RUGBY POINTERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18840, 11 August 1923, Page 6

RUGBY POINTERS

(By “Referee.”)

It is strange that in the last ‘big’ matches played in Napier and Wellington, glaring cases—(glaring of course, to the spectators) of obstruction. and shepherding have been witnessed. The pity of these incidents, is that the referee is invariably so intent on watching the ball that he cannot catch the culprits. Of course, the poor ’whistler’ is blamed for not giving free kicks, and catching the individuals, so acting. This is hardly fair; and if the newspaper reporters would only- mention such incidents, and report them in the ‘write up,’ mentioning names, I think there would be less of such happenings. The referee cannot see everything, therefore it is to the Tooker-on’ —the reporter to do the needful and help clean up bad play. POPULAR FANCIES. That the Referee Is a ‘nark.’ He spoils all good play. He knows the rules less than the spectators. He doesn't know his job properly. He ‘snouts’ certain players and teams. He’s either too much whistle, or else misses too much.

Some players take the field, feeling that the referee is all that is bad and is a ‘spoil sport.’

Of course, on reflection, a player will hardly be as sweeping as the above notes, but nevertheless, he doesn't give the referee the slightest credit for being a help to the game. Probably the average player has not assimulated the 34 pages of actual rules, but he should concede the fact that the referee has endeav- : oured to ‘keep them all in his i head.’ If the average player played his game as well as the average referee knows the rules, what a delightful '•ame Rugby football would become. Our last week's poser did not beget many replies, but probably the notes were overlooked owing to the big matches elsewhere attracting attention. The penalty for the player in touch, calling “all on” before his men, were actually on side, should be 1 A scrum where the ball was last played; or 2 A free kick opposite the spot 10yds from the touchline. The player, in this instance, is not out of the game, because he is running up in touch and the rule puts the onus on him to get into play ar soon as possible: only the kicker is granted this ‘in touch’ privilege, when putting his men on side. Rule 10.—All free kicks may be place kicks, —drop kicks or punts, but must be iu the direction of the opponents goal line. This simply means that players must kick up field. If, otherwise, unless the other side gain some advantage, a scrummage should be ordered.

So far this season, no local referee has had to give a 'free kick’ for a player unnecessarily' wasting time when the ball is in touch. Fortunately also, no referee has to award a 'no charge’ against players making a demonstration, w-hen an opponent is kicking at goal. CONFLICTING RULES. Two happenings occurred in the College-King's game on Wednesday, which show plainly that the rules, even in New- Zealand, are not interpreted uniformly.

Auckland asked that the referee put the ball in the scrum for them,

every time it was King's ball. The local referee refused to do this, and rightly so, I think, as the rule is distinct and states that ‘the side not committing the breech,’ maybe allowed to put the ball in, although any player can be allowed to do so. for the -oferee put the ball in on every occasion would be, to my way of thinking, unduly interfering with the rules and the spirit of the game. 2 The Auckland half was penalised for running into the scrummage with the ball, after it had been hooked. Again, the rule book is emphatic on this point—Rule 11, section H, states—’or the ball having come out wilfully returns it by hand or foot into the scrummage.’ Apparently the Auckland referees have their interpretations, regarding the application of the rules but nevertheless, the two instances quoted above will serve to show how- extremely difficult it must be to play- good rugby when teams are away touring. The difference in interpretation should not be as much as illustrated.

Another incident in Wednesday’s College game, was the referee’s watch ‘going on strike.’ Apparently one hand got jambed, with the result that the first spell worked out at 47 minutes, instead of the stipulated 40. It was an unfortunate happening, and probably the Auckland boys suffered the most, as they invariably play the 4 twenty minutes spells in school football. The second spell could not be curtailed in consequence as “The Referee’s decision as to time must be final, even if he has kept it in accurately.’’ The watch was borrowed, so perhaps, it won’t happen again. King’s were also surpised at the referee awarding a scrum for ‘carried back,’ when one of Auckland’s players, standing with one foot in goal and one in field secured the ball and ‘forced.’

