LAWS OF RUGBY

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20784, 19 April 1939, Page 10

LAWS OF RUGBY

PLAYERS OFTEN CARELESS OBSERVATIONS IN WAIKATO DIFFICULTY OF SCRUM RULES No changes in Rugby laws have been announced so far for the 1939 season and although amendments are pending, especially in th/ 1 scrummage rules, it is not expected that alterations will he made this season. With a number of new laws to master last season, players were a little at sea. but they should be able to consolidate their position regarding their knowledge of ruins this year. Before the opening of the season is the time for Rugby players to revise their knowledge of the laws and, in view of an apparent ignorance of many rules last season. Hamilton players in all grades would be well advised to study the rule book immediately. in secondary school play, especially. Hie players required coaching in rules last season and blackboard lessons would be of value.

The Scrummage Laws There will be no changes in the Rugby Union scrummage laws this season. Most extensive alterations of all in the laws last year related to the scrummage, the rules for which were entirely recast. The method of putting the ball into the scrummage and points regarding hooking were altered considerably last season and it was in this department of the game that many breaches occurred during the year. Most important points to players to remember are that the player putting in the ball shall stand not less than three feet from the scrummage and with both hands below the knee shall put the ball fairly in at a moderate speed so that it first touches the ground beyond one foot of the nearest player of each front row. It is illegal for any player in either front row of the scrummage t.o raise or advance his foot until the ball is fairly in. that is until it has hit the ground. The ball is not fairly in the scrum if it comes out between the feet of either of the outside players of each front row on the side on which the ball has been put in. In the majority of cases the present scrummage laws are considered impracticable hut until they are revised players must he careful to follow them. They ran expect reasonable help from referees if they arc reasonable themselves.

Alternative Suggested Australia is of the opinion, as is the English Rugby Union, and there is support for the contention in New Zealand and South Africa, that the hooker should he allowed to advance his foot as soon as the ball leaves the half-back’s hands, and that the far foot of the hooker be the foot first used. The existing law, whereby the feet may not he advanced until the ball hits the ground in the centre of the scrummage, has been proved to be impossible to carry out according to the letter, so experiments with slow motion films discovered. There is no question that as it stands, the law is anything but satisfactory. But we will have to put up with it for another season.

Release Ball After Tackle One of the most flouted laws last season in the frame in Hamilton appeared to be that which orders a player who has been tackle-d to release the ball immediately, so that it falls on the ground between himself and his opponents’ goal-line. A player who is lying on the ground after a tackle may not interfere with the ball even with his feet until it. has been played with the foot of a player who is not lying on the ground. A very important point for players to observe more carefully than last season is contained in law Ift relating to the tackle. It is clearly stated that after a tackle the ball must be brought into play with a foot. This is elaborated in the law which states that no player shall pick up the ball, after a tackled player has released it. or when it is on the ground after a player has been tackled, until it has been played with a foot. Season In Review Of interest now that the new Rugby season is being launched, are the. representative and competition results of the Hamilton sub-union and the Waikato representatives. Waikato won three matches and lost three, the other came being drawn. Results of Waikato fixtures were: June 0. v. Auckland. at Hamilton. 20—3. lost: June 18. v. Auckland, at Auckland. 25 8. lost: July 10. v. Thames Valley, at Matamafa. 26 —0. won: \ucrust 6. v. Ray of Plenty, at Rotorua. 1 i —o. won: Auffust 27. v. Kins Country, at Hamilton. 3 —3. drawn: August 3ft. v. N.Z. University, at Hamilton. 13—P>. won: September ift. v. North Auckland, at Whangarei. 13 —to. lost. In the Finlay Cup series Taupiri holders) was defeated by Morrinsville by 21 to-3. Morrinsville defeated Matamata by 8 to 3. to become holders of the Cup for j j O3B. Three sub-unions competed, j Six junior representative teams com- ;

peted for the Junior championship of the Waikato, the final played between Putaruru and Hamilton, resulting in a draw 6 points all. In the re play, I'utaruru was successful in defeatin';; 1 Hamilton by 19 to 3. Hamilton Representatives Results of matches played last season by Hamiton representative teams were:—Senior: Hamilton 15, Matamata 14; Hamilton 12, Auckland Colts 13. Senior B: Hamilton 6, Maniapoto 3; Hamilton 8. Maniapolo n. Junior: Hamilton A 11, Grammar Old Boys 3; Hamilton A 19. Taupiri 9: Hamilton A 15, Waipa 13: Hamilton A 6. Putaruru r,: Hamilton A 3, Putaruru 19: Hamilton B 11, Training College 3. Junior Grade: Hamilton 12. Training College 5: Hamilton 3. Taupiri 11, Fourth Grade: Hamilton 6, Cambridge S Hamilton Competition j The winners of the competitions I conducted in Hamilton Rugby last season were:—Stag Competition: Frank- ; ton bracket ted with Rovers 15 points. Old Boys li points. Technical Old ! Boys 1.3 points. Taupiri It points. Cambridge 9 points, Tc A warn uI u 7 | points. Sage Gup: Frankton. Clarke [Cup: Old Boys. Senior B: Waikato Cup. Te Kowhai: Knock-out, Te Kowhai. Junior: Championship fElli- ; ott Shield). Old Boys: Gilling Cup, Frankton. Third Grade: Championship (Powell Cup', Technical School; Scylla Cup. City A. Fourth Grade; Championship < Pascoe Cup'. City A: Smallwood Cup. City A. Points Prize for the Reg. Burrow Shied resulted: City Club. 75 points: Technical Old Boys. 60; Frankton. 55: Old Roys. 38; Technical ' School. 28; To Kowhai. 17: Marisf., to.; Karamu. 15: Railway. 13; Raglan. 12: : Rototuna. 12: Rovers. 8: High School. 0: Battery. 2: Tunaeke. 2. Rototuna ! Juniors won the Thomas Tyne Memorial Cup. 78,000 At Rugby Test Tn the final international match of 1 the English Rugby season between ‘ England and Scotland at Murrayfield. 1 Scotland, on March IS. nil world 1 records for Test-match attendances in J Rugby were shattered when a new 1 record of 78.000 was made. All \ through the season in Britain the at- ' tendances were good as the following ‘ table shows: January 2 1 : England 3 v. Wales 0. at Twickenham. 70,000. Feb- 1 ruary 5: Wales It v. Scotland 3, at r Cardiff Arms Park. 55.000. February 1 11 : Ireland 5 v. England 0. at Twirk- f enham. 00.000. February 20: Ireland 12 v. Scotland 3. at luiblbi. TO.OOO. March 11: Wales 7 v. Ireland 0. at Belfast. 24.000. March 18: England 9 v. Scotland 5. at Murrayfield. 78.000. 7 The total attendances were 327,000 \ for six matches. i