RUGBY UNDER WAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19828, 30 April 1927, Page 4

RUGBY UNDER WAY

Cup Competition Commences To-day I Official Opening of Spriggens Park The seven-a-side competition for the Bijou Cup last Saturday served to “break the ice” for Rugby followers in Wanganui, but to-day will see the Cup competition start, thus marking the official opening of the season. Two senior games will be played on Spriggens Parik, the opening ceremony taking place at 2.45 p.m., and a third senior match will take place on the Racecourse. In all, some twenty grimes in various grades will eventuate this afternoon, in which over six hundred players will participate, and sparkling Rugby should be seen.

SPRIGGENS PARK WANGANUI HOME OF RUGBY ATTRACTIONS FOR TO-DAY This afternoon will see ushered in the opening games of the first round in tho Cup competitions and a record crowd should see the various teams dljo battle for champion honours. On Spriggens Park where the principal games will be staged Old Boys will meet Kaierau at 1.30 p.m. and the* game will be cut short by some ten minutes in order to allow of the official opening ceremony taking place at 2i45 p.m. In view of the excellent showing by the light blues in the seven-a-side games last Saturday they should keep the maroons busyi Kaierau have a splendid forward pack, and it is from this quarter that riiey are expectetd to give the most trouble. Old Boys will in all probability rely mainly on in dividual speed to (rvereome their lack of weight in the ti|ght and in Newton and Broad they haw two of the fastest runners ever seen in football in Wanganui. Whether their fleetness of foot will avail the light iblues against Ka.ierau’s deadly tackAing and passing tactics will be revcjaled in to-day’s match. It may be laken for granted that the Kaierau team will not be lacking in players able to seize any op- ; portunity for scoring that is presented.

Tho Old Boys-Kaierau clash will serve as a curtain-rahser to the PiratcsAlarist match, and a spariding exhibition of the code should be witnessed.

The wearers of the black jerseys are fielding a very solid fifteen and are very confident of vwffory .but on the other hand Alarist am* reported as having a greatly improved side, so a stern struggle should cvcnUuate. ’Pirates are fieldjii'g several new players and the display these newcomers put up will serve to indicate whether or not they vrill prove an acquisition to local Rug:by circles. Bennett comes from Taih«ipe and is wellknown in Wanganui, having played representative football lust season. From Marlborough co mes Sparks, who will play in the front rank of the scrum as hooker, and if reports are to be given any credence he should make a name for himself ere long. Another newcomer is Nodwcll, who hails from the Waikato, and he, too, has impressed in practice of late. Head will lead the team as captain and if he has his kicking boot on today Marists will have leeway to make up. He will play wing-three-quarter. Jackson will make his first appearance of the season to-day, while tho veteran Gibson will be seen at fiveeighths. With the speedy Warding, G. Ross, J. Duncan (half) and A. Duncan (fullback) Pirates will have a great chance of starring the season well. The newly-formed Country fifteen will try conclusions on ?the Racecourse with Tech. Old Boys and it will be interesting to see how the country, boys perform. Most of their players are of an unknown quality, but tucy are quiet ly confident of putting uq:) an excellent showing. Ten junior teams will meet on var ious grounds and the play of tho aspirants to senior grade wifi be watched with interest as it is to those grades that the selectors will look for material to fill gaps in the senfnr ranks. Three third grade and five fourth grade games will be played and should prove interesting ,while there are eight fifth grade teams to meet in the lowest division of the day’s fixatures.

NEW GRANDSTAND. OFFICIAL OPENING TO-DAY. At 2.45 p.m. to-day a brii'f ceremony will be held at Spriggens Park to mark the official opening of the line new grandstand which has been erected for the convenience of patrons of New Zealand’s national winter attraction in Wanganui. t A commodious structure capable of seating some 800 persons, the stand has also dressing rooms and other appointments for use by players, lhe. authorities are to be congratulated on the fine building, which serve its purpose for many years < to come and which should be taxed, to its utmost on June 3. Air A. J. Weekes will, if able to attend, be the principal speaker, and other speeches, if any, will be very brief. Invitations have been, extended to Afessrs W. A. A’eitch, W. S. Glenn and H. G. Dickie, Af.P.’s, and also to Rugby officials of district Unisons. The Garrison Band will '.render a couple of selections at the opening ceremony and also, during the afternoon. and members will assemble at Spriggens Park at 2 p.m.

I OTAGO TROUBLES UPROAE AT MEETING [Per Press Association.] DUNEDIN, April 28. Au extraordinary general meeting of the Otago Rugby League to-night was called to reconsider the deliberations of the annual meeting and the election of officers at which prominent officials were rejected. At the outset the chairman, Afr J. T. Cooper, refused to allow (discussion of euch subjects. Legal opinion, he said, had convinced him that the meet ing was out of order anifi could only discuss the last clause of the advertised business of the meeting, regarding revision of the rules. Afr Al. H. Seddon moved that the chairman’s ruling be not sustained. An uproar followed. The chairman refused the motion. Air H. Divers (late secretary) suggested. that the chairman should vacate the chair while the motion was discussed. The chairman would not budge from his position. Air T. Gillies moved the appointment of a committee to consider the revision of the rules and a. host of speakers to the motion uesd the opportunity to speak of “hole and corner” business. Dirty work, packed meetings, and

many obscure allegations and innuendoes were made. The meeting then went into committee after equal voting on the motion to go into committee. The casting vote of the chairman decided the issue in favour of the committee.

The meeting closed in disorder, and tho one motion of a. four-hours’ argument was never put to the meeting.

ENGLISH UNION ALTERATIONS TO RULES SET IN “SIMPLER.” FORM Last year a sub committee was appointed by the English Union to revise tho rules of the game, and set them out in simpler form, though the term “simpler" will not appeal to everyone. These, revised rules have now been received by the New Zealand Union, and are being circulated to all affiliated bodies. The alterations made may be summarised as follow: Knock-on.—Any knock-on, however slight must he ruled a knockon, even if the player catches it again before it touches the ground. Tackle.—So long as there is a moment when the player in possesion of the ball is held in such a way that he cannot pass or play it that player is tackled. Then the ball must be put down at once and any player wishing to play it must play it with the foot first before it can be handled. The penalty for not so doing in both cases is a free kick.

Scrummage.—The ball must now be hooked. If it is tapped, out at the side where it was put in or kicked straight out the other side ,the player doing so must be penalised. The ball is not in the scrummage if it goes right through. Before it can be hooked it must be past both feet of a front-raaiKer of both teams, be on the ground ,and be midway between both sets of hookers. The referee has the power to order the ball to be put in from whatever side he chooses. No player must after the scrummage has been formed, wilfully aid’d himself to the front rank so as to form more than three in that row until the ball has been put in. No player must, by speech or otherwise, indicate as to how or when the ball is beingput in. Time.—ln International matches spells are to be of forty minutes’ duration. Unions are not empowered to appoint time-keepers. Time or half-time may now be called: —(a) When the ball goes into touch or touch-in-goal, (b) After a tackle, (c) After a touch-down, or after a kick at goal after a try. (d) /After the whistle has been blown for an infringement of the rules. The referee has power to stop the game before time has expired if, in his opinion, the full ti,me cannot be played. Referee. —A referee has power to allow extra time for delays. He has power to appoint a substitute if he cannot officiate for the whole period of the game provided the captains of the two teams agree; he is not entitled to contract out of the rules of the game; he must not allow anyone but the players on the ground except at his request. Players desiring to leave the field at half-time must get the permission of the referee.

Touch Judges.—Touch judges must signal with their flags when a gaol is kicked. The referee, however, has the power to over rule any of their decisions. Players on the ground.—A player who is lying on the ground with the ball in his possession must be penalised unless he gets up at once or rolls away, from the ball. Otherwise, he may while

lying on the ground, pass or kick the ball. A player who has been tackled and is lying on the ground may play the ball with his foot. Advantage Rule.—The advantage rule does not apply: (a) At a kick-off or drop-out; (b) when the ball is not thrown in straight at a line-out; (c) when free-kicks or penalty lucks are being taken, and the. rules are broken. Kicking at Goal.—When a player is kicking at goal from a mark or try, he must not handle the ball when it is on the ground, nor must he touch it again after it has been placed on the ground. If he docs so, the kick is forfeited. In the case of penalty-kicks “passive" is now defined as standing with his hands by his siide and not attempting to put the kicker off his kick. Touch-line Flags.—The touch-line flags are no longer considered part of the post, and player is not put into touch by touching the flag only.