Baw game of Scone

The Baw game of Scone is a traditional ball game that was played at Scone in Scotland.

In this game the men of the parish would assemble at the cross, the married on one side, the bachelors on the other, the play continuing from 2 o'clock till sunset. Whoever got the ball in his hands would run with it till he was overtaken by one of the opposition. If he was not able to shake himself loose, he would throw the ball from him, unless it was wrestled by one of the other side.

No player was allowed to kick the ball. The object of the married men was to "hang" the ball: to put it three times into a small lid on the moor which was their "dool", or limit; that of the bachelors was to "drown" or dip the ball in a deep place in the river, which was their limit.

The party who achieved either of these objectives won the game; if neither won, the ball was cut into equal parts at sunset.
 
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