The San Francisco call., 1909-09-26
Wing Forward
Being Dropped
In Rugby Play
Three Two Three Serum Is
Tried With Success by Sew
erai Local Teams
By WILLIAM UNMAcK

By WILLIAM UNMACK
The game between the ST. Mary's
college and the California freshmen
last week was one of the best argu-
ments in favor of the 3-2-3 serum for
nation that supporters of that style
could desire, and 1t was decided set
back to the old and antiquated ideas
or the seven serum and winger. The
eight man serum has for the last three
years been strongly advocated In these
columns, and the abolition Of the wing
man as nuisance and encumbrance
pointed out on many occasions. 70
men who are not thoroughly versed
in the finer points of Rugby. 1t is
mistake to play the wing forward. ana
after years of experimenting in coun-
tries where Rugby is known ana
thoroughly understood. 1t has long ago
been decided that the wing man has
had his day.
New Zealand. the birthplace of the
winger. Is the only place where the
position is yet played to any great
extent, and vet the clubs in that coun-
ton tic and puttins uy ali Iohnn the men In the
serum. The New Zealand Rugby union
has Virtually killed the. position by
Impossible Tor a man to approach be-
yond a line drawn through the back
rank Of the serum. A wing man is
the two different formations are lined
up against one another. the one side
with wing forward. the wing man
stands out pre-eminently to referee
structionist. and under these condi-
tions the side playing him will be
sorry they never dropped him into the
serum.
The s,,2-a formation as played by
the. formation used by New South
a specialist in his position. In Eng
land no man has any particular place
In the serum. When serum is
goes down and the others fall in as
they arrive on the spot. With the
Australian style, however, the lock
man goes down and on each side or
him the same men always form into
their respective places. With three
men in the front rank opposed to two.
the fSsmsr 81 will gain of ae
This has been proved time and time
again and in Australian papers just
to hand, with accounts of the games
Zealand and the New. South Wales
team, each playing their respective
formations. the New South Wales team
secured the ball three times to every
once by the New Zealanders. The first
game resulted in win for the Pom
sonby team, but in the second game
the New South Wales forwards had
things their own way and won through
the ability to secure the ball with the
S-3-3 serum formation. Again in Eng
land the teams there do not rely so
much on hooking the ball as they do
in eheir weight In the scrums to push
their opponents over the ball and Sc
cure 1t in. that manner.
man serum was seen when the Wal
labies played here, and their ability In
the serum was not In the fact that the
hookers, but simply that the Wallabies
were using three men to the California
two in the front rank. Almost every
gained possession of the ball The
Barbarians Reliance and st. Mary's
teams have been using this formation
with great success since the present
the formation with the varsity team
yesterday for the first time, and the
blue and gold team will be seen in the
same formation for the rest Of the
also tried the formation out. but 1t is
not definitely decided Il the cardinal
team will adhere to the eight man
serum.
The. olympic team also started the
new formation yesterday, and all the
coaches handling the high schools are
is further proof of the merit of the
formation, and If the teams that have
not taken 1t up do not do so at once
they will find their seven pack COM
pletely outgeneraled.
The great surprise of the Rugby
world Is the University OF Nevada
team. Their decisive victory over the
University of the Pacific last week
stamps 1t as team worthy OF every
consideration. Critics at the game are
unanimous in their opinion that the
sagebrush team will have to be seri-
ously reckoned with when they meet
the University of California next
month. The play Of the backs Is said
to be the equal of anything seen in
this vicinity: They have the passing
down to a scientific basis and the serum
is very. strong in gaining possession
of the ball.
The question of referee for the in
tervarsity freshman contest to take.
place October 16 is at present occupy
ing the minds. of the graduate man
ayers at both the universities. That a
member of the California Rugby ref
.erees' union is to be selected to fill the
responsible position has been made
known by the graduate manager of
California, and with the object of aid
ing the universities in their selection
the referees union iS>drafting differ
ent man to take each game every Sat-
urday. So far three names are men,
toned as probable for the central posi-
tion They are Blair. Reading and
Stewart.