THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 19, 1937.
CONTROVERSY ON MODERN RUGBY
PLAYERS AND SPECTATORS.
FRUSTRATED
J. W. Leonard, above, will be partnered by Robert Choa in the Open Doubles Lawn Tennis Cham- pionship of the Colony for the first time.
GOLF STARTING TIMES
Sunday's Pairings At Fanling
The following are the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club starting times for Fanling next Sunday:-
OLD "COURSE
9.20 a.m. K. S. Robertson, W. Sharp 9.24 FL. M Alexander, A. A
Brenner.
9.28 9.325
9.36
22
"
t
SOME NOVEL SUGGESTIONS
BY FOLLOWERS
(By HOWARD MARSHALL)
London, January 27.
W
WHILE the selection committees go their unhappy ways, searching for new players, the controversy over modern Rugby football continues unabated. Judging from my correspondence, and I have never had so many letters, there is genuine and widespread concern about the state of the game. Let me make it clear at once that I hold no brief for the spectator. If players are really satisfied with their new-fangled version Twickenham of the Rugby football we used to know, then all is well crowds may dwindle, as they assuredly will before long, but the game is for the player, and his must be the decisive word.
IT IS TRUE THAT THE AUTHORITIES- ENCOURAGE US TO THINK OF RUGBY FOOTBALL AS A SPECTACLE BY ERECTING MAMMOTH STANDS AND CHARGING US- LARGE SUMS FOR TICKETS, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE HONORARY TREA. SURERS OF THE VARIOUS UNIONS WOULD REGARD WITH ALARM ANY CONSIDER- ABLE DROP IN GATE RECEIPTS.
The fact remains that Rugby football is only incidentally a have in spectacle, in that we the past watched it with plea- sure. Actually it is a game de- vised solely for the enjoyment of players, and this is the premise from which all our arguments must about its development start.
ALSO HITS SPECTATORS I suggest, then, that from the Col. Blake, A. B. Raworth players' point of view representa- Major Shannon, A. K. Mac-tive matches have become thorough- kenzie.
ly unsatisfactory: It happens that which frustrate the very factors
HL Owen Hughes, A. C. L Bowker.
S. Mason, J. H. M. Andrew.the player deprive the spectator also D. Lyon, W. W. C. Shewan of his enjoyment, but that is be G. C. Worrall, LM. Sside the point. Lloyd
J. F. G. van Reede, F.
I have one letter from a player who complains that I am mis-judg-
ARSENAL NOW FIRM
CUP FAVOURITES
LATEST BETTING FIGURES FROM TATTERSALL'S RING
London, January 27. Arsenal are strong favourites at 6-1 to win the Cup. The follow- ing prices were offered by a lead- ing Tattersall's Ring bookmaker at Leicester races yesterday:
6-1 Arsenal 100-8 Grimsby T 10-1 Mancter C. 500-1 Accring-
ton S. 10-1 Everton 100-8 Wolves 500-1-Breter C.. 100-8 Brentford 1000-1 Darlington - 100-8 W
1000-1 York C. Brom. A.
2863|1=138139ne
Many correspondents have made suggestions for improvements. I sympathise with the reader who pleads for the adoption of the “hob,” as played in the Winchester brand of football. The "hob," which corresponds to our serum- mage, forms up standing, and not
until the ball has been put in does the "hob" get down and shove.
PREMIUM ON SHOVING There is no hooking, and my correspondent suggests that "if the first and second rows of the scrum had to get past the ball with- out heeling, a premium would be put upon real shoving, and the two men in the back row could not afford to loaf about.”
Interesting, but I am afraid the ball would come out too slowly. The vital point about heeling is that the
Buckle Williamson, J. Forbes ing the wingforward. His conten- experiences. A rabbit like myself ball should come out so quickly and AHL Forbes, E. J. Nathan- tion is that half-backs and three-can vouch for the pleasure. given by cleanly that the opposing backs King, C. Mycock. D. C. Chapman, H. S. Dins-quarters should devise tactics to the occasional, the very occasional, will have no time to close up in de
beat the destructive,spoiler. "And," correctly played golf stroke. There fence.
dale.
13
9.40
9.44
9.48
9.52
9.56
15
10.00
10.04
.10.08
10.12
10.16
10.20
51.
10.24
*
10.28 10.32
10.36
10.40 10.44 10.48
shall.
10.52
T Lindars, E. A. R. New-
ton.
10.56
W. E. Hunt. P. Morrison.
**
11.00
J. Rodger, R. Young.
11.04
11.08
རྒྱུ་
s
MORE THAN THAT
man.
