Football Scrums

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 155, 19 July 1937, Page 9

Football Scrums

JAMES

HEFFERNAN.

Sir,— It is amazirig the number of sefums which take place during a football matchj pretty Well one every ifiW minutes of the game. Evidently the men who fraine the rUles of Rugby football have never plkyed forward. For every little fiddle-faddle thing— the slighiest knock or throw-on — there is a scfum. Dogs it evor oceur to anyoue the limouut of energy that i$, nsed up in the pUshlng opei'ations oi' the Sc'ruuimagcs? The horso-power thtit is wastbd for little or no purpose? Bdlh sidas are penaliscd for an unintentional knock or throW-pn( I notice that scrums are formed long before the ball is handy to be ptit in the scrum, ebnsequently the scrummagers are pushing like wild horses using up tlieir energy t'or no purpose. SUrely the refel'ee could ask the forwards to stand up uiitil the ball arrives oil the scene ready to be put ili the scrum, Would it not be better in case of a knock or throw-on to give the Oppbsing fide to tlie o ('feilding side a kick at tne ball for a ^diaugo and cut out 50 per cent. of the horse business? I think

the onlookers would appreciate the change. Another uhgainly feature about the game is the sacks-onjthe-mill business vvhich oceui's repeatedly during the game, and I think some rough stuff is enacted when this heap of hnmanity is struggling and sprawlihg on the ground* in OTdef to get possession of the ball, I have noticcd that players are injured after these meleCs. It is quito obvious that a player is wilfhlly i.olding tho ball, thoreby ampeding the game.. Surely a free kick should be allowed against the off ending ' side. If it is thought that a frce kick is not warranted, then a scrum should be ordered immediately. Any thing is better thanthese melees or sacks-on-the-mill busi* ness and it Will Savb UiCn beiUg injured by those who becoihft hdt iinder the Gollar. From- my obserx^ations Of the game during the past 50 ydarS I eannot say that the presfeht-day fdotball has improVed in the vanguard division, which should learn the art of dribbling. I consider that more kicking should be iddiilged ih by tlie baCks, Fotting goals. is a lost art. I recollect witnessing Stoddart's Eng-' iish team, which visited these shores in the early ninetics, playing Auckland and if my memory serves me rightly the three-qUattcr backs kicked or po|ted goals from thfge-quarter way. — YoUrs, etc..

Hastings, jnly 16, 1937.