The rule, 17, particularly states that this cannot be done and should be penalised by the ‘scrum back.’

Received Aug. 10, 11.20 p.m. SYDNEY. Aug. 10. Sailed.—Manuka (6), for Wellington. The New South Wales Rugby: Union team are passengers. -

THE FOOTBALL TROUBLE (To ihe Editor.) Sir, —All Wanganui followers of Kugny must regret the unfortunate position created by the action of the Kata Club officials and the Kangitikei Rugby Sub-unioti. 1 mention t-lKse b idles advisedly, as in niy opinion they arc entirely to ulame. lhe sympathy ol all good spoils will go out to the clever Maori lads from Rata, who are paying the penalty, and especially to the brilliant Peina and Potaka, who are likely to have the highest Rugby laurels in the land torn from them ji.st when the great prize was their’s. Suiely we cannot altogether blame these boys lor showing a spirit of comradeship and loyalty to the wishes ol their club .nates. However ill-ad-vised their action neiv have been, one cannot help admiring the spirit that prompts thc 'i to make such a sacrifice. I sincerely hope that the forthcoming inquiry will foster the blame on those teally responsible, ami that the clever Maori pair of All Blacks will be free to take the tield al Dunedin on August 25th. The Wanganui Rugby public has a very soft spot tor Peina and Potaka. Their clever and brilliant play has done much to brighten the game and bring our province into the Jimenght. 1 am sure I voice the feeling of all local followers of the game when I express the hope that those players shall not suffer for the foolishness and selfishness of others.

In conclusion, let me state that while secession may suit the Wanganfti liiigby ( nion, it will be a poor move l« the Rangitikei Sub-union. Their Lading players will immediately lose the prestige of playing for an A grade province and sink into obscurity as members of a B grade union. Rangiukei has be»>n well treated in the matter of representative players; too much so, in fact, for the officials at the head of that bodv. 1 am. cir , “ BARRACKED ” RANGITIKEI SUB-UNION (To the Editor.) Sir, —It is to he hoped that on reading the report cf the special meeting of the Wanganui .Rugby ( nion. which appeared in your columns to-day (Friday) under sensational headings, your readers will not jump to conclusions as hastily as the members of the Union have done. I’he decision to suspend Hie whole Rangitikoi Sub-union on purely hearsay evidence is just a:.other nail in the coffin of the Wanganui inion as at present constituted. One would have expected th nt such a responsible body would have hesitated to come tc such a decision until it had received some official commutication from the Management ( on'mirtee of the Rangitikei Sub-union. Angels would have :eared to tread thq pat.*) the Wanganui vnion has taken

On reading the report of the meeting in Wanganui, it seeinn that the deputation that came out to Rata were in such delightful confusion as to what were decisions of the Rata Club ami what were decisions of the Rangitikei Management Committee, that one is inclined to wonder what the deputation 'Aas doing cn the journey there and tack and who paid In any case what possible excuse was th. re for accepting mg the Rata member ol the committee ns the spokesman for the whole committer of the Sub-union?

There has been no meeting of the Rangitikei Suh-unior to rescind any resolution passed at the ordinary meeting of the Management Committee on Fuesday last. It is entirely wrong to nssume that the action of the Rata ’•.layers was either encouraged or endorsed by the committee a whole. Nevertheless, the Wanganui Union, after spending time indulging in guessing as to what part the local management committee had in the- matter, impetuously dec idi d that their dignity had been outrage 1 and in wholesome tashion, suspended i’he whole Subnnion. Surelv here is a setting for Gilbert and Sullivan.— i am, etc., L. J. THOMPSON. Hunterville. ENGLISH SOCCER TEAM TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 10. (Per Press Association.) Writing’ from London to Mr. B. L. Salmon, secretary of the New Zealand Football Association, Mr. G. W. Baglie, a member of the Auckland Football Association, states that arrangements are now in train for an amateur team composed of good players to visit New Zealand iu the 1924 season. A start lias now been made with the necessary arrangements. Mr. Baglie will be back in New Zealand at the end of tho month and will personally inform tho New Zealand Association as to tho arrangements made.