FOOTBALL.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 September 1925, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

ONION HA.ME AROUND THE GLOBE. (By Mercian in “Athletic News.”) These are glorious times for Rugby football. It has undergone an amazing change for tbo better, both as to its rules and to its science in the last s>> year-.- ft was. in fact, in November. 1875 that- what was considered at the time to bo a revolutionary alteration was made, namely, that a match could be won even though no goal was scored. Prior to that year one goal beat any number of tries. In 1875-0 season there came another drastic c hange, the reduction of the number of players from twenty to the number we know of to-day. Tho universities led the way. In the following year, so pronounced were the benefit-- of the change that the teams in the- int i-national games followed the- example. m later Arthur Rudd has told us in that classic on the game. “.Marshall's Rugby Football" —now in course of being brought up to date: The reduction of the number of ] layers from twenty to fifteen may bo -aid to have marked the dawn of modern scientific football. . . The forwards. no longer hampered by an overplus of members, found themselves able to take an active part iti the open psay. FrH following up. breaking away ett masse, concentrated dribbling and forward tackling henceforth became features of Hie game. The natural sequence was the development in passing, but the first intan: e that- has Icon set on record of a half-back sending out a pass to il three-quarter was lit the North and South match in 1881. A LEAD FROM WALES.

The four tlirce-i|iiurter system did not conic into being until 1881. Wales were tile' pioneers. Inn it was not until 1808-1 that England, Scotland and Ireland followed tine example. Tn TBBd the first of (ho attempts which have resulted in the present method of scoring wtts made when three tries were made equal to one goal.

Practically every year lias had its landmark in tie history of the gnnv but few have been more momentous than the season of 1808. when the question of payment for broken time, was settled mire for all. when amateur Uughy turned a decided late away from the professional game, and the formation of the Northern Enion followed. In lbil.'i there came tho entry of Era nee into the international held, and that same season saw the abolition of the held goal and the' installation of the scoring values in vogue to-day. CALI. OF OVERSEAS.

The dispatch of teams abroad the first went out to Australia and New Zealand as long ago as IsSS visits Irena t'e most famous of all touring team... rhe All Blacks and the Smith Africans, have ail tended to mid to the .a cr-prow mg popularity of liugbs. a popularity which had it- seal set upon it when over Oil. Mini were present a! the Scojti-b new ground a! Murrayheld. lan a few months ago. Whether the men ol to-day are hei- ! r ! !;aa 1 1 e men ol yesterd.i' is a pri.h!"m that is no easier lo answer in Rugby than it i- in any oilier game. The lisl or of Rugby bristles with nicies nf I:..cauls players; they have banded down a wonderful heritage. e\cry < in: r ol t lie globe v here' all Englishman, ''cot-man. Welshman, or i n d’npi n j-as set tie I.