SEVEN-A-SIDE RUGBY

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 17 June 1933, Page 8

SEVEN-A-SIDE RUGBY

ORIGINATION IN SCOTLAND GREAT EXPONENTS OF GAME ESSENTIAL ATTRIBUTES ■Credit for having invented seven-a-sido Rugby football belongs to the Scottish Border township of Melrose, according to a Scottish correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian.” To the Melrose “sevens,” held annually on the second Saturday in April, attaches the distinction of being the leading competition of its kind in Scotland, and on its sports day Melrose holds a carnival not unlike that observed in other Border burghs on the day set apart for their Common Riding (as as Hawick and Selkirk), their Ei'aw Lad’s Day (as at. Galashiels), and so on. The Hawick players, the greatest exponents of the abbreviated game, would rather win the Melrose competition than their own.

One reason for Hawick’s supremacy is that, the Hawick players make almost a fetish of physical fitness, and men need to bo in the best physical state to go successfully through a gruelling afternoon such as is imposed by any one of the Border seven-a-side competitions. For a number of years the Hawick Glub had in its ranks a half-back of the name of Andrew Bowie. He never gained the Scottish cap that has fallen to other Hawick players, but he was a rare strategist, and this quality, combined with his sturdiness and resolution, made him an ideal seven-a-sido man. The promoters. are restricted to medals as. awards—the Scottish Rugby Union keeping a jealous eye on anything of the nature of prizes in kind—and Bowie must have a record collection of gold medals. He has now retired from the game, and the two men who are probably the best of all that play in the spring and autumn tournaments are W. B. Welsh and J. Beattie, the Hawick forwards and Scottish intertnationals. Both are fast, both are steadfast in the faith of being always in condition, and both men, Welsh in particular, are clever with their hands. Welsh would probably get a popular vote as being, the best seven-a-.side player since Bowie retired. Not long ago some experts laid, their heads together and evolved the following epitome of the game, which might, almost be. regarded as a code of rules, of a rough-and-ready sort:—

1. Every player in the seven must be fast; the forwards must be as Cleveland safe with their hands as the threequarters and full-back.

2. Possession of the ball means ninei tenths of the play —i.e., the ball must be hooked from the scrum, or a. big disadvantage is created immediately, much more so than in 15-a-side play. 3. Offside play does not exist in “sevens”; it is too easily spotted. The serums are fair and above-board for the same reason; in fact, the Better side .practically always wins, as there: is little or no chance of obstruction, etc., owing to the fewness of the players.

4. Backing-up is essential; it saves: man-power. Long kicking is seldom useful. Cross-kicking can be devastating if properly worked; it requires pre,arrangement.

5. Interception of passes is common and generally leads to a score. This is the soundest argument for constant backing-up. Most games, in fact, are won and lost because one side always has the odd man. In point of fact, possession of the ball and the odd man will win every time.

G. If a seven can afford a sprinter without weakening the defence,. great tactical use can be made of his ser: vices. He ; is generally brought into play in order to turnidei en.ee into attack. He is not exploited too often, and mostly . when things are going badly.

7. Always play to tlie score. If leading, say, by seven points, it is welt to keep in mind that' it requires a goal and a try to beat this. The next tiehas to be kept in view. “ The. race is not always to the swift” applies to a tournament in so much as a side may be fast and yet conserve ‘their energy, merely putting forth sufficient to carry them 'through. This, is where a sprinter is useful. He has a big effort to make now and then, but the others plod along, giving him time to recover between his efforts. Kicking to touch is, not always the best way to gam time if leading. (Something of the, five-a-side Association tactics enters, here. Intel-passing, without too much hard running about, is safer than kicking for touch, as this may mean losingpossession.

S. Fitness in “.sevens” is more important than in fifteen-a-sido football, as there is no scope for resting. (Seven fit moderates will, beat- seven experts who cannot last the game out. In this case the moderates can risk a bit by kicking the ball about and thus causing the unfits to run about more than, they want.

9. On a thoroughly Lad pitch tactics must be readjusted. Instead of everyone being a more than useful threequarter, the seven become a pack. This is just another proof that the keynote of successful seven-a-side Rugby is adaptability. •