Page:Lacrosse- The National Game of Canada (New Edition).djvu/217

194 and make more use of his legs; sometimes having two or three antagonists to manage. He is more at liberty to dodge than Point, has more opportunity for field play, and. may occasionally carry the ball down as far as he can go, and throw at goal; but a fielder should always relieve him. As soon as he has “played his part,” and got rid of the ball, he should retire to his original position.

Point, Cover-point and Goal-keeper are a trio in defence, and need confidence in each other. Tho two former must act in concert as to change of base, retiring, &c. We think the importance of these places has never been properly estimated: they make a defence either strong or weak.

Centre.—As the early fortune of each game may depend upon the way the ball first goes—whether it is sent down towards the flags of your opponents, or up to your own,—the position of Centre offers no ordinary scope for skill. It is merely temporary, and only survives the starting of the ball; but if the men are well posted, and Centre is able to send the ball to any particular one, the probabilities are that it goes up to the enemy’s flags, and may stay there, if the home attack is strong. The player facing