penalty try in rugby

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrasesport

   In rugby, a try awarded by the referee when a team is stopped from scoring by an opponent's foul play.

   Grammar: Used as a singular countable idea: a penalty try, two penalty tries; the phrase names the whole concept.

   Patterns

   • award a penalty try
   • be awarded a penalty try
   • score a penalty try

   The referee awarded a penalty try after the winger was tackled early without the ball.

   A penalty try is worth seven points because it is given under the posts, so the conversion is easy.

   Fans argued for minutes about whether the foul deserved a penalty try in rugby.

2. 2phrasefixed phrasesporttechnical

   The rule or situation in rugby that allows the referee to give a try for serious foul play.

   Grammar: Often used after prepositions such as 'under' or 'for': under the penalty try rule, a penalty try for foul play.

   Patterns

   • the penalty try rule
   • under the penalty try law
   • a penalty try for something

   Coaches study the penalty try rule in rugby so they know when their players risk giving away points.

   Under the penalty try law, the referee must be sure a try would probably have been scored.

   He explained the penalty try in rugby to newcomers by comparing it to a penalty shot in football.

Word forms

Common combinations

award a penalty try

The referee awarded a penalty try to the attacking side.

be awarded a penalty try

They were awarded a penalty try after repeated scrum infringements.

a penalty try in rugby

A penalty try in rugby can decide a close match.

the penalty try rule

The penalty try rule is explained in the laws of the game.

concede a penalty try

The prop conceded a penalty try when he collapsed the maul.

Synonyms and how they differ

penalty goal

A penalty goal is kicked at the posts for three points, while a penalty try is awarded as a try worth five points plus a conversion.

try

A try is the general score for grounding the ball in the in-goal area; a penalty try is the special case given by the referee's decision rather than by a player scoring.

Word family

try noun

The basic rugby score of five points, of which a penalty try is a special kind.

penalty noun

A punishment or advantage given for a rule being broken, the root of the phrase.

referee noun

The official who decides whether to award a penalty try.

Commonly confused: penalty try in rugby or conversion? penalty try in rugby or penalty kick?

Practice

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