THE KNOCK-ON RULE

Taranaki Daily News, 28 June 1935, Page 10

THE KNOCK-ON RULE

N.S.W. DECISION IRRITATING CHECKS The decision of the New South Wales Rugby Union delegates to loosen up on the ridiculously strict knock-on interpretation will be welcomed by the large majority of followers. In recent years we have seen the rule carried almost to absurdity and beautiful movements jarred through sheer technicality. In future if a player fumbles or mishandles the ball, but regains it before it hits the ground, it will not be deemed a knock-on. The game should accordingly suffer fewer irritating checks. One does not believe that the knock-,, on rule was ever intended to !>e applied" as strictly as many Sydney referees evidently thought, but this move defines the position clearly. The motion that a player should appear in three interstate games before he be deemed a representative player was withdrawn. The idea was that the honour was being cheapened—and there is something in the argument—but it is one of those things that it is difficult to legislate for. # # # «

Ray Clarke, Taranaki forward, is included by Mr. A. H. Carman, editor of the 1934 New Zealand Rugby Almanac, in his choice of “the five players of 1934.’’ The others he selects are W. E. Hadley (Auckland), H. T. Lilbume (Wellington), G. F. Hart (Canterbury) and J, Hore (Otago),