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THE DEFENCE
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most common special plays, some of which
are possible even now under the changed
rules.
To stop a closely formed mass play, the
player or players against whom it is aimed
should go into it low and hard with shoul¬
ders and then fall flat. To simply fall
down in front of the mass, the play may
go right over them. Shove it back, and
then fall. A loosely formed mass play
should be stopped by ripping right through
the players to the runner. Such a play is
hard to pile up, and lying down in front
of it does little or no good.
When a wedge is directed upon centre,
the three centre men should go into it
head and shoulders, first shoving the apex
in, and thus opening wedge and forcing
the runner to the outside.
After shoving in the apex, the three
men naturally fall flat, and thus prevent
further progress over them, and the other
men take care of the flanks of the line.