Year: 1878

in an instant. Making the best of his


opportunity and speed of foot, the 4C


yards that separate him from the enc


my's goal line are soon passed, and,


having escaped the clutches Of the near


est "back" by an adroit dodge, he


grounds the ball in triumph between


the goal posts. From such touch


down goal is almost a foregone con-


clusion. The side which has gained the


touchdown now retires, and two of its


players are designated to take the ball


out. The one who is TO kick the ball


brings 1t up TO the line Of goal in a


straight line from where it was touched


down. When touched down between


the posts ii may be taken to either, but


not between. Inside the line he makes


a mark with his heel and touches the


ball down upon it, He then, still keep


ing inside the line, retires a pace or two


from his mark (for from this his oppo-


nents may stretch out and maui him if


they cam, and kicks the ball gently off


his toe into the hands Ofhis companion,


who is standing directly opposite him,


only just outside the goal line, to re-


ceive it. This man instantly makes a


mark with his heel, so near to goal as


possible, and from this last mark the


two players proceed straight out into


the field, and, when they have reached
convenient spot for place kick, the
kicker makes a small nick for the ball
to rest in, and, Oh level with this, the
rest Of the side form a line stretching
away in front of the enemy's goal line,
behind which their opponents are ar
ranged in like manner, intently watch
ing the holder of the ball. He, with
one knee on the ground, holds itJust OFF
the grass, waiting for the kicker's sign
before grounding it. Directly he places
it in the mark, the opponents may
charge, and try to maui the kicker or
tonch the ball on its way to goal, in
which case no goal is scored, even
though the ball go fairly over the cross
bar, and if any other player on the at
tacklng side touches the ball after it has
been kicked into the placer's hands,
their opponents may instantly charge
and maui. If a goal is obtained, the
sides change over to try their luck from
fresh position, when the side which
lost the goal kicks off from the middle
OF the ground, as at the commencement
of the match. If the try is a failure.
the defenders may run with the ball out
OF goal if they can, but in the majority
OF cases they are so hemmed in by the
attacking party that they are compelled
to touch it down, in which case the op-
posing side retires, and one of the side
who touches it down takes it out not
further than the 20 yards post and
drops" it. But if the ball when so
dropped" pitch in touch, and so out
Of the ground, it must be brought back,
and the kick be taken again. In the
case of player who is running in"
being tackled by one or more opponents
outside the goal, and carried over the
line by the scrummage, only those who
Ire touching the ball with their hands
may remain in the maui, and when a
player has once released his hold of the
ball, he may not again enter the maui
'r attempt to join in the play, under
penalty of being dragged out by his op-
)onents. On the other hand, if
player running in is tackled inside the
yoal-line, only the player who first
,ackles him, or if two or three tackle
lim simultaneously, may join in the
maui.