FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 956, 16 May 1889, Page 26

FOOTBALL.

ANSWERS TO , OQBBBSP,OK DENTS. „ Toiroß-UNB ask*:— lf a player ie running,. with the fcall, and passes it to another player who 1$ , running In a straight line with' him,' Is the player t whoTreceivei the ball oft-side? This is a moot - point, but most umpires allow straight pasiei. < Youlwill see, however, 1 that.it is, almost Impot- - slble to throw ,the ball in a perfectly straight line., There is almost certain to be, some deflation — even though it is only the hundredth part of an inch— to one side or the other*. It seems to me, therefore, that? the matter should be left to the ■■ discretion of the umpire. Of course, no one who > ■ plays the game in the true spirit in which it ought to bi played .would ever think if, appealing .unleai „ the (infringement was of a more flagrant nature than simply making a straight pass. ' •- Hau back. - No ; there are some slight differences in the rules as played in the different countries: Some years ago Scotland and England quarreled } oven a disputed try at an international, matoq. As the result of this and some' other little differences an 'lnternational Board ..was formed... Thi* was joined by Scotland,, Wales, and Ireland; but - , ■ England refused to join unless the representation , was jmore proportionate to the .number of, players in the different countries. England ' still - adheres to the laws of the Eugby Union, and the 'other countries adopt the ' laws j agreed to by the Inter* < national 9oard,< which are practioally the same. Inconsequence of this split Bnglandjhas now no international matches, which teems a very great