FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3035, 15 May 1912, Page 52

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY. Notes by Full Back. The following table shows the position of the teams in the First Grade competition :

Played. Won. Lost. Drawn. Pts. for. Pts. against. Champion pts.

Some of the most vital questions in the history of Rugby football in New Zealand axe to be discussed at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union on Thursday next. For seasons past the air has been pregnant with reforms and alterations to the rules of the game, and there is no stay to the colonial mind in the reforms which should be adopted. There has been a great outcry concerning the so-called conservatism of the. English Rugby union and the International Board, and threats of secession have cropped up as regularly as the seasons. Now it appears again, but with greater force than ever, and the delegates at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union will discuss the question of alterations to laws of the game and the secession from the English, Rugby Union. There is a feeling in oertain quarters that the English Rugby Union is not in sympathy with colonial football, and that any suggestions for alterations to the laws of the game do not meet with the approval of that and would not be recommended to the International Board. This, coupled with the invitation to the South Africans to again visit England in preference to the New Zealandors, has stirred uo a feeling of antagonism to the controlling body of Rugby football in England, and hence we have the notice of motion for secession. So far as tho English Union and the suggested alterations to laws of the game are concerned, one has only to go back to 1910 to find an answer to the criticism that the colonial proposals do not receive consideration at the hands of the English Union. I have before me a copy of a letter from Mr Chas. B. Marriott, the then secretary of the English Rugby Union, to the secretary of the New Zealand Rugby Union, dated February 18, ISIO. It reads: Dear Sir, —The various suggested alterations to rules received from the' colonial unions having first been very fully considered by the Rugby Union Committee, tho alterations approved by them were submitted to the International Board on Friday last. I now enclose those alterations and additions of which the board approves in principle, though there may be some slight alteration in tho. vvordintr when fchey come up at the March meeting of the board for confirmation. I would add that my committee regards it of supreme importance to have one code of rules for the Rugby game throughout the world, and when makingalterations the greatest care to be exercised to prevent subsequent disagreement. —Yours faithfully, (Sgd) Charles B. Marriott, Secretary. Tho letter was accompanied by a list of alterations proposed by tho colonial unions, recommended by the English Rugby Union, and finally passed by the International Board. ... , , , ~ Dealing with the laws of the game, a report of the Now Zealand Union in 1910 stated that considerable correspondence had taken place between the Management Committee and the English Rugby Union relative to the proposed alterations as approved by the Australasian Conference. The New Zealand representations were thoroughly considered by the English .Rugby Union, and were ultimately approved by the International Board. Further proposals were submitted in 1911. and where possible were approved by the English riugby Union. Tho clamour for reforms in the laws of the game is not by degrees of such vital %mport-a.noe as that for reforms in the spirit of play and the exercise of intelligence in playing the game. With rare exceptions players are afraid to jeopardise the prospects of their teams by experimenting and breaking new ground. The saored creeds must be observed and tho orthodox rules of defence and attack as they make for tho winning of the game must bo adhered to. Get players imbued with the true spirit of tho game, and teams with the idea that there is honour iu losing no less than in winning, and Rugby football in New Zealand will be better for it. Reforms in the laws of the game are required, and theflo are being recognised by the Home authorities, despite opinions to tho contrary, bub an it was possible for the footballers of

