GAME OF PUSHBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19739, 12 September 1927, Page 12

GAME OF PUSHBALL.

INTRODUCTION TO AUCKLAND AN AMUSING MATCH PLAYED. CROWD ENJOYS THE DISPLAY. A huge ball and 16 players introduced tha game of V pushball " into Auckland at Eden Park on Saturday. A ntatch played between sailors from H.M.S. Philomel and a Grammar Old Boys' team resulted in {i draw, neither side scoring. To ensure that the finer points of the game would be appreciated, a set of rules was available to purchasers of the football programme. Although proving a decided help in many ways, the rules lacked one fundamental—the onlookers were not told whether .to-regard the game seriously or as a joke, Whatever may have been in the mind ,of the promoter of the game, the crowd soon settled the point to mutual advantage. Little save fun was derived from the exhibition. A laugh went up as soon as, the ' sailors left the pavilion and trundled the ball to midfield. The ungainly progress of the, ball while in play could not fail to produce merriment, so great was the contrast with thq, flight Of the trim, light ball used in the Rugby game. , Pushball is really simplicity itself. Eight players on each side endeavour to push the .ball over their opponents' goalline, which counts two points and, if between s the goal-posts, four points. There is something inspiring in the-sight of sturdy men hurling themselves against ap object, only to be thrown off like so many flies. It is like infantrymen clambering over a tank in their endeavour to cripple it. However,- the ball in motion is a very different thing. • Player after player would hurl himself in its course, only to be passed over and thrown to the ground while the leather bounced triumphantly away. tinder ideal conditions the game may be a fast-scoring one, but, judging from Saturday's exhibition, it would bo the exception rather than the rule to score. It is unfortunate that the bad state of the ground and -the heavy rains militated against''fast work on Saturday. The game, however, provided diversion. The kick-off was most amusing, The players lined up at a short distance from the ball and then rushed it. When the ball could not be moved, although both sides exertgd equal force, the' referee stepped in and order & Scrum, or whatever is the pushball equivalent. That meant the forwards would lift the ball into the air and punch it around above their heads. The Grammar line excelled at this—they were particularly fortunate in possessing a tall player. The line-out was something new, too. Two opposing players would lift the ball from either side and, with a short run, hurl it among the group of forwards waiting with outstretched arms. It was only natural that the crowd found Opportunity for some gsod-natured chaff at-the expense of the playtits, and as the game was played during the interval in the Rugby representative match it kept the large crowd amjlsed until the real business of the day was resumed. >