NEW SCRUMMAGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 178, 30 July 1932, Page 4

NEW SCRUMMAGE

WAKEFIELD’S EXPERIMENT SPEEDING’ UP THE GAME Has the scrummage law difficulty, the bugboar of. modern Rugby forward play, at. last been solved? This question is now being very seriously discussed oversea as the result of an interesting experiment carried out in mail week on the suggestion of W. W. Wakefield, the brilliant international, says the Rand Daily Mail (South Africa).

The experiment was tried at Head stone Lane, the home of the Old Mill hillians, who had Rosslyn Park as their opponents. W. W. Wakefield was the originator of the ide”, which, briefly put, is that only the outside men in tho front row arc allowed to hook the ball.

Wakefield himself refereed, and as a proof of his belief in tho idea, he broke tho vow he made when be retired from the game.—that bo would not play again—and took part in a match a fort night earlier against the Tonbridge Club. He went into the front row to hook as tho outside man, and found the experiment most successful.

Wakefield maintains that this method assures the ball being put in at tho first attempt; as it docs away with the illegal swinging of the, near leg by the forward nearest tho ball, and also tho “screwing round” of tho middle man. From all accounts, the experiment proved a great success, and oven though it was tried only in tho last game of the oversea season, more is certain tc be heard of tho idea. Old Millhillians beat Rosslyn Park. 16—3, and tho match proved e-ver pitfalls may yet beset it, the “Wakefield plan” of hooking provides both players and spectators with a great deal more football and a great deal of less vexatious delay. The very fact that the ball is hooked by the forward on the further ride of £he scrum from that, on which it is put in affords to that player the extra fraction of ime which is denied to the middle-man hooker, provided the latter conforms with the law. What that extra fraction of time means in precision of movement and of control can best be demonstrated by figures.

There were sixty-three set scrums, and for fifty-six of them one insertion of the ball was enough. Three times the ball went straight, through and four times the scrum slowed or somebody slipped at the critical moment. There were no penalty kicks for infringement of Law 15 (i). and this was duo to no leniency on the part of Wakefield as referee. The greater part of the heeling—especially by the Old Boys—packing 3-4-I—was done with a speed that gladdens the heart of a serum-half and gives the other backs plenty of time and room. The seemingly largo number of serums was duo to a wet ball and the fact that a scrum was frequently v-hoson instead of a line-out. New to the Players It must be remembered that the idea was a novel one to all the players, and, seeing what they accomplished, the heartiest congratulations are due to all concerned. The logical outcome of the scheme is, of course, that tho two outside men of each front row must bo able to hook, otherwise there will bo jockeying for loose head so that the single expert hooker may be served. Incidentally, the most effective hooking was done by the Old Millhillian, Ja«ekson, who habitually used tho near foot. The middle man’s duties will probably consist of binding and shoving, and, indeed, a general revival of shoving should take place, simee, with the ball so well controlled, the honest push will not be deprived of its deserts. Any attempt, at not putting the ball in straight will be easily detected, but it remains to bo seen whether tho plan will automatically defeat other forms of scrummage subtlety, COMPLIMENTARY DINNER FAREWELL TO MR. H. W. COOPER. In order to provide the sports bodies of Wanganui with an opportunity to farewell Mr. 11. W. Cooper prior to his departure from this city to take up farming, a complimentary dinner will be tendered him at the imperial Hotel . at 6.30 to-night. To this friends of Mr. Cooper and representatives of the many sports bodies with which Mr. Cooper has been identified arc invited. During the evening tangiblo recognition will bo made of Mr. Cooper’s services in the realm of sport. His Worship tho Mayor, Mr. N. G. Armstrong, will preside at the gathering, and the indications are that it will bo a thoroughly representative function. UNDER LEAGUE BANNER PROSPECTS FOR TO-DAY’S TEST [ Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July 29. Tho Rugby League Test English team for to-morrow is: Sullivan, Ellaby, Atkinson, Risman, Smith, Brogden, Evans, Davies (ono to be omitted); Thompson, LowO, Williams, Silcock, Hodgson, Fildes, Horton, Feetham (two to be omitted). Tn the Now Zealand team, Hart (West Coast) has been dropped owing to an injury. He has boon replaced bv R. Smith (Auckland).

The weather was previously wet, but is beautifully fine to-day and the prospects are good.