the past to play bright, open football as fast and spectacular as any Northern Union game ©vex could be, so it is possible for the players of the present and of the future. It is, however, not so much alterations of laws that is required so much as players-of intelligence who will play the game in its widest and truest aspectplayers who, while faithful to the recognised commandments .of';. Rugby, will not hesitate to explore its vast possibilities. All this clamour and outcry for rules to make-Rugby faster and more spectacular will not raise the standard one degree if players do not use their intelligence. The future of the game is in the hands of the players and referees,' and all the alterations ever proposed will not.js.make Rugby better if those engaged do. not catch its .spirit..;- ■ - ■ ; ■■■■■.;.. [: . In respect to the passing over, of the New Zealanders for the South Africans, it may be that the fault—if fault there be—]ir»<; with ourselves,- and that that -view is shared at Home is evidenced by the com- ;' jneht made on the action of the English Rugby Union in extending the invitation to the South Africans. One. authority states: "In' the ordinary rota it was the turn of the New Zealanders, but after the controversy which ensued over the now famous.'three shillings a day' payment it may be doubted whether they would be welcome visitors to the •Scottish-Irish Unions. In addition, Rugby football is in a critical state in Maoriland. There ' are cries in some districts for reforms for the quickening of the game which would not. be accepted on this side, and Northern Unionism is'making some headway; Pos siblj the British Unions are waiting for a. . clearing of the a : r in'New Zealand before extending an invitation. This can only be done by the colonial union in adopting a xsolid and uncompromising attitude . to the ;malcontents, and dealing severely with all cases of rebellion- against the amateur status of the game." .' . Messrs H. Harris (president of the Otago Rugby Union) and-A. Dey (vice-president) departed for Wellington on Tuesday to attend' the annual meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union on Thursday. While in Wellington the two Otago delegates will confer with delegates from Canterbury, Wellington, Taranaki, and Auckland respecting suitable dates for the Otago team's northern tour. / : There are so many important matters to eOnie up' for consideration at the annual .meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union that it. would - be wise, instead of a long sitting, to devote two days to the bus'ness. ;-'ln the case of a late sitting tliere is a tendency tip rush the legislation, but the -pfopesed: secession from the English Rugby Union is not a matter.that can be handled easily,;and ■ not t to be lightly discussed. ; ; Duncan the ' New -Zealand . three-quarter, back, who .visited-England as a member, of-the All. Black team in 1902, and who subsequently took up his residence v in/ Gloucester, has returned' to New Zea^ land i'. : -When in England M'Gregor, after playing »yitlh Gloucester, signed on for a . Welsh .Northern!"Union Club. .Harry... Paton, the Dunedin, Otago, and Neyv Zealand representative who was transferred to Wellington recently, played for Oriental against Wellington last week. , . One.' oritic says: —"Notwithstanding *he. fact .that H. Paton. was'"looking" the Oriental -pack,, on. Saturday, there was 'a weakness somewhere, .and the • Wellington hpokers got the ball far more often * than. their Anyway, the exOtago player scored the first, try for his "side." -" 1 '':■ -". ..:..'... '.';'"■ . V The laws of. the Rugby game are nowadays made at the annual meeting of the International Board,. held at the time of the England v. Scotland match. The board recently,adopted substantial alterations of the code of these gives the referee the power , to award ,a free kick for a "wilful" throw, forward or ioiock-on, and another prescribes the penalty of a free kick or a soriuiimage to be taken at the option of the injured party at the place of infringement or 10 yards from the place where the' ball crossed' the touch line if their opponenents ! have wilfully passed, [' knocked, or thrown the ball into touch. In the case of offside play "wilful" is a term of fairly easy interpretation, as there is no injustice in throwing the onus on. every player of avoiding the ball when he v is offside to the best of his ab-lity. The wilfulness of a throw or knock-on must usually be a matter of pure opinion It may be -disguised by a wily offender; >t may easily be wrongfully attributed to an innocent player; and it will generally be a matter of. doubt, especially at the line out. The word "pass" would appear to be either - superfluous or ambiguous, for if it is not included in "knock" and "throw" it must presumably be intended to cover such indeterminable actions as kicking with the knee or shin. The definition of a tackle has been improved by the board by the addition of words ,declaring that a player is tackled if for the moment he cannot pass the ball when held by one or more players of the opposite side. The text of the addition however/ a 6 is perhaps inaccurate, for it runs: " When • it is so held," • Whereas the rest of the definition merely requires the player, and not the ball, to be held. The board decided that the existirjisr laws suffice for the repression of the "loose head" as a ease,of obstruction. This may be so. .but the feet remains that tb> practice is not repressed. It was also laid dowii that the l-'ill is not fairly in thfc scrummage until it has passed a player on each side. This ruling is_ not riiailv applicable to a scrummage with a front row of a sinele player, and for that matter a. scrummage may consist of two players only, if not of a single player. The International Rugby Board has agreed to add to Law 16, which teatls: "In case of a, throw forward or kriock-bn, the b»ll shall be brought back to the place where such infringement toccurred, and there be sorumm-ised, unless a faiT'catch has -been allowed, or the Opposing side gain the advantage," the 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 be taken at the soot where such, infringement beoun-ed." This shall not apply to a wilful throw forward or knock-on into toijch, must be dealt with under. Law lj6a, a new law, ,:which reads: "If a player shall wilfully pass, knock, or throw the ball into touch the opposite side may claim either a free kick or 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, ten yairds from the place where the ball went into touch, or (b) at a. ««)t '"'here such pass, knock, or throw ©ocurred;" In the case of a free kick, the "spot," whether under (a) "or (b), shall be taken as the mark. This law shall not override tjie power of the referee to allow

or ■ disallow a try under Law ,13, which deala with a score as having been lik-ely i„- lake )>ia<H; but for unfair play or interference of the defending ride.

Southern 3 3 0 0 48 15 6 ZingariRV.hmoniJ . 3 2 2 1 26 9 5 Pirates 3 9 1 C 53 21 4 Kaikorai 3 2 1 0 40 15 4 University . 3 2 1 0 27 24 4 Dunedin ... .. 3 0 1 2 9 18 2 Alhambra . 3 1 2 0 33 34 2 Port Chalmers.. 3 1 1 0 13 36 2 Taieri Rovers .. 3 0 2 1 9 43 1 Union 3 0 3 0 6 37 0