The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-03
Rugby Game Played By Antipo-
deans at Washington Park Il
Revelation.
PASSING is. UNSURPASSED
Open Play and Speed Of Big Men
Behind Line Produce Best
Exhibition Seen Here.
Especial to rho irncs-Dlspatch.)

NEW YORK, February 2.--Instend OF
forty, nifty or even one hundred thou
sand persons witnessing the exceptionally
brilliant football played at Washington
Park, Brooklyn, yesterday, by tile all
conqunring New Zealand team against n
home combination. only n paltry handful
OF spectators passed through the gates
and saw tho visitors defeat the New
Yorks by II score OF 4s to 10. For
speed, action. Individual resource aud
personnel as regards athletes. the cxhi-
billion WAS n revelation. TO Witness men.
tipping the scales close 10 two hundred
pounds. dashInG with the ball at an even
lime gait for ono hundred yards. passing
", yet not in front, like flash, when
they were tackled aud have II snatched
UP on the ny without II pause and at top
speed. transferring the ball again to still
athird companion at the same high pres
81 opened the eyes. OF tho few whose
faith has been in the American game.
Among those who saw the game was
By E q nnse q former mrce esp,n an 81
Princeton. Professor Fine. who is on the
Laboratory Committee OF the National
intercollegiate Rules Committee. after
the first five minutes or play deplored
the Laboratory Committee were not
present but that the entire force OF the
Rules Committee and all the players OF
the biz Institutions were not on hand TO
feel how an open. hash-l.kc came could
quicken the pulse and warm tine blood.
Game An Object Lesson.
The game as q struggle was Of no mo-
ment. for with six OF the twenty-five
New Zealanders playing for New York.
the score In the end was b goals and I
tries. or 4s points. for the visitors against
2 goals and try. or 10 points for the
home combination. the latter's points be-
Ing scored by New Zealanders.
AS an object lesson, however. especial
y considering The praent agitation IN
football circles here. the game proved a
direct refutation to the claim that mass
plays and end runs cannot be entirely
abolished without running the national
game. Furthermore, that 1, is not neces-
sary to establish forward TO open gu, Our
game.
The. thousands of enthusiasts of the
American game who were unfortunate in
not witnessing the New Zealand tactics
cannot realize the wonderful work OF the
men behind the line. or pack as the
New Zealanders call IL.
Their game relied entirely on getting
The ball out OF the acfimmagc, and once
out, the combination Of the men behind
was such that the ball for the entire
length OF the field would never touch the
ground. but, like lightning, be transferred
from man to man.
The secret OF their play showed that
py short passing at the otItset their OPP
FS'sb'n WVHiN B-tOHle So ttpsc IDSGlHNI
that. suddenly. by pass OF twenty, or
even thirty. yards TO n confrere the latter.
taking the bail full tilt had clear
way. This was markedly sps when the
New Zealanders were henlmed in near
their own goal line. In other words, the
nearer they were 10 their own goal the
more effective their tactics.
Clever Shooting of Oval.
Once the ball was put Into play in the
pack the object was 10 get IL out and into
the hands of the men back of the line.
Possession OF the ball was the least
thought of. tho sole Idea being to get II
clear of the scrirmagc and let the back
men do the rest. The clever way In
which the eight back men shot the oval
from one to another. finally centering the
play into small compass and shooting
the ball some twenty yards into ap-
parent space only to be snatchcd by
lonesome three-auartcr back who had a
clear field. was sad reflection on the
idea that the American game cannot exist
without concentration OF the forces. All
this open and wide passing was accom-
pltshed under n strict rule that the ball
shall not be passed Forward but
must be passed back"
The New Iealanders left last night for
Niagara Falls. on the way to San Fran
cisco. where they will play the Van
coufer Rugby team before sailing for
home.