FOOTBALL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 30 May 1919, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

NEAV ZEALAND RUGBY UNION. AMENDING THE RULES. i Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 29. At (.he annual meeting of the- New Zealand Rugby Union to-night the secretary reported that he had communicated with the English union regarding the laws of the game, but had received no reply. Mr. OhL-on (Auckland) then moved to amend Rule 2, by .substituting tlie words; “But may make such mollifications as may be deemed desirable in tho interests of the game,” for “As from time to time fixed by that body.”

A lengthy discussion took place on the question of whether the carrying of the motion would moan severance from the English Union. .Eventually the motion was lost by 20 vpios to 24. The proposed amendments to the laws of the game were considered. A motion to abolish the wing forward was carried by 23 votes to 21. A proposal that absolute free kicks and kicks at goal from penalties and tries should be absolutely free from charge was defeated on the casting vote of the chairman. It was unanimously agreed that the referee should bo allowed to put the hall into the scrum, A motion providing lor the modification of the lawgoverning kicking into touch otherwise than from a kick-olf or linc-out was lost ,aud a proposal that the advantage rule should apply to line-out play was adopted. .Mr. Oh. Ton moved that delegates should be. asked to bring before their unions the amendments which were agreed upon, with a view to having them adopted in their local fixtures. The chairman explained that before the amendments could bo approved finally for all competitions they would have to receive tho approval of the English Union. An amendment that before the alterations agreed to were played they should receive the. assent of tho English Rugby Union was rejected by 24 votes to 19, and a further amendment that the recommendations be not put into force until 1920 was also lost. Tho motion was carried on the voices. WELLINGTON, May 30. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Jlugby Onion began at midnight owing to the evening having been taken up in discussing rules. Tho officers were elected as follows: Patron, the Governor-General; president, Mr. F. T, Evans (Christchurch); Management Committee, Dr. Crawford, Messrs. 11. A. Morris, C. A. Mathieson, E. 0. Hales, G. W. Slade, K. Akers; Appeal Council, Messrs. E. CowJishaw, W. G. Garrard, G. H. Mason; auditor, Mr. Kcmber; representative on the English Rugby Union, Mr. Wray Pallisor; lion, treasurer, Mr. T. JH. Jones. It w;ns decided that for tho coming year tho Appeal Committee should ho [ elected by the Management ConunitI lee and ho located in Dunedin, and that the Appeal Council should sit in Christchurch for the next three years. It was unanimously resolved that the Ranfuriy Shield regulations be amended as follows; That regulation j No. 3 he deleted and the following sub- ! stituced: (3) All special challenge i matches shall be played on the ground of the holder of the shield for the time being, but any affiliated union mooting tho holder of tho shield in the ordinj ayy course of iutor-uuion matches, who-

thor on tho holder’s ground or not, may give notice to the Now; Zealand Rugby Football Union and to the holder, not loss than fourteen days bqJ'ore the day appointed for tho match, declaring such match to be a Itanrurly Shield challenge match. To encourage school football it was decided to recommend the Management Committee to make a .grant of £2t)o to the Public Schools’ Union. CLIFTON (6) v. TUKAPA (0). Rugby football, which has I?een dormant for four seasons, was resuscitated on Thursday by the playing of a senior game Clifton v. Tukapa. The match was arranged as a benefit for the wellknown and popular ex-player, Mr. H. Myuott, and although tliorc was only a small, attendance ot spectators at the recreation grounds there was a large number of tickets sold. Tho ground was rough and heavy, and tho frequent showj ers which fell by no means improved I matters. However, considering that it | was the opening game, and that the players are not in form, some good play was witnessed. Tho black and gold (Clifton) had much the heavier team, which was plainly evident in the scrums. Tukapa, however, put up a splendid fight and Prior, at full back. Hooker, and Lovoridge were prominent throughout tho game.

Eor Clifton Kuke flayed a rattling good game, and promises to be a very hot member during the season. That Clifton made the gamo lively there is no disputing, and at times their passing was remarkably good, likewise their dribbling rushes. Early in the game Clifton got into Tdkapa’s 23 line, and from a scrum a dribbling rush carried the ball to Tukapa’s lino, where a scrum was formed, enabling E. Tate to score. George took the kick but failed to convert,

In tho second spell Clifton secured another try, Puller, who was playing extra wing-forward in this half, touching down. Mr. W. Roch gave every satisfaction as referee. The teams wore : Clifton—Pull-back, George (captain); i hree-quarters, Jones, Fuller, M’Koy; five-eighths, Kuke and M‘Harvey, half, Taylor; wing, Tate; forwards, Clare, MTvondrick. Snffe, Maim, E. Tate, Barry and Skelton. Tuknpa: Pull-back, Prior; three-quar-ters, Hooker, Oliver (captain), Boswell; five-eighths, Gardiner, Copcstakc; wing, Loveridge; forwards. Cocker, Johnstone, M‘Hardy, Hughes, Braeburn, Hawkos and Hurley. STAB v. BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

Tho above match, played on the racecourse on Thursday, resulted in a victory for the Boys’ High School, the score being Bto (i. Atkinson and Boon scored tries for tho School, one of which was converted by Osborne. Page scored a try, whilst a second try was also secured by Owen. Mr. M'Rae acted as referee. strattord’ matches. The District High School met a town team on Thursday, and scored a win by 8 points to 3. Stratford met Midhirst and put up a win by 8 points to Midhirst’s nil. E. Kivell (Stratford) scored a try, which was converted by Rogers. Wiles, an emergency player, scored a try. ’ Mr. Campbell Jackson refereed both matches. A player in the senior match, E. Fenwick, full back, was struck on the. head and rendered unconscious. He was rempved to Ills home and medical attention obtained. Later there were signs of returning consciousness and tho man’s condition improved. STAR v. OKATO. Tlie following will represent Star seniors v. Okato on the recreation grounds at 2.30 p.m. Mynoit benefit match; N. Blucher. J. Pay, 0. Keva, S. Skipper, Mac Skipper, E. Loveridge, H. Muuoo, Jacob, Skipper, Herbert, B. Spence, A. E. Richards, E. L. Eggars, AT. L. Hughes. P. Sheppard. Emergencies; Falconer, E. M‘Koy, T. Stanley.