“ON THE BALL.”

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 8 May 1925, Page 13

“ON THE BALL.”

RUGBY COMPETITIONS OPEN TO-MORROW.

(By “Touchline.") i' Tho Rugby season in South Canterbury well be opened officially tomorrow, when the South Canterbury Rugby Union will kick off in all five grades of competition fixtures. The rains of tho week-end and the beginning of the present week bpvo put the playing fields in excellent football order, and if . the promise of fine .weather until opening day is fulfilled the ground conditions should leave little to be desired.

The grand total of entries for the competitions shows a further increase on previous years, and the availablo grounds will be taxed to their utmost capacity. The work of reforming the No. 2 area at the Athletic Grounds was not completed in time to allow it to be used for the present, and it is doubtful if No. 2 will be available until next season. This will necessitate more frequent use of the Caledonian Oval for senior matches, and cne .first grade contest will be played there on most Saturdays during tho season. The influx of new minor grade teams has further increased the difficulty of accommodating all the players, but the Union is in the fortunate position of having tho Racecourse at its disposal, and three —■ possibly four—grounds will be laid out there. It has to be borne in mind, however, by players and onlookers alike, that tenure of tho Jockey Club’s enclosure is conditional on certain regulations being strictly observed, and in the. interests of everybody it is to be hoped that no cause for complaint will be given. Altogether 25 matches have been set down for .decision to-morrow, six of them at Washdyko, and two at Ashbury Park. The senior game at the Athletic Grounds will he Star v. Celtic; Old Boys will meet Temuka at the Caledonian Grounds; and Zingari will journey to Winchester to ■ try conclusions with Waihi.

Many new faces will be seen in some of the senior fifteens this year, and until .the players have shaken down in their positions, slight changes in personnel may continue, but 75 per cent, of the first grade men of 1924 will be seen in action again to-morrow, The Wellington Union has advised clubs under its jurisdiction to; curtail ,the practice of replacing, ••■/•injured players, ;and has recommended that no substitutions should be made, after halftime.

The South Canterbury Rugby Union is presenting life memhqristicketa (admitting "to all football matches at the Athletio Grounds to; ;all shareholders in the old; Sports Ground Company who donated their scripi'to the Union. The captain of one of the big Wellington clubs advanced a strong argument in favour of the new polioy of "no replacements," He stated that if his club was relieved of the necessity of providing an emergency for each team it would he able to enter an additional fifteen for the competitions. y*Spmqthing more than recognition of manifold services to Rugby in South ’Canterbury .was intended by the honour .Conferred on Mr H. ; H. Fraser by the . delegates vassembled iiy Wellington. The felayatibn: of the head./of/tbe: S.C.R.U. to the highest office, in ;New Zealand Rugby, was in tended vtd mark also appreciation of his work' in connection yrifch the entertainment. ■of visiting teams, from, all parts, of this country and overseas, . a' tssk- which Mr Fraser has made peculiarly His own. 'lt is difficult to, name, any man who has laboured longer or more earnestly for the cause of Rugby in this province, „and the 'compliment paid to the South Canterbury'president is well merited.Appended is a list of tentative representative fixtures arranged for South Canterbury at a conference of .delegates in Wellington during the "anmial meeting of the New Zealand Rugby Union: — ,v

Aug. 19.—Southland v. 5.0., at Timaru. Aug. 26.—Auckland v. S.C., at Auckland. Sept. 2. —Taranaki v. S.C,, at Hawera. Sept. 5. —Manawatu v. S.C., at Palmerston North. Sept. 9.—Wellington v. S.C., at Wellington. Sept... 12.—Canterbury v. S.C., at .Christchurch. Oct. 3.—Wanganui v. S.C., at Timaru.

.■lf the above programme is carried out a South Canterbury team will be on tour at the same time as Otago, and the usual gamo in Timaru with tho southern Union will be lost. The, pencilled .date for the match against Taranaki at Hawera clashes with the meeting of a combined Canterbury-South Canterbury fifteen with the New South Welshmen at Christchurch, and if a northern tour is undertaken this Union cannot expect to have many representatives in the combined team. The final game of the season, with Wanganui, is sot down for October 3rd, and apparently the Rugby campaign this year is going to encroach into tho cricket season. Auckland and Taranaki are scheduled to meet as late as October 19th. WANGANUI’S 18 POINTS. At the opening of, the season last week, the Wanganui Referees’ Association issued the following 18 hints to loferces, players, and public:— A few Hints: (Referees). —Referees, do your best; qualify every decision, and blow the whistle as if you meant it. Remember one whistle stops the game—two blasts, take off time (when official timekeeper is handy), and three blows brings the ambulance. Five minutes only for half-time interval.

All (scrummages between the 25’s lines mdst be 10 yards out from touch. The live-yard throw-in from touoh operates everywhere. The free kick (penalty kick) is now absolute. (The kicker may also place the ball on these occasions). Remember, scrummages cease to exist if the part containing the ball is pushed back over the goal line. Kicking directly into touch from outside a player’s own 25 brings tho ball back for. a throw in front touch opposite tho spot. Referee to direct line umpire on such occasions. Allow no appeals. If, whon a rule is broken and tho opposite side gains no advantage, blow die whistle immediately and give the decision. Give special attention to the team slips and seo the results are put in ior the: secretary.

Don’t forget your pass, otherwise you will be “stuck up’’ ot the gate. ' If watching other games, don’t criticise your fellow referee in public. Leave this for the meeting. Set yourself a standard so that your refereeing becomes tho gume as well as a pleasure. Heed your mistakes—tho first game always hardest—-and' so gain experience

Don't forget to see each te,am has a ball, and don’t permit players to start unless they are togged in thoir clu colours. More hints (for the public) .—Please refrain from being too critical —remember it’s only tne first gamo, and some roferees may bo a bit “rusty” on t.ho rules.

Remember, too, that the line umpire may see a little more than yon. He has to give the decision, anyway. Remombe;: that line umpires do not

have to signal for a successful kick a goal is kicked the referee will give two blasts on his whistle and elevate one hand. For no goal the referee will give the “wash-out” sign. After a try and whether a goal is kicked or not the ball must go to tho half-way lino for kicking ,off. Remember, please, that the advantage rulo operates everywhere—even on the linos-out —so don't expect the referee to blow for every breach.