South African Referees – Claim Hooking from Set Scrums Not What it Was

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27096, 2 June 1949, Page 4

South African Referees - Claim Hooking from Set Scrums Not What it Was

New Zealand is not the only country troubled by the hooking from set scrums in Rugby matches, and according to the Pretoria correspondent of the Cape Argus, Rugby referees from all over the Union of South Africa and Rhodesia are agreed that it is not what it should be or used to be. As a result of reaching uniformity in thfe interpretation of the scrum rules during the recent Springbok trials ferees are to penalise hookers for swinging their legs forward and blocking the mouth of the scrum before the scrum-halves have put the ball in;

At the first meeting of the South African Rugby Referees’ Conference at Roberts Height, scrum rules were dealt "with exclusively, and a difference of. interpretations of these rules in the various centres was discovered. Scrum-halves do not have a chance of putting the ball deep into the scrum and. thus allowing it to be hooked cleanly, because since the last change of rules hookers have been allowed to swing their legs towards the mouth of the scrum, and well ahead of the legs-of their-supporting front-rankers, even before the ball is delivered into the scrum, said the referees. It was also agreed that in an endeavour to have better hooking, scrumhalves should hold the ball below their knees before delivering it into the scrum, in order that the hookers may nook by sight and not anticipation, a reason for “ foot-up ’’ infringements. The question of “intrigue” between the scrum-halves and their hookers was also discussed. It was decided that “intrigue” w£s quite permissible provided the players concerned conformed to the scrum rules. This proviso would do away with any “funny business” in the scrum, the referees agreed. Mr Boy Louw, former Rugby Springbok, Messrs Carl Basson, A. C. de Villiers and J. J. de Kock, were all prominent in the discussions, which were led by the chairman of the Referees’ Society, Dr D. J. Conradie. Former Champion Hurdler

Visiting Dunedin is R. W. Lander, nowadays an inspecting technician in the chief engineer’s branch of the Post and Telegraph Department Wellington. Roger Lander is well remembered locally as one of the finest hurdlers seen on a Dunedin track. It was as a Wellington representative that ne first won the New Zealand 120 Yards Hurdles Championship in the 1923-24 season in 16sec. During the next three seasons he represented Otago and defended his title successfully on each occasion, and then again in 1927-28 and 1928-29 retained it for Wellington. His hurdling was marked by consistency and style, evidence ofthe former quality being given by the fact that on five occasions he won the national title in ljj 4-ssec or better, and when ’he won it in February, 1927, at Auckland he equalled the then Australasian record of 15 l-ssec. In the following season at Wellington he won the Australasian title, running 16 2-ssec into the teeth of a gale. A member of the Civil Service Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club, he won many Otago titles, and had some keen dules with the University star, H. D. Morgan. Lander also gave excellent service as sports secretary of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association for a period. Reputation Enhanced As was anticipated, the advent of Training College last Saturday provided the greatest amount of interest .on the basketball courts at Memorial Park, St. Kilda. In the opening tournament, College demonstrated that it would be a force to be reckoned with in the days to come, and it certainly lived up to that expectation last week. Albany has provided many thrilling moments already since the season opened, especially in the forward third so that with College playing a fine combined game, capped with almost perfect accuracy in the goal-mouth, spectators were treated to many entertaining episodes. The feature of the day’s game was Alison Hughes's play, but Eleanor Armstrong delighted those watching with her control of the ball. Altogether 60 goals were shot during this game, despite good defensive play on the part of both teams. Women’s Hockey Selectors The announcement of the election of committees to select the Otago women’s representative hockey teams was- made last week. . Mesdames Sonntag, Garrett and Miss N. Gourley will select senior teams, and Mesdames Blackie, Quaid and Marsden will be responsible for junior teams. An early start with preliminary selection is all the more necessary this season, since so many new players are taking their places in the ranks of Senior Grade teams. Only six of the fifteen players who represented Otago in the K” Cup tournament last year are playing regularly for their clubs this season, sq that new talent will have to be found* Fortunately there are several younger players who have caught the eye in matches played so far this season, and there is no reason to doubt that a strong combination will be assembled to travel to Master ton in August. , Five-Eighth’s Good Display J. Kearney who was at first fiveeighth for University B against Zin-gari-Richmond oa. Saturday was a tower of strength to his side on defence, his cover defence and welljudged kicks to the line bringing much heeded relief at critical stages of the game. On attack his straight running and well-directed short punt to the gap often had the Zingari line in danger, and if the other backs had shown as much resource as he University B’s score might have been greater. Empire Games Visitor’s Accommodation With the mounting of interest as the dates for the Empire Games approach, Aucklanders are being inundated with letters from friends and relatives, close and otherwise, from all parts of the Dominion requesting accommodation for the duration of the Games. The latest information from the Games Committee shows that an accommodation officer is to be appointed to deal with this problem, and all requests for assistance in obtaining accommodation should.be forwarded through this department. Undoubtedly the scheme will be similar to that developed by Mrs A. C. Laing on behalf of the Otago Centennial Committee, and if the Games Committee is fortunate enough to appoint someone as capable, and with a similar capacity for work as Mrs Laing, any prospective attenders will be assured of courteous attention.