DUTIES OF No. 2. 53 



and when he ought to be hustling an opponent, 

 in order to give a comrade an opening, he hangs 

 back on the chance of getting the ball himself. 

 And yet, because he makes several brilliant runs 

 in a match, the on-lookers who do not understand 

 the game will probably regard him as the best 

 player on his side. I need hardly say he is not the 

 sort of man we require when we want to win an 

 important match. Moreover, he should thoroughly 

 understand the duties of Nos. i and 3, and should be 

 able to do their work equally as well as his own, if 

 he finds himself temporarily in either of their places. 



No. 2 is often too anxious to try for a goal, however 

 difficult the shot may be. He might learn a valuable 

 lesson on this subject by observing the fact that in a 

 crack football match, no one shoots at the goal until a 

 good opportunity arrives. The ball is invariably 

 passed rapidly to the centre before the shot is tried. 

 The finer the hitter, the greater is the temptation 

 to make very long shots at goal. Many goals are lost 

 by this practice, for no one can make a certainty of 

 a goal at 80 or 100 yards ; and even if the ball is 

 sent in exactly the right direction, a quick Back will 

 probably overtake it and save the goal. It is, as a 

 rule, better to straighten the ball with the first stroke 

 and then try with a second stroke to put it through 

 the posts. 



When the ball is hit out from behind No. 2's goal 

 line (Fig. 23), he should place himself about 10 or 15 

 yards farther away from the goal and about 20 yards 

 in front of the back line, and should have his pony 

 on the move, as soon as Back starts to hit the ball, 

 so as to have his pony cantering when the ball is hit 



