GENERAL SPORTS NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24055, 28 August 1941, Page 4

GENERAL SPORTS NEWS

Bv defeating Training College at Melville Park last Saturday, Mount Eden won the IH4I championship of the Auckland Ladies Hockev Association. Some of the senior teams will plav matches in county districts on Saturday next, and a knock-out competition will be*commenced the following week. The 15th annual New Zealand basketball tournament will commence at Rotorua this afternoon. Fifteen teams from all parts of the Dominion, "giving representation to both islands and four major associations (Auckland, Wellington, llawke's Bay and Wanganui), are represented, while Vvest (oast, Poverty Bay. Taranaki, Waikato and Manawatu a're to plav in the second division, and Jlokitika Matamata, Wairoa. Canterbury Minor, Horowhenua, Rotorua and Bay of Plenty are in the third division. The games, which will extend over three days, will all bo played at the Government Grounds. Approximately 200 players are taking partSome of the referees in Rugby matches nt Eden Park this season have puzzled the spectators by their decisions when a player going over the goal line to ground the hall for a try is collared by an opponent. In a secondary schools' game last Saturday and also in a seiior grade fixture the previous week an attacking player crossed his opponent's line with a defender holding him round the legs, hips or waist. In each instance the ball was grounded cleanly and there was little doubt that tries were scored. The referees, however, ruled a* drop-out at the twenty-five. For what reason is not clear. If, in' their opinion, (ho players were tackled —that is, the ball was held in such a manner (hat it could not be passed or played—then tho correct decision is a scrum five yards out opposito the spot where the ball was held. Only a force-down or a breach in goal by tho attacking side warrants a drop-out at. Hie twenty-five. It would appear that, the referees in question were unable to distinguish between a tackle and a collar. In the latter connection a player still has his arms free to pass or play (he ball, or, as they did in these instances, ground it for a fry. Tho decisions in both matches may have affected the ultimate results, as both tries were scored in positions handy to the posts and may have been converted.