Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-21
by ED NIORIARTY

NJ bD
English Rugby b1ossomed out on tn
football tree Of Southern Californi;
yesterday afternoon when the Berkele!
team defeated Pomona by score o
to at Fiesta park. The innovation
has made its initial appearance, art
now there will be much harangue al
to whether 1t will do. Because no
many of us knew what 1t was all abou
yesterday there is no reason for de
crying the sport until further trial ha!
been given 1t.
At all events, yesterday was British
day. Everyone claiming bit of the
island blood was much to the fore an6
patronizingly endeavored to make the
finer points of the game known to tht
rest of us.
So far as the bleachers were con-
cerned, there was much of the collegiate
game appearance, although enthusiasm
did not run so high. The college widows
in particular did not know just when
to make a noise, while escorts had q
busy time tring to steer them right
with a very bad line Of talk.
Whenever an Englishman made him
self known by his blase familiarity with
the sport he Immediately became CEN
ter of attraction from awe-struck ig-
norarnuses, who endeavored to pick up
small portions of the lingo.
Before the game was well under way
several hundred spectators were yell
ing, ''Kick out of touch" and Look at
him go for a try" in much the same
manner as some oxford or Cambridge
supporter roofing on the fields of old
England.
To the average onlooker it was appar-
ent that Rugby, keyed to it's highest
pitch, must be very nice game. I'm
agine a band of top-notchers working
with machine-like precision, dribbling,
passing and falling beneath tackles
equally as vicious as the American
throw.
Two things were evident to the aver
age onlooker yesterday. Rugby as
played under most favorable conditions
with typical Rugbyists engaged, must
be an extremely interesting game. Rug
by as played yesterday, while very
creditable for a first attempt (accord-
ing to old English players), is far from
having attained anything like perfec-
ton. 1t would appear as though the
game must be continued for several
years before natural instinct is de-
which will bring the sport to a
level bordering upon the English type.
The game is not complicated, al
though puzzling at first sight The fact
that no distance is required for downs,
as in the American game, and that
either team may gain possession Of
the bali according to their quickness
explanation, though many
were able to comprehend the apparent
before the game had come
to an end.
There was ornething striking in the
link which joined American football
blea chers yesterday with exponents of
The British pastime. A Yankee college
spirit was bravely endeavoring to for
get it's native sport, and aid an innova-
ion with the same methods which for
years has been featured with American
'ootball.
Berkeley Rooters Out
Berkeley adherents were out in force
With a little jumping jack leader, who
swung his arms and contracted sore
.hroat in an effort to wiring out all that
vas good. Pom ona was doing the same
,ver in another section. The Clare
mont football players strove valiantly
out could not shake off the old game
actics. Their serum line was not equal
% that of Berkeley, and consequently
L greater portion of the time.
Strangely enough, of the three men
who proved meteors yesterday, two
we're players who had gained fame on
Southern California gridironS.
Whitman, last years quarter back
If the Berkeley team, scored the first
-hree points of yesterdays game with
in a few minutes after the kick off
the contest he evinced fast
qualities, running and dodging in
speedy fashion.
Stanton, who ran eighty-five yards
for a try and scored the last three
points tailed. got away with the most
sensational play of the day. Stanton
was formerly a member of the Har-
ward military academy team.
fuller, the shock headed wing for
ward of the Berkeleyites, was a wonder
at nosing the ball. time and again div
ing beneath the serum and securing the
pigskin from a dizzy tangle of strug-
Cling feet. That a good man can't be
kept down was manifest in Tuller'S
play.
Some one showed his foot quite dis
tance into Tully's face during a pro-
lOnged serum. drawing a little river OF
claret Tully, in view of the fact that
very few men are expected to be hurt,
a ppeared proud or MS wound and went
at it harder. He appeared everywhere,
and once he laid hold of the oval, was
on his way. Tuller at one time played
with the Pomo high school team.
Expectation was rife by the time Po-
mona appeared on the field for short
practice There was no line up and
rush with the ball behind a wall of in
terference. Claremont men spread
acoss the field, running from one end to
to the other, passing the ball. Most OF
the crowd knew that something was
doing, but had to let 1t go at that.
Berkeley was not long in following G
and received big cheer. Califor
mia enthusiasts realized that theil
faVorites were about to spring some
thing new and waited patiently on the
windy beachers
Berkeley men also ran about the
field, passing ball and doing other
things that were new.
Officials Appear
Then the officials sprang into promi-
nenee. Bill Traeger, who used to be
quite a collegiate player, was forced
into service. No one could tell wha
Bill was doing, but at any rate he had
a rule book which was referred to con-
stantly.
Pat Higgins was gazed upon will
awe when. clad in a white blazer, >
ne skipped out on the field and com,