Lancashire cabbage

I was most interested to read Mr. Ripper's letter (The Jakarta Post, Nov. 18, 1994). I too am from Lancashire and as fate would have it, I also played rugby there in the early 1960's. Indeed there was a rugby team from the Chorley High School for Boys who did pretty well several seasons in a row. In the team there were three brothers who played at front row forward, big strapping lads they were too.

I always thought the name Ripper was merely a nickname given to them on account of a habit they had of "letting rip" in the scrum. But let me explain. The scrum, for those acquainted with the best game in the world, is that set piece when both groups of forwards charge each other like battering rams and then hang on to each other for the ball to be thrown in at their feet. And by "letting rip" I am referring to a habit that all three brothers had of breaking wind, frequently, in the scrummage. In fact this was known as Chorley High's secret weapon. Later when the brothers played for Chorley Town, visiting teams used to refer to Chorley as the "Windy City".

However, at that level of the game this strategy was already well known and the opposing teams would attempt to swivel the scrummage into the wind to turn Chorley's secret weapon back upon themselves. Sometimes it was successful. This of course amused some of our older supporters who remembered the role that poison gas played in many battles in World War I. Some readers will remember that gas was banned by the Geneva convention. Now, when the referee called for a scrum this became a cue for the chant "Geneva Convention! Geneva Convention!" which often went up around the pitch to great laughter all around.

Yes they were great days in Lancashire what with those other Lancashire lads, the Beatles, playing fine music too. The Ripper boys played their part in giving us few a laughs -- so did their sisters but I won't go into that here. It would be interesting to meet Mr. Ripper after all these years and I hope I'll be able to find him at ISCI's rugby club (who by the way, are celebrating a famous victory over Singapore).

Until then, David Ripper, please stay clear of the cabbage.

TONI R.S. CASH

Jakarta