Page:Football, the Rugby game.djvu/28

18 stand and how to catch the ball clean, the next thing that he has to make sure of is getting his kick—either a punt or a drop—into touch as far down the ground as he can. He must find out by experience how far he can make sure of kicking in various states of the wind, and aim for touch at that distance; but he should always bear in mind that he must send it into touch at all costs, as that means so much ground gained for his side for the next line out; whereas if it pitch in the field of play, his own men are all off-side and his opponents are free to resume the attack at once. The only exception to this rule is, if he is near enough to his opponent's goal to try a drop at goal, in which case he should always do so, if he has a clear chance. Goals have often been scored in this manner; but still more often the chance is lost, though one might fairly expect the back to look out for what is practically his only opening for offensive play.

It is far better for a back to be held with the ball than to have his kick charged down; if, accordingly, he is playing against a very strong wind, with a wet ball so heavy that he does not feel sure of being able to bring off his kick, then, and then only, he may run with it as far as he can, put it down directly he is tackled, and hurry back to his post, where he has a right to expect to find one of the three-quarters, who has dropped back to fill his place until his return. In the days when two full-backs were played, it used to be good play for a back to take a big kick down the field, and to put his men on-side by following up his kick; but now that there is only one full-back, it is distinctly bad play to do so, and we have never seen it done in a first-class match since the day when it led to a disaster to England in an international match. Nowadays the golden rule for full-backs is (with the exceptions above mentioned)