Rules about 20 metre drop outs

[player 1]

I know there are a few ex and current referees on the pen.

Just watching the warriors/beagles game.

On stroke of half time, Foran attempts, on a 20 metre drop out, to punt the ball out downfield for a manly scrum feed and loose head - it didn't go out. It was play on, warriors player tackled and half time.

What are the rules here? Is there meant to be a penalty if an attempted punt out doesn't go out? Otherwise why would anyone drop kick the ball, you can get heaps more distance with a punt - what is the story?

[stsae]

I know there are a few ex and current referees on the pen.

Just watching the warriors/beagles game.

On stroke of half time, Foran attempts, on a 20 metre drop out, to punt the ball out downfield for a manly scrum feed and loose head - it didn't go out. It was play on, warriors player tackled and half time.

What are the rules here? Is there meant to be a penalty if an attempted punt out doesn't go out? Otherwise why would anyone drop kick the ball, you can get heaps more distance with a punt - what is the story?

I missed the incident mate but was it a 20 metre tap restart or a dropout from the 20???

A tap is one of those old rules. Where the ball can be punted downfield or kicked off the ground like a goal. The idea is the ball touches the foot. The trick play is a 20 metre restart and the defending back 3 are in the line or not near the sidelines and someone will punt/tap the ball downfield looking for it t run out and gain a scrum with the feed.

There are no rules to my knowledge about the ball not going out. There are if the ball goes out on the full accidentally and that's a penalty on the 20. DaFunchy playing for the Faiders did a famous one against Poocastle where Joey potted the penalty goal to win on full time. Then they swapped shorts.

I haven't seen a drop kick used in that case, but I may be wrong and it's allowed???

[Spirit of 66]

Yes, you can only use the punt option from a 20m tap, not a 20m drop out.

What I haven't seen since the days of Phil Hawthorne is a penalty goal attempt using a drop kick. Under Rule 6.6(b) this is still an option and counts for 2 points not 1.

And here's an interesting one - "If a player fouls an opponent who is attempting a drop-goal, a penalty kick shall be awarded in front of the goal-posts." So, technically speaking, if a player takes a shot at field goal from 60m out (or, for that matter, 70 or 80 out or in his own in-goal!) and is fouled in the attempt, the referee awards a penalty in front of the posts at the other end of the field.

[stephenj]

thats as interesting a loophole as is the intentional tackle?

[player 1]

Yep, you're right - my brain attack - it must have been a 20 metre tap.

[stephenj]

kick it as far as you like as long as its a drop kick, remember the craze when some started kicking for touch from a placed kick? len kileen?