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FOOTBALL.
Norwood v. South Adelaide.
It is generally agreed among footballers that
the premiers of the season will be found in
one of these clubs, and therefore it was not
surprising that between fifteen hundred and
two thousand people assembled on the Ken
sington Oval on Saturday afternoon to witness
their second meeting. The first game resulted
in a decisive win for the Norwoods, but their
opponents put a very weak team into the field,
and the game was not considered a fair test of
the strength of the clubs. On Saturday,
however, both played a very strong 20,
and the contest was in all respects superior
to any previously played this year. Unfortu
nately a late start was made, and as the game
lasted for two hours exclusive of the interval
the mott exciting portion—the last 15 minutes
—wob played in darkness. The South Ade
laides were responsible for the greater part of
the 20 minutes delay which ensued. Thi?
was natural considering the distance moat
of their mm had to travel, but when
an early start cannot be effected, especially
while the days are so short, the game should be
limited to 45 or CO minutes each way. The
Souths kicked off towards the north goal at
3.20 against a light breeze, and with one of
their rushes which have so frequently placed
their opponents at their mercy the Norwoods
ranted the ball up to the Souths'citadel. -The
blue and whites' back men, with Coombs in
the van, relieved, and after a little wing play
the Souths landed the ball in the midit of the
rrd-and-blacks' backs. Roachock, who had
taken the field for the first time, was waiting,
and in a trice the sphere was passed right down
the centre of the ground, and landed in front
of tbe city men's sticks. Haldane after a
momentary struggle secured possession, and
with almost a clear field before him ran for
ward and punted the ball through. The
umpire in the meantime had called the ball
back, but on its being bounced the Norwoods
came to the front again, and a behind
resulted to them. The Norwoods, know
ing their opponents' strength on the
wings, played to the centre, and for
nearly a quarter of an hour they ran rings
around the blue-and-whites, who were unable
to get the leather away from the vicinity of
their sticks. Three more behinds were notched
in succession by the home team, but their luck
was out, two easy chances for goal being
missed. At last the Souths got away along
the pavilion wing, and by a brilliant rush
landed the sphere in the hands of their goal
sneaks. Taylor and Hill had shots in succes
sion, but were unable to score more than be
hinds, but the leather still hovered around the
red-and-blnes' eticke, and during a scrimmage
close up C. Martin kicked it through off the
ground. One goal in "25 minutes. The blue*
and-whites quickly regained file advantage
they had lost by the kick-off, and Hill had two
shots frcm 30 yards, but misted by a yard or
two each time, the ball passing behind. The
quarter-time bell Iras then rung, and ends
being changed the Norwoods secured
the object of contention and landed
it in the hands of Haldane, who
notched a behind. The game now became
very fast, and the leather was rushed from end
to end with great rapidity. The visitors added
a behind to their ecore, but their opponents
again cornered them, and placed two behinds
to their credit, the second being the result of a
running shot, the ball hitting the post. The
Souths worked the leather back, but they failed
to get past tie centre before the Norwoods by a
well-timed rn&h placed the Bphere in the hands
of Slattery, who made the pegging level. Half
time was called before either side had gained
any decided advantage, the scores being—Nor
wood, 1 goal 7 behinds ; South Adelaide, Igoal
6 behinde. On resuming the Norwoods again
got away, but the Souths quickly changed the
venue of the game, and a couple of behinds
resulted to them. Koachock and Bertram then
carried the ball back to J. Woods, who from a
run from the centre landed it in the hands of
Sampson. The mark was secured at a most
difficult angle, but Sampson performed what
appeared to be an almost impossible task, and
No. 2 goal was posted to the credit of
the red-and-blues. The Souths followed with
a behind, and their opponents made a
similar addition to their score. The red-and
blues had rather the best of it for the next few
minutes, and when the bell rang for the final
change of ends they were still a goal to the
good. The Souths now had the advantage of
what little wind there was, and they at once
resumed operations with redoubled energy.
After a keen atiugglethe blue-and-whites came
to the front, and fames marking close up
placed goal No. 2to their credit. The pegging
being once more level, the teams &et to work
with the evident intention of wearing each
other down. The leather was rushed up and
down the ground at lightning speed, but both
teams defended to bravely that neither side
could get witbin kicking distance. Darkness
coming on was fast hiding the players from the
view of tie spectators, when a hoirse Bhout
from the crowd surrounding the Norwoods'goal
announced that Hill had marked close up. The
maik was disputed on the ground that Hill hod
taken it behind the sticks. The umpire
being unable to decide appealed to the
goal umpire, who awarded the mark. Hill
punted the ball through, and the goal was
allowed amidst eucu shouting as is seldom
heard even en a football ground. By this
time the lamps of the carnages surrounding
the arena had been lighted, but they merely
made the darkness visible. Once more the
ball was started from the centre, and the ex
citement became interae. The teams were
urged on by their supporters almost inces
santly, and some very fast work was put in by
both sides, but beyond this nothing can be
said of the game, the only thing that could be
seen was the figures of the players flitting to
and fro in the gloom. The Souths had kicked
what was regarded as the winning goal nearly
15 Minutes before time, but just before the
bell rang Rowe marked close op to goal and
made "the pegging level again. One of the
Souths protested on the ground that he had
touched the ball as it passed through, but the
protest was disallowed, and time being called
immediately afterwards the game ended in a
draw, the scores being—Norwood, 3 goals 11
behieds; South Adelaide, 3 goals 8 behinds.
Mr. Turpenny acted as field umpire.
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