Snolching Lomu
From Ms Jenny Macrory
Sir: Maybe Isaac Bull (Mind your language, 9 October) was a footballer who resented his mother's attempts to prevent him from achieving his goal on the fateful day in 1711 when he called her a snotching bitch.
In the eastern counties of England a field game called 'camp ball', possibly a descen- dant of the Roman game 'harpastum', sur- vived into the 19th century. Players had to carry or throw the ball between the goals without being caught in possession, a 'snotch' being lost whenever a player was Its an undercover mission, lieutenant— can you handle it?'
held. The game ended when seven or nine snotches had been scored. In the variation called 'kicking camp', a large ball was used, but when shoes were worn it became 'sav- age camp'.
Let us hope no leg or nec' is broken in valiant efforts to snotch Lomu in pursuit of the World Cup.
Jenny Macrory
Heritage Field, Sotham, Warwickshire
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