S. EL Dodwell, K. S. Mor- rison.
I dare say it does. The dog doubtless enjoys chasing cats, but J. W. Mayhew, R. Sanger. there is more to
Rugby football
:
"I met a good example of a scrummaging-machine pack when
CONTROLLED PLAY
A. E. Gerondal, N. P. Fox. he adds, "bustling three-quarters are, indeed, a host of such experi- Another reader, suggests that we D. J. Gilmore, T. R. Chas- does give a chap an added zest in ences from which we may choose, should play nine forwards and three sels.
life."
but I maintain, against all opposi-three-quarters, since the present HU. Ireland, A. E Lissa-
tion, that not one of them excels four three-quarter formation mere- the sensation of shoving in a pro-ly results in crowding the wings. perly co-ordinated pack.
How does that strike you? And here is a drastic proposal from Ips- J. A. Shaw, A W. Gibson than that, even from a forward's lar LH. Geare, A. M. Kirby.
The forward, in the old scheme wich all penalty kicks to be taken H. H. Pethick, W. Hewitt point of view. And my correspon of things, had a most satisfactory from a penalty spot in the middle A. V. Greaves, A. Murdoch.dent rather destroys his own case
job. He was not merely part of a of the 25-yard line. 0. E. C. Marton, F. Mar-when, arguing against the old-
controlled
REMOVE RESTRICTIONS heeling machine. He fashioned conception of scrummag-
the run of play. He heeled, and This correspondent also argues ing, he continues:
heeled fast and cleanly, when he that all scrummaging restrictions · could give his backs real chances in should be removed, and that if the J. A. P. Selby, D. Forbes.at school. It was that of Cowleyed or wheeled when conditions de through the scrum play should con- attack. He kept the ball and shov-ball bounces out or goes straight H F. Sommers, D. D.
School St. Helens, coached by the manded it or his backs were out tinue. Forbes.
Several readers have sug- J. W. Platt, HG. Whittall. Welsh international, grand, old
of position
gested that the referee should put E Taylor, Taylor.
Watcyn Thomas, and it was the H. L. F. Ewin, J. C. Dun- foundation of the most successful He was prepared to back up in the ball in an addition to his al-
attack or cover in defence, and he ready onerous duties which seem R. Griffiths. P. L. Leafe.team they have ever had. We
worked at the line out or in the to me impracticable, J. A. Cooper, J. Hart Davis, simply annihilated in the scrums.
NEW COUESE:
Their pack did nothing at all. 9.24 am. P. H. Scoones, L. P. Tam-rept get the ball back to their real G. H. Cautherley, J. G. Go-ly brilliant backs. I am sure I tesworth.
never enjoyed 2 game less in my life, which was not because we lost by fifty-odd points to all-
11.12.
1116
.11.20
11.24* 11.28
bar.
worth
THRILLS IN GAMES
were
loose with precision and intelligence. Finally, in this symposium of He was an eighth part of a whole, opinions, let me quote from the working to a co-operative plan, and most disturbing letter of all. Dis- Eng- respondent
HOPEFUL SIG
it was this working together which cussing the match between
Land and Wales, gave him his enjoying.
WHERE REVISION IS NEEDED ___ | Says: 14 Now we have eight forward spe- Exactly. It is never pleasant to cialists--If the specialist hooker: Some players are B. M. Wood, J. E. Richard-be annihilated, but that is no argu-fails to secure the ball, the back-so. Richmond, for example
ment against serummaging. I am row specialists concentrate on to put a pack into prepared to wager that the for frustrating the opposing attack. It posed of eight wards in that scrummaging pack is here, I submit, that modern wards, with no backer enjoyed themselves well enough, to theory needs revising, with a sim-Land that is surely Mrs. Stewart, Mr Low say nothing of the backs. have plification of the scrummage laws as of the times Mrs. Chapman, Mrs. Dins often wondered what is the most the first essential step.
RL D. and Mrs. Wode
house.
9.28.
9:36
A S. Adamson, T. Low..
9.40
Elliott
J. S. Dunnett, F. A
9.48
9.52
A Nicol, N.K. Littlejohn.
Anderson, W. I S. Key.
10.00
son.
10.08
1016/
1024
10.32
10.40
1028
10.56
Mrs Forbes, Mrs. Nathan have to offer, 0
11.04
11.12
13.203
Mrs. Blake, Mrs. Mackenzie S. and Mrs. Morrison.
dzle:
Mrs. Pethick, Mrs. Mayhew agreeable sensation that games
Mrs Gerondal, Mrs Fox A properly timed drive through C. Remedios will meet A AT Eng Car. Davies, Col. Matthe covers is an exquisitely satisfy
thews
Comer Disbrowe, Lt. Caring moment, which even the moder late performer at cricket sometimes
in the only game of the Junior S
of the Open Billiards Championshi
the Civil Service Cricket Club,
The dulum, will swing, I do Inot doubt. And players will dis- igby ootball based on intelligent scrummaging is far more enjoy ble than the fancy, stuft wh too often passea for Rugby