REAL RUGBY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17571, 23 June 1925, Page 1

REAL RUGBY.

BATTLE ROYAL IN LATIMER SQUARE. (Written for the “Star."! T here was no bank to admire their clever movements and hurricane speed. no one to cheer them on in their strenuous moments; no shield or silver cup awaiting the victors of that grim battle; no laudatory newspaper notices would tell of their stirring play. In the falling dusk of late yesterday afternoon they met on Latimer Square, “Fatty's” gang and “Slinkey’s,” and fought it out. Asphalt paths provided the touchlines and trees surrounded by schoolbags, hats, toats and bicycles did service as goal posts. The ball was a real Rugby special, brand new and sharppointed. Lucky kids! “Fatty's” twenty valiants made the first terrific onslaught. The ball bounc ing at their feet, they chased it like a mob of wild steers. Smith Minor, of the opposing seventeen, tried to stem the rush. lie missed the leather, but made up for that by grabbing several opponents tenderly round the neck to fling them turfwardp. “Who arc ya' scragging, Smith:” 1 lie question was unanswered. "Fatty’s” first lieutenant, a red-headed boy. very freckled, ducked through the ruck. He stumbled, recovered, stumbled again, recovered again, dodged, fended, and gained at length the oak tree that bounds the south-west corner of Latimer Square. Hoarse yells announced a great trv. 1 ‘lay resumed at a terrific bat. No competition points for this, no presentations by the Mayor. All for glory -V pedestrian who tried to cut over from Gloucester Street to Worcester Street found himself sucked into the void ex. Ii took him nil his time to reach the calm of no man’s land. Then came a sensational incident (a reminder of that famous Drown lie occasion at Twickenham). The desperar- Smith made another i sortie. This time lie swooped on iho ball with success. Ho raced like a deer across country. He . Tripped! Poor Smith was plainly, palpably, despicably tripped. Just a few yards from the goal-line ho toppled. Play, of course, stopped. Rough stuff of this kind is not permitted cither in Lancaster Park, or Latimer Square. Hveryonq joined in an outburst of

hate. Slinking, the evdprit was led from the field- a black-eyed, whiinpe.r----j ing-stub-tailed fox terrier pup, sus- | pended for lde on the spot. • ; Fatty’.s ’’ little- brother howled iti I unison. He owned liim. * “ ON LOOK lvR. ? ’