FOOTBALL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13058, 28 April 1910, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

NORTHERN UNION GAME. Press Association.-Telegraph.—Copyright. , Received April 28, 9.50 a.m. LONDON, April 27. The remainder of the Northern Union football team which is visiting Australasia will sail in the Malwa. GROUNDS AND REFEREES FOR SATURDAY. , SENIOR. Rec. No. 1, 3 p.m.-—Wanganui v Kaierau. Referee—Mr L. Bassett. Rec. No. 2 3 p.m.—Pirates v Eastern. Referee—Mr T. T. Bell. JUNIOR. ■Rec. No. 2, J. 30 p.m.—Pirates v Matariki. Referee—Mr G. Pownall. Rec. No. 1, 1.30 p.m.—Wanganui v Kaierau. Referee, Mr G. Holland. THIRD CLASS. Colcge No. .2 Ground, 3 p.m.—Pirates v Eastern. Referee—Mr B. Ashcroft. FOURTH CLASS. Kaierau v Wanganui.—Mr G. Thompson. WANGA'NUI TEAMS FOR SATURDAY.

The Wanganui Club will be represented in their respective matches by the following:

Seniors, against Kaieraußignell, Atkinson, Cameron, Campion, Beckett, Southcombe, Howartson. Aitken, McDonald, Bridges, Laird, Green, Russell, Northover, Morgan. Juniors, against Kaierau—Emia, Moore, Day, Boyle (2), Abbott, Peters, Swan (2) G. Green, Coates, Quirk, McTavish Mot? rison, Hughes, Worsop, Powell. Fourths (against Kaierau) —D, Coates, Rangi Puki, Sarten, Absolum, Baddeley Dickie, T. Boyle, Mullins, Stewart Richardson, Ratua, John Puki. Russell,’ Anna, oell, P. Lloyd. Emergencies— E. Clark Lloyd, and J. Coates. ’

Ihcse members whose names do not appear here will constitute the third team who have drawn a bye.

NEW RULES. At Tuesday’s night’s meeting of the loea; Rel crocs’ Association considerable A.suisjioa took place on the' alterations m 1.-o ia\vs oi tiie game recently approval by the International Board and adoptetl by the English Rugby Union. These alterations were_ tiic outcome of the suggestions of the New Zealand Onion has now forwarded them to all affiliated unions anci they will come into force in next ,Saturday s games. ' rll , e al1:el ’ a tiou is the definition of A tackle, ’in Rule 2. This definition now reads as follows:— "A tackle is when the holder of the ball is held by one or more players of the opposite side so that fie cannot pass it.” It is further provided that if the ball pitch m touch from a kick-off, the opposite side may have it kicked off again, or may imvo-a scrummage at the centre of the held ot play. Similarly, if the ball go into touch from a drop-out, the opposing side has the option of ordering another kick or having a scrum in the centre of tne twenty-five yards line. The option ot taking a scrummage is a new idea. The rule holds only when the ball goes straight into touch, and not when it bounces out. An alteration to rule 6 consolidates two sections, and reads that the ball may not be picked up “when, after a player has been tackled, he puts the ball down, or when the player holding the ball has been thrown and the ball touches the ground.” Rule 12, dealing with the putting of the ball into couch, now reads, “The ball is in touch,when it or a player carrying it touch or cross the touch-line; it shall then belong to the side opposite to that last touching it in the field of play, except ■ when a player carrying the ball is forced into touch by an opponent.” This rule means that if a man carrying the ball deliverately runs into touch with it tlie ball belongs to the opposing side for the throw-in.—After considerable discussion it was decided that referees rule that a man is not forced in unless he is actually touched by an opponent. Should he accidentally fall or slip into touch when clear- the ball goes to the other side. The object of the rule is to prevent a man from deliberately stepping into touch when his side is pressed. The referee is no\v given the power under rule 13 to award a goal if he reckons a goal would have been scored but for illegal obstruction. Thus in a case of “no charge” the referee may either allow another kick, or if he thinks the first kick would have been successful, award a goal. Formerly a goal could not be allowed even if the ball went over the bar after having been touched by an opponent, although that opponent was acting illegally. The law applies only to a kick frem a try, mark, or penalty, and not to ■a dropped goal from the field during play.

There were one or two mihdr alterations to the wording of various rules. It was remarked that several of the inost vital amendments proposed in New Zealand last year had not been adopted.