FOOTBALL.

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 77, 9 May 1902, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

On Saturday last, a team from Motueka journeyed to Riwaka, to play a return match against the local boys. The game was keenly contested and after a hard struggle resulted in a dr-aw, each side scoring six points. (A try and a penalty goal). L. Manoy scored a try and M. T. Petiha kicked a goal for Motueka, O. Fowler securing the try, and P. Arnold placing a goal Vn- Riwaka. Mr W. Marshall carried the whistle and gave every satisfaction, O Chittenden and S. Rowlings acting as line umpires. The following are the names of those who represented Riwaka, the names of the Motueka team having already been published : R. Smith, R. Bate, C. Goodall, F Fry, E. Fry, P. Arnold, (capt), O. Fowler, 11. Fiv, L. Drummond, L. Cederman, J. Holyoake, T. Woolf, N. Rowling, J. Roberson, L. Francois. The Riwaka team mentioned above, with the exception of P. Arn Id, R Smith, J. Robinson and Holyoake, proceed to Nelson to-morrow morning to the junior Rivals. The players vlSelected to fill the places of those who are unable to get away are Reid, T. Marshall, A. Talbot and Petiha.

A great number of for wards imagine that so long as they get the ball out to the backs, it makes no difference how, ./hen, or where it comes out of the scrummage:, and that once they have got rid of it, the responsibility is off their hands for a while ; but this is very far from being the case, for a t. eat deal more depen I. on the proper

heeling out of the ball than most people imagine. How often one sees the ball come out of the side of the scrummage instead of in the very middle of the back row! How. often, when it does come out at the back it is shot out like a rocket with a force that carries it yards past the halves, or else it takes, at the other extreme, about a minute to get through the various rows of legs that bai the way, giving the opposing halves heaps of time to creep round and follow it up! The ball must be heeled out properly, cleanly, and quickly, or else the forwards don’t give their halves and three-quarters a chance. When the forwards have obtained the ball and have got orders to heel it out, it is most important that they should still continue shoving. It is quite impossible and useless to heel the ball it the forwards are getting shoved. Keep shoving, and send the ball back quickly, avoiding letting it touch the legs if possible, and not giving it violent kicks back. Of course, it is sometimes absolutely necessary to help it- on its way back, but it should be done carefully with a push, so as to avoid driving it too hard for the halves to get hold of. Another excellent method is to shove straight when you have got the ball and walk over it. By this means you give your own halves more time, while also placing the other halves on the defensive behind their own men. The great thing is, however, not to let the ball come out at the side, as this does not give your own halves, who are’ following behind >ou, a chance, while it falls right in the path of your opponents. If a forward at the side of the scrummage see the ball going out at the side, he must hook it back into the scrummage at once, and then the forwards must again try to heel it out properly. Never let it come out at the side. It is far better to wait a few seconds and have it done properly, than to think that the great thing is speed and that it does not matter when the ball comes out. Personally, I consider, if your pack is strong enough, that the best way of heeling is the one I have just mentioned —i.e., of walking over the ball.” —From an article on “Rugby Football,” in the March number, of the Windsor Magazine.