Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-06
ENGLISH RUGBY
IS UNPOPULAR
OCCIDENTAL TRIAL RESULTS
IN FARCE
Players Indulge In Horseplay and Do
Not Seriously Heed lnstrue-
tons in Fine Points Of
the Game
BY Edward L. Moriarty

What has been anticipated as a trial
III the English rugby game resulted in
Eomething of a farce on the Highland
Hark campus yesterday afternoon
when, before a large crowd of specta-
tors, many of them of English ma
tivity, the Occidental college young
sters refused to regard the initial in
struotion as anything more than a joke.
The game was not given a fair run
for its worth, and large body of stu
dents in the bleachers banded the as
pirants o1l the field. kidding" was
more to the fore than football. with
Coaches Pat and Tom Higgins uniting
in an earnest effort to round UP the
refractory aggregation.
From all appearances the affair had
been planned as gentle knocking
bee for the proposed innovation and
the men who entered the game, with
but few executions, were inclined to
assume that the occasion was one of
general jollification.
The coaches had a difficult time in
separating the squad into opposing
teams, and even when this had been
accomplished the tendency toward cir
Gus play did not cease
The Higgins boys, past masters at
the game, are undoubtedly among the
best Instructors in this part of the
country, and when the wiry English
men ran or pass ed the ball. there
came a flash as to the possibilities of
the new sport.
Tha coaches were equally proficient
!. .at kicking with the left or right foot
and darted between ,the raw recruits
like will-o%wisps.
4Ae teams were formed, and after
much .horseplay the II rst squad sue
ceeded I'm making rwo touchdowns,
which Melted them six points. 1t could
hardly he called a gaHie. as the par
ticipantst were lacking in the knowl-
edge which would result in fast play.
Although the game may not prove
popular in Southern California, 1t was
held by most of the spectators that
an earnest trial should be given the
sport, If any at all
Difficult as it was to form any line
on the dasirability of the game from
an American Standpoint, because of
the ineXparience of the players and
their seeming indifference, it could be
readily observed that with two well
trained teams opposed to each other,
the scene would be a pretty one, open
and filled with action.
Bar mass plays from the American
game and the likelihood for injuries
would appear to be on an equal basis
in either game.
Teams of fifteen players are required
in the game. with the requisite that
they be strong and quick. Instead Of
signals, interference and mass plays
a scrimmaSt is. called for after every
tackle. .
There are several forms of scrim-
mage, and one of the best lis lining
four men on either side against each
other in the froipt line.
The men are bent like jadk-knives,
with the head placed against the OPP
ponent's shoulders Behind the first
four are three mare and after these,
one.
The two pairs of quarter backs stand
opposite, near the front of the Scrim-
mage One of them places the ball on
the ground between the forwards and
at the whistle both teams commence
to shove the centerst endeavoring to
step ahead and kick the leather back
to either of the quarters at the
side. The quarter passes back
to half, who runs until threatened
with tackle, when he passes it to
another half. The latter may run and
pass or kick ahead across the side
lines.
Kicking out of bounds gives the ball
to the opposing side for throw-in
nth both teams lined up, hands in
/ for catch.
! n tackle generally follows and the
i'll is put in play again by a scrim-
6age. 1t frequently happens that all
-four halves have turn and in each
case the faster man gains the most
ground, according to plan that can
only be formed on the instant.
A forward also gains chance to
catch tumble from behind and break
away. When near a goal, a quarter
back frequently feints a pass and
makes a quarter back run around the
scrimmage for the goal.
Passes are often intercepted and a
pretty run reversed by an opposing
back catching a passed ball and sprint
ing down the field In the opposite di-
rection.
A clean catch from a. punt allows a
man ten yards without being tackled