FIXTURES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 692, 11 June 1903, Page 6

FIXTURES.

July 18—Against New South Wales. July 22—Against Combined Country Team. July 25—Against New South Wales. July 29—Against a City Team. August 1 to B—Against8—Against Queensland Representatives. August 12—Against Combined Northern Districts of New South Wales. August 15—Against Whole of Australia, at Sydney. There is a considerable boom in the Victorian game of football in Sydney. The germe is a sort of hotchpotch of Rugby and Association, the rules being as follows :— After the players (18 a-side) have taken their positions, the field umpire bounces the ball in the centre of the ground, and play begins. The same thing is done when a goal is scored. The match is divided into four quarters, each of 25 minutes’ duration, and at the end of each quarter the teams change ends, while at the termination of the second quarter there is an interval of ten minutes. A goal is obtained when the ball is kicked between the goalposts without touching either of them or any player after being kicked. A behind is recorded when the ball touches either of the goalposts! or is kicked or forced between the hehindpost and the goalpost. A goal counts six points, and a behind one.

Unlike Rugby, no advantage is gained by kicking the ball out of bounds; in fact, if the ball is wilfully kicked out, a free kick is given to the other side. A player who catches the ball from a kick of another player not less than 10 yards distant secures a mark, and is allowed a kick in any direction.

The ball can be taken in hand at any time, but it must not be carried more than is necessary for a kick, unless the player strikes the ball against the ground at least once in every io yards. If a player with the ball is held by an adversary, be must drop the ball, or else a free kick will be given against him. The ball must on no account be handed or thrown to another player, a breach of this rule having a free kick as a penalty, but the ball may be punched to a comrade. A behind is indicated by the goal umpire hoisting one flag, and a goal by two flags.

I am glad to be in accord with Mr Stuart, who, writing in the “ Pall MalT” of April Bth, propounds six points on which reform is needed (writes “ Judex,” in the London “ Sportsman ”) : —(1) The present point value . of scores ; (2) the method of putting the ball into the “ scrum (3) the whole question of obstruction, wilful or otherwise ; (4) the offside rule as applied to halfbacks working the “ scrum ” (5) rough and unfair play generally ; (6) the problem of the “ knock-on.” Undoubtedly a try is at present the most prized score at Rugby, and rightly so. Combination is the highest aim of a “ Rugger ” XV., and a try is generally the result of such combination, whereas a dropped goal or a goal from a mark is always the machination of, in the first instance, an individual player ; in the second, that of two players. I t,hink amongst Rug|by men it will be found that the point value of both these latter should not exceed that of a try. A perfectly souffcT conclusion, if combination, which is admitted on all sides, should be part and parcel of our national pastime. On the second point, let it be said, there are many and various ways of putting a ball into a ■“ scrum,” which undoubtedly give the side so doing a certainty of the forwards getting it. Obstruction must be dealt with, and that in a firm way. “ Knodk-ons ” are a point on which referees differ so much that it 'ought to be re-legislated for. (Is fumbling a' ball a knock-on ? If not, lots of referees give it as such. Rough play we do not want. Fortunately in club matches we have very few instances of it, but when it does occur, “ the man at the wheel ” should stamp it out in the most drastic way. Hard, good-tempered play, is the true •- spirit of the game; foulness and roughness out not to be countenanced.