTRACTIONS NEEDED Tlif decision of tin.' Auckland Rugby League to Continue with -the ' senior grade clia 111 pionsliip. in spite of Mount Albert being iu an unassailable position, is the result of an appeal bv tlie clubs lor additional revenue from "gate" percentages. Hut it is doubtful whether there is sufficient interest to warrant playing any more games. The average Rugby League enthusiast is not greatly interested in the light for second place in the grade, or the financial interests of the clubs. The meeting of City and North Shore was riot an outstanding attraction, and many would have preferred to have seen Mount Albert play Ponsonby. There will be strong counter-attrac-tions for the next five Saturdays and care should be taken to arrange for the strongest clubs to meet. The good effort by Ponsonby against Mount Albert and the consistent form of Newton were features of the series. Ponsonby held a definite territorial advantage in the first spell, and should have scored at least two tries. The Ponsonby backs received numerous chances on attack, principally due to superior hooking by Flanagan. Hardgrave again proved himself the outstanding wing-threequarter in Auckland, and he was mainly responsible for Mount Albert's success. His try came as a result of a brilliant individual effort.

Ponsonby's backs made tactical mistakes in kicking in the air instead of exploiting a short grubber kick, thus enabling the fast forwards to keep control. The conditions were ideal for dribbling. On this form Ponsonby is likely to play a prominent part in the Roope Rooster competition.

* THE KNOCK-ON RULE FAULTY INTERPRSTATION The many cases of late penalties for knocks-on ' have been irritating to players and spectators alike, and it is evident that some of the referees are not interpreting the rule according to the laws of the game. One prominent referee when questioned at Carlaw Park last Saturday, stated that referees had been instructed to blow the whistle in all cases where a ball was not taken cleanly. However, this is not a correct interpretation of the rule. The rule book states that knockingon is a propelling of the ball by the hand or arm in the direction of the opponents' goal. The note, which is attached to the rule, is very clear, and reads as follows: — "Tho ball is not necessarily knocked on in every ease in which it goes forward off the player's hand; e.g., in the case of a ball rebounding off the hands of a player who is standing still, tho hall is not deemed to be knocked on. unless the referee is satisfied that there has been some active forward movement of the players' hands."