Please wait. Contacting image service... loading

Article text

FOOTBALL.
NORWOOD v. ADELAIDE.
On Saturday afternoon for the first time
for several yean past a senior association
football match was played on an outside
ground. This was rendered necessary by the
exclusion of the dubs from the Adelaide and
Kensington ovals, in consequence of the un
fortunate dispute which has arisen between
them and the custodians of the grounds men
tioned respecting the percentage of the gate
money each is entitled to. This experiment,
made as it is at a time when rigid economy i
being practised in all departmentspf life, will
no doubt be welcomed by rainy, who, un-
Englishman-like, would carry tha principles of
retrenchment into their sports. Bat the
general feeling of the spectators on Satur
day was that it was a pity that the
" king of winter games" should be banished
to unmade grounds, and that tha
woner the dispute is referred to arbitra
tion, and the grren sward of our cricket
grounds ia asain tn?d by the wearers of thn gaudy
guernseys the bettor for all concerned. The
teams selected for the opening game were the
Norwood and Adelaide, and the scene of
operations was the Hcthams ground on the
north of tfce Botanic Park, between the Frome
and Hackney roads. The ground was level,
and free from obstructions, and the late rains
had softened it and caused the grass to
appear above the surface, but it was still to
too hard to make the prospect of a heavy fall
other than dangerous. The clubs woiv of
opinion that the attendance would sli ->\v
whether or not they had the supiiort of th
public in the stand they had taken, and if this
is so they have every reason to be satisfied that
they are very cordially supported hv tli^
patrons of the game. Between two and throe
thousand persons fenm-d a ring- throo or four
deep, almost all round the arena, andaouplo
of constables kept the arena clear. At times
the crowd encroached a little, but the utmost
gocd humor prevailed thronghoutthe afternoon,
and the approach of the men in blue or the
eager contestants was the signal for a general
return to the flag-marked boundary. Prior to
the interval, boxes similar to those in use at
the Botunda concerts, were carried'around for
the purpose of allowing the onlookers to con
tribute towards the expenses of the game.
Thecanvass only lasted forabout ten minutes, but
a fair sum was realised. The supporter* of the
Adelaide club considered the proceedings
somewhat infra dig, and good-naturedly
"chaffed" the box-bearer*, while they advised
those around them not to contribute. Tha chief
executive officer of the dub, however, took an
active chare in the work, and stated that in the
event of their half of the money being refused
by the dub, the Children's Hospital, or some
other equally deserving institution, would
benefit by the transaction. The teams
took the field at 3.25, and J. D. Stephens, who
bad been re elected captain of the Adelaides,
winning the toss from Roberta, the Norwood
skipper decided to kick towards the north
west goal, which was slightly favored by a
stiffish breeze blowing from the south-west,
foth teams were stzongi although the Nor
woods were minus the services of their
veterans, Roachock and Waldron, while one
or two of their opponents had deserted their
flag. The red-andblues kicked off towards
the river end, and with a splendid rush, for
which their opponents seemed unprepared,
forced the leather into the hands of Chandler,
who notched the first goal for the ex-premiers
almost before the men had got into their
places. The Adelaides set the leather in
motion again, and tried tc emulate the per
formance of their more experienced opponents,
but were met in so determined a manner by
the red-and-blnes' back line that they were
forced back to the centre. This repolse was
only the signal for a renewal of the attack, and
during the acrimnnge which followed a behind
wasscoredbvthered-and-blacks. The Norwoods
rallied, snd invading their opponents 3 territory
scored 2 behinds in succession, and followed
this tip by kicking a second goal, T. laston
being responsible. From this point in the
game till half tnne the eastern suburban men
had thing* very natch their own way, and
although the ex-juniora at times carried file
war to -their very gates they were unable to
score, while the Norwoods notched iwn>tfrftr
goal (Halftone) and 4 behinds, the last un
successful try being made by Haldane from a
mark at 10 yards Hiafemf*>. At half-tune the
scores were —Korwood, 3 goals 5 behinds;
Adelaide, 1 behind. C. Woods came down a
regular purler during the first few minuter
and retired, the red-and-blues played only 19
men during the rest of the game. On resuming
the Adelaides got away, and added a be
hind to their score. The Norwoods fol
lowed suit, and *fc?=? the red-and-bliies
infusing saore spirit into th* game than
they hadjiitherto made the pace very warm.
After a keen struggle £ Stephens secured a
mark, and kicked first goal for the "boys."
The contest now became fast mud furious, and
both sides putting-away all fear of the result of
" spills" threwtheu wbole hearts infcj the game.
The ex-premiers came to the front first, and
after a keen straggle sandwiched * goal, kicked
by McGrsth, in between two behinds. The
Adelaides then brought their men forward, and
forcing the game succeeded in placing a couple
of behinds to their credit. They were, how
ever, unable to maintain the advantage they
bad gained, and a well-timed rush by the red
and-blues into their undefended territory
placed the sphere in the hands of Chandler,
who again proved reliable. Before either side
had added to their totals time was called, the
scores being—Norwood, 5 goals, 9 behinds;
Adelaide, V goal i behinds. The services of
boundary umpires were dispensed with, and
end were changed only at naif time, but the
new rules respecting little mailed wa? strictiy
enforced Mr. Turpenny acted as field umpire.
$