The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-08

A Game Modified From English and Ameri
can styles.

TORONTO. Nov. 5.-Up here the foot
BAH men have evolved game which
they claim possesses most OF the good
points of both the English and the Amer
lean college codes. The sturdy young
Canadians are more American than Eng
fish In their sporting tastes. They have
adopted the American system or training
for their Oarsmen and their lacrosse
twelves. And they did not let conservat-
ism stand In the way OF their improving
the old-fashioned Rugby game of foot
ball. In the results American influence
Is plainly seen.
Rugby football in England calls for
fifteen men on a team. SO II does IN
Canada. but the similarity ends there.
ArOss the water there are nine or ten
men in the "scrimmage" or "scrum," two
half backs, who correspond 10 our quarter
back; three or four three-quarter backs,
whose duties are akin 10 those OF an
American half back. ard a full back.
When a runner Is held with the ball, the
leather is put down, the eighteen or twen-
~ forwards pack an unwieldly scrm-
mage, and the stronger side forces the
other forwards down the teld. Should
the ball chance 10 come out, one OF the
half backs, who have been lowering
around the struggling mass OF men,
pounces on the pigskin and either runs
with IL or passes II TO one OF the three
quarters who stand extended across the
field, twenty-five or thirty feet TO the
rear Of the scrimmage
The game is productive Of pretty rum
ming and kicking on the part OF the
three-quarter backs. Otherwise 10 IS
slow and uninteresting. Most OF the
time the scrimmagc men have no idea OF
the whereabouts OF the ball. IL Is theirs
10 pun and push and pcrspire. The
half backs and three-Quarters look after
the rest Of the play. Often II happens
that one Of the backs has run half way
down tie field and scored a touch
down, or "try" as they call H. before the
mass of men in the scrimmage Is
broken up
The Canadians have changed all this.
Seven years ago, at a meeting OF the
Canadian Rugby Union, asmOtiOn 10 adopt
the intercollegiate game was voted down
by an Overwhelmingly majority The
delegates almost unanimously agreed IN
c0ndemning the American system Of in
terfercnc BY their code every man IN
front OF the runner is off-side. and is only
put on-side by dropping behind the man
who has the ball. Wedges and inter
ference are. Illegal and are considered
TO make the game slow and tedious. Your
Young Canadian will tell you that his
is the best game OF football on earth
And this is how IL IS PLAYED: There are
fifteen men on side, FOR these conserva-
tive young gentlemen would have no ci-
minution in the number OF players. The
rear division Is composed OF a fun back.
three half backs. and a quarter. In
place OF the English scrlmmage there
Is rush line. for the American term
"scrimmagers' and wings" There are
seven OF the latter; three OF the former.
The three scrimmsge men stand shoulder
10 shoulder and shove against their three
opponents. The ball Is placed dead on
the ground'-so the rule goes-and is
heeled back by the centre man. The
quarter back passes II 10 one OF the three
half backs. who stand ten or twelve yards
70 the rear. and runs with IT, The wings
back up against their opponents in much
the same way as the American rushers
do. Holding is heavily penalized. and
Jumping on runners after they are down
ed Is punished by ruling the offender out
and sometimes out OF the championship
series.
The best points of the game are the
rapidity with which II Is played. tho
dasiling runs OF the half backs. and the
coordination work OF the wings. Posses
sion OF the ball. such an object with our
players. means little 10 the Canadians
The pigskin changes hands every half
minute or so. The captain OF the side
that plays with heavy wind at its
back av avs instructs his half backs to
kick until they get within running dis
tance OF the goal. Once inside the enemy's
twenty-nve-yard line the attacking sides
half backs stand twenty-five or thirty
wards from the quarter back. Then comes
a scrimmage, the ball Is heeled out 10 the
quarter back, who throws II with round
arm bowling motion 10 me OF the out
side half backs. The leather sails through
the air very fast and with a very fiat
traiectory until IL Is grabbed by the half
back. The recipient dashes up the field
With his wings following him up. NOT in
a bunch, but strung on, across the green.
an accuracy that has been gained only
~ long practice. With sneedy wings well
nm IN the passing game the best tncklers
have little chance Of stopping the rush.