SIDELIGHTS ON RUGBY

Otago Witness, Issue 3763, 27 April 1926, Page 56

SIDELIGHTS ON RUGBY

Bt Chevalier. THE REFEREE ONCE MORE. Before getting to tho rules of Rugby in detail we desire to have another word with the referee because so much in connection with the game depends upon him. It is a job that cannot be taken lightly, and a referee should put as much study into the manner of interpreting the rules as he would to prepare for an examination for a degree or to learn a trade. He is always learning, and he can never become too proficient. In our younger days we were taught a much-needed lesson in this respect. We travelled with a well-known referee who seemed to know the game from A to Z. IJe had been appointed to control h Ranfurly Shield match, and during that railway journey he spent a great portion of the time studying the Rugby handbook You never know what is going to happen in any one match, therefore read, mark, und learn again and again that little hand book, for it contains many pitfalls for the unwary Oar own custom was to take a rule, read it over, and then visualise two teams at play in order, in our mind, to see the particular rule in its application to the various phases of the game. We recommend this method to our young referees. I) helps to make him perfect both in the fettei of the law and in the p!av itself. It is a good scheme to whise awav any waking hours of the night m this fashion, although we hope, for one’s own physical good, that these are few and far between.

Just a hint or two to the referee on his application of the rules on the field of play. We have seen newspaper criticism in which the referee* was blamed for taking up a wrong position. There is no orthodox position—a referee must use his own gumption and adopt his own methods, but he must remember that his methods can make or mar a game. There should be variety m his movements or points will be worked on him, and he will have no one to blame but himself. W e have seen many games in which the referee always takes the same position—for example, on the line out. In one game last Saturday the referee took up a position at the end of the line, which he maintained throughout the game. That is a mistake. He cannot see what is going on on the line, and thus opens the way for much '‘pointing.’ If tho referee moves up and down that line as the game proceed* then the men, knowing that he is on the qui vive, are careful in lonsequence. The referee most endeavour to take up a position so that he will command the game and its movements, hut not get in the way of the flayers. This is not always easy, hut it can he done in most cases. Last week w«- stated that a referee cannot be too careful when play is near the line.. Let us that statement, which is important ovough to be made into an axiom. In a provincial natch several years ago a hefty Maori in possession of the ball crossed the line and a try was awarded. As a matter of fact the opposing half bark, a little fellow had possession of the ball as well, and when the ball was ground there were four hands on the ball After the game the half back stated: “I knew I could not stop tire big beggar so I went for the ball to save a score. Unfortunately the referee was many yards away and was not in a oosition to see what happened Instead of taking up a position so that the play came in his direction, he allowed the plav to run away from him. Sometimes a sudden and unexpected change in the play leaves the referee standing and out of position, hnt he must endeavour when play is in the danger zone to get in such a position that he can *f e i ' at ’ a in the vicinity of tne halt Wth a little experience you can often anticipate the trend of the play. The corners of the field of play are very much more important from the referee’s Fwnt of vieav than many referees imagine. We have to remember that tries are gained and lost very often in the corner area. We were greatly surprised on one oci-asion to notice a senior referee pull up the corner flag and throw it awav when tho plav ap proached that part of the field. Now that was an unpardonable mistake, because the corner flag is an essential part of the field, l.ot us illustrate our point from a personal experience. We were called upon to officiate in a most important match—a play off. In the first spell the forwards of the team which we shall call A—were pressing hard, and the play was in the vicinity of the corner flag. An A forward got possession of the ball, and 1 /ed over the opposing .piaycrs in a splend d attempt to score a try. He eiourided the ball, but the try was not allowed. At half time this A player came to us and said. “I do not want to dispute vour decisions, sir. but I scored u re P* “You grounded the ball but no try was scored because, o? you d;ved over; a B player unable to atop vou was quick enough to seize his opportunity, and before you could ground the ball, while you were in the air, he pushed you against the corner flaw ond nullified vour attempt to score a try.” You see then how important it is that a referoe should keep his eye on that corner flag, and be as near the pla.v aa possible. Another point before we close. A referee carries a whistle for the purpose of controlling the t game. When the whistle blows the game stops, but the referee has not given his decision. What we mean is this r It is possible for a referee to blow his whistle because he thinks a try has been gained. It does not follow th'at he must award a try if he discovers it is a forcedown. A feferee cannot alter his decision once it is given, hut it i« not given when he blows the whistle. That only stops the game to allow the decision to be «iven. Do you see the point? It is reallv an important one because vonnar referees having blown the whistle think they must give the decision they have had in their mind although a fraction of a second later they know it is a wrong one. When the ball is in the field of play an error in blowing the whistle can be overcome, to some extent, by ordering a scrum. NOTES ON PLAY. I noticed in one game last Saturday week that a mark was taken when the player waa on one knee. It waa allowed, but should not have been. We also noticed that some players jumped up and held up their hands when a penalty kick waa taken. That action is now abolished.