THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOBER 13, 1987.
RUGBY SUFFERING FROM TOO MANY COMPLEX LAWS
ALTERATION TO THE
SCRUMMAGE RULE-
Page
By For fine
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SHOULD BENEFIT GAME you will need this
(By HOWARD MARSHALL)
London, September 18. THE Rugby season is not yet fully under way. It has started, certainly, and in the provinces there are plenty of good matches this afternoon. Even in London, where enthusiasm is not quite so assertive, players are stirring from their summer sleep, and I daresay a goodly crowd will gather at the Athletic Ground for the game between Rich- mond and Northampton.⚫
THERE IS EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, THAT THE CLUBS ARE BECOMING A LITTLE WARY ABOUT BEGINNING THE SEASON TOO SOON. GROUNDS ARE HARD IN SEPTEMBER AND BONES ARE EASILY SNAPPED. IT: DOES NOT DO TO PLUNGE OVER HASTILY INTO THE RIGOURS OF RUGBY FOOTBALL AFTER A SUMMER'S SLOTH.
DERBY COUNTY ON F. A.
When we do kick-off in earnest, UNIREES we shall do so under the grave shadow of Rugby Union and In- ternational Board displeasure. Much else of interest awaits us, but first the serious accusations! against referees and players must be answered.
AUTHORITIES DISTURBED The authorities are plainly greatly disturbed about the pre- sent state of the game. We sympathise with them in their anxieties, and they may count on the co-operation of everyone con- cerned in their attempts to re- move abuses.
It may be argued that they have painted the picture, by implication at least, rather too blackly. The uninstructed might deduce, after reading the recent International Board manifesto, that Rugby football is played by cheats and refereed by weak- lings.
Already those who imagine,] for some obscure reason, that there is antagonism between Rugby and Association football are gloating. Here, they say, is your fine amateur game, riddled with malpractices and incom- petently controlled. Come off your high horse, they add, and
.
"INSULT"
London, September 16.-The directors of Derby County, one of the five clubs named in the F. A. Disciplinary Committee's report on unfair play, recently `sent to all the League clubs in the form of a memorandum, yesterday issued the following statement:
2
me-
"The fact that the Disciplin- ary Committee of the F. A. has seen fit publicly and gratuitous- ly to insult certain clubs be- longing to the League is no rea- son why we should depart from the constitutional thods we have always adopted.
"In due time and in due sec- son we will take such action as we consider the circumstances demand. In the meantime, we` are perfectly content to be judged by the sporting people who have for a long series of years seen and admired our play"
let us have no more cant about take a sufficiently straightfor- spirit and traditions.
ASSUMPTIONS ILLFOUNDED
ward course.
This winter. we shall watch;|
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London, September 10. King, the Knole Park assis tant, set up two records - yesterday when retaining the Kent profession- al championship title on the Faver- sham club's.course,
No doubt these critics have with particular interest, thejere warning should keep it with- S. L. KING suffered from after dinner spea-operation of the amended laws. in reasonable bounds. kers, but the fact remains that Considerable changes have been We shall find, I fancy, that RETAINS KENT their assumptions are ill-found- made, with the object of simpli-there is nothing fundamentally ed. The spirit of Rugby football fication mainly in view. The wrong with the game or the GOLF TITLE is in no serious danger. The scrummage law may still look players This is, indeed, a par- game. I am convinced, is as formidable, but its intention is ticularly promising season, and sound as it ever was..
plain enough. For all practical we may expect that Major Gen. We are merely suffering from purposes, it amounts to this, that B. A Hill, the new pre the by-products of unnecessarily when the ball has touched the the Rugby Union, will complex laws. The theory of ground beyond one foot of the upon its progre the game developed too quickly nearest player of each front row frankness for the law-makers, and their at it may legitimately be hooked. We shall miss Mr. John Daniel tempts to keep pace with it re- SALUTARY REMINDER from the English selection com- sulted in confusion. Scrummag There have been other altera-mittee, but Mr. Eric Coles, who ing to break the course record, set ing for some years has been tions in the laws, all of them sen- takes his place, is extremely up by F. J. Bradbeer, by one shot, plagued by incomprehensible sible, and it now remains to be knowledgeable and active. There and in finishing ahead of the field, legal sub-sections, and players seen whether the game will run are plenty of likely players about with an aggregate of 141, secord and referees have had to gropemore smoothly. In the mean-in all the four home counties, has sixth successive win in the their way haltingly towards while, the International Board's the clubs are keen, and the omens event the longest run in the his- working principles.
reminder that persistent offen- are propitious. With reasonable tory of the tournament. If irregularities have arisen, ders must be sent off may have weather and a continuance of King finished only one stroke players and referees are not ne a salutary effect. International goodwill we shall soon forget ahead of Alfred Padgham cessarily to blame. Give them football is often too keen to be that the game is under even aldridge Park). Bogey for the course
lis 73. clear guidance, and the game will altogether healthy, and this sev-passing cloud.
He went round in 67 in the morn-