The ball's shaped like a pyramid and the teams wear coloured dusters on their heads: What sport being played in Huddersfield is this?

IT was played out in the birthplace of rugby league.

But any similarity between the high-speed finesse of the Huddersfield Giants and the exponents of Tasmanian Rugby can be firmly ruled out.

The extraordinary sport has celebrated its 65th anniversary this week in traditional style.

Fourteen players lined up in Greenhead Park, donned coloured dusters on their heads, and played out a fierce contest using a pyramid-shaped leather ball.

Exactly as people have done every Boxing Day since 1947.

That was the year that George Todd, who was then landlord of The Croppers Arms in Westbourne Road, Marsh, first came up with the idea.

One of his regulars had seen Army service in Tasmania, Australia, and had seen a version of touch rugby that he found fascinating.

He returned to Huddersfield and suggested it as a way of letting off steam and getting rid of some of the Christmas excesses to fellow drinkers at the pub.

“We’ve done the same thing every year since then”, said current pub landlord Nigel Saxton, who lined up in one of the teams for this year’s contest.

“We were marking the 65th anniversary this year and there was a good crowd of people.

“Some had gone along to watch but others were just enjoying a day in the park and were totally baffled.

“There were 14 players, divided into two teams, but we have had many more in some years. We only play 10 minutes each way but it is great fun, even with yellow or blue dusters on our heads”.

The game has no direct tackling but does involve players kicking the leather pyramid across the field, trying to get it over a very small rugby-style goal erected at each end.

“The shape of the ball makes it very hard to kick and it bounces very awkwardly,” said Nigel.

“We had an Australian over from Tasmania some years ago and he loved watching the game”.

This year’s two teams were captained by young brothers Joshua and Matthew Roberts.

Roberts’ Rhinos, led by Matthew, beat Roberts’ Raiders 5-2 in a well-fought match, refereed by former soccer referee Malcolm Kaye.

Among the spectators was Mark Davies, of Marsh, who has played many times over the years along with his father, uncle, brother and son.

He said: “It was a great way of burning off the Christmas calories, without going to the Boxing Day sales.

“It is good that we can keep traditions like this going”

After the game all the players returned to the Croppers Arms, where Matthew was presented with the Todd Trophy.