Page:Lacrosse- The National Game of Canada (New Edition).djvu/233

210 time of it, and games would be of longer duration. Recall the strength of a rallying attack, where two or more opponents, tacking to each other, work the ball up to the flags; how weak in comparison would be the solitary dependence upon Home! Home often must “leave his place.” Whenever he can get to a ball thrown wide or over the goal, before an opponent, and before any other man of his side, he should do so. If he, sooner than any of his side, can prevent an opponent getting the ball away from the goal, he should certainly do it. It often happens that he can reach wide and over balls before any other man of his own side, and prevent an opponent pitching it away from the critical vicinity. Whenever he leaves his place, under any such circumstance, the nearest link should close to the goal-crease, ready to strike in any throw; while the other links dispose themselves to check the movements of adversaries who should run to the defence.

We would not like to see Lacrosse so revolutionized as to make the permanency of any position compulsory, but the common sense of players should guard them against running to the other extreme,