: Mon May 18, 2009 8:52 am
There is actually no stipulation on time for kicking at goal. The only rule says
SECTION 13 Penalty Kick
5. No Delay - No player shall deliberately take any action which is
likely to delay the taking of a penalty kick.
Should the kickers side infringe then:
6. If the kick is not taken as stated or if a player of the
infringes kicker’s team infringes, a scrum shall be formed at
the mark, provided it is no closer than twenty metres
to the touch line.
However the ref has a duty to not allow time to be lost. The only thing that covers the time taken is that the ref can stop the clock if he feels the kicker has taken enough time to do his job. The rough rule is a minute but is not set in stone. It could be ten seconds if the kicker chooses to throw the ball away from his point rather then set up the kick.
However woodcock didn't break any rules, the ref just applied the laws.