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FOOTBALL.
NORWOOD V. ADELAIDE.
Saturday afternoon witnessed the beginning
of the end of the struggle for the premiership
between these teams, who met for the fourth
time on the city oval. Had the Adelaides won
they would have been almost bound to go top,
but the Norwoods proved victorious, and the
question of the premiership is thus left c pen
until the clubs meet again, the Adelaides being
a point to the bad, and having one more match
to play than tbe red-and-blues. The weather
was cold, and a stiff breeze from the north-east
swept across tbe gronnd, inclining slightly
towards the south goal. A light shower of
rain fell during the afternoon, but did not in
terfere with the game, the ground beiagingood
order. About 2,500 people witne wed the m itch.
The Korwoods having lort the toss, Woods
kicked off for them towards the north goal at
3.10. Tbe A^ieludes returned promptly, but
Woods tva.c wai'iogr, and for a minute or two it
looked sta though the red and-blar s would score
before the ball had crossed the centre line. Cox,
however, g< t away, and Petfinger and A.
King compelled Knox to as=urce tbe defensive.
The ball w+nt out froa the return, sud R,
Stephens and Lander centred in front of the
lsor?oods' sticks. Rnachock relieved, and
Garter and H&ldane putting in some fast
wcrk on the pavilion wing, the red-and-blacks'
back men were quickly in difficulties. Twice
the Eu-tem Suburban icen centred in front of
their opponents' stronghold, but tbe forward
failed to obtain popppfit-irra. 3. D, Stephens
changed the venue of the gsme by a smart run
down the centre, and J. Coonan passing to
Clatke, the first behind was registered to the
red-and-Wacks. The Eastern Suburban men
got clean away from tbe kick off, owing to the
exertions of McGrath and Waldron, but H, and
John Stephens returned to Spiller. Roachosk
was let in by a slow attempt on the part of
Spiller to pacs on, and Liston reached the
centre. Pettinger returned, and J. Coonan
marking within 40 yards caused the second
behind to be posted to the Adelaides credit. A
well timed rush an the part of tbered-and-bluea
enabled Slattery to nave a shot from an
awkward angle, but he failed to cover the
diitanoe, and Cox relieved. Dixon centred,
and Rawson, marking within easy distance,
was content with a behind. Tbe Adelaides
rushed the ball along the pavilion wing from
tbe start, and A. King and R. Stephen* called
on Knox to relieve. John Stephens m irked
from the return, and passed to Mole, who
landed the ball in front of the sticks over the
beads of tbe defenders. £ran and Clarke
rushed forward t>> drive it through, but the
former was prevented from doing so, and
Clarke getting to it during the
which ensued sent it through off the ground—
1 goal in 21 minutes. The Adelaides had
brought their men forward for the purpose of
forcing the Mine, but from the kick-off they
failed to hold their own, and their opponents,
driving them back notched another behind.
Ends were then changed for the first time, the
behind* being equal and the Adelaides having
a goal to the good. The ex-juniors sot away
with a rash from the throw-down, but they
failed to pass tbe Eastern Suburban men s
half-back line, and Robert*, Waldron, and
Uiiou called on Cox to defend. This
was done with so much spirit that
the leather wan smartly ?startled along
tie centre, and J. Coonan spoilt a some
what i-aey chance by kicking wildly and send
ing the sphere behind. A free was given
against the Korwoods for pushing before the
pressure had been relieved, and J. Coonan was
again responsible, for a behind kicked out of a
scrimmage. Fur ? few minutes the ball
hovered around tbe Norwoods' stronghold, but
at bet the *ctne of operations was changed,
abd WaWroo pawed to Letcbford, who had an
easy nfaot from 90 yatds, but only notched a
behind. Roberts at once brought his man for
wai d for tbe ) >urpose of forcing tbe game while
tie wind was in their favor. This move was
socoawf ul, and the Adelaide* being hemmed in
were unable to get the leather back. t>etch
f otd again tried to pilot thr ball between the
posts without success, but directly afterwards
he rained to Bischbieth who dropped it
through froa) SO yards. One goal in twenty
two mioates from the botmos. Wafcjroo fol
lowed this np by notching a behind, and then
the Adelaides rallying broke through the
bwiegeis' ranks carrying the leather to
the other end of the ground. The
returned to the attack with
a rush, and Waldron and Rischbteth
centred, and Slsttary being awarded a doubt
ful mark in the midst of two or three Adelaides
sent tbe ball tailing between the posts. Half
time wan then called, the scow being—Xotwo-mI,
2goal* C behind*; Adelaide, 1 goal 4 behind*.
On resuming the Adelaides were called on to
relieve, bat with the wind in their favor they
did ?<> effectively, and invading their oppo
nent* tt-riitory added a bebiod to their Wily.
Thr ?m* had been very rough from the start,
and ft now became rougher than ever, several
of the j.Lyeis confining thur attention to the
man rather than to tbe ball R. Stephen* and
McGtfcth were tbe original offearW*. and
atetrfi to have gone into the held lor the
expires purpose of paying off old grudges.
Sewnl of the other men on each side now
joined in the fray, and a good deal of rough
ai>d tumble vai indulged in. Darin? one
of the Fcritnnisgr* R Stephens .ctrnck Mcijratb
in the face, and J. Wood* retaliated on the
Adelaide rov?r. Buth blows were of conne
claimed to Save been the result of acciaVnti,
but appearances were against this hypo
thesis. Whether the man were intentionally
struck or otherwise, tbe performMoes of R.
Stevens and McGrath should not be allowed
to pas* over unnoticed by tbe association,
wbo should consider tbe advitablenen
of di-qualifying both of them for the
remainder of the season. The Adelaides
became disorganiced during the fray,
acd tbe Norwoods taking advantage of this
notched 2 bebinds. Tbey were still pressing
the red and-blaeks very closely when tin time
arrived for ends to be again changed, but a dis-
Ste arose between tbe timekeepers, and dar
f