Читать книгу The Dangerous Book for Boys - Conn Iggulden - Страница 22

THIS IS A SIMPLE GAME, but it does require some skill and practice. It used to keep us occupied during French lessons.

You will need

 A flat, smooth surface – a school table, for example.

 Three two-pence pieces are best.

1. Place the coins on the close edge of the table, as in the diagram. The first blow must be struck with the heel of the hand against the coin half over the edge. The three coins will separate. From then on, only the coin closest to the player can be touched.

2. The aim of the game is to pass the coins up the table by firing the closest through the two further up. If you don’t get the coin through, that’s the end of your go and your opponent begins again from his side of the table. Just one finger is usually used to flick the coins. They should always be in contact with the table, so a great deal of the skill is in judging the force as well as planning ahead.

3. After a few of these ‘passes’, the opposing goal comes into range. This is provided by the other player, as shown.

4. If the goal shot misses, the game is lost. If the shooting coin strikes one of the other two, the game is also lost.

In the rugby version of the game, tries are scored rather than goals, and they are worth five points. The scorer then has an opportunity to gain two more points by converting the try. This is difficult, to say the very least.

1. The opposing player rearranges his goal into a rugbypost formation.

2. The goal or shooter coin must first be spun in place. As it spins, the coin must be gripped as shown in the picture and flipped over the posts in one smooth motion. No hesitation is allowed for aiming. This is not at all easy to do, which is as it should be.

3. Play to an agreed number, or perhaps to win the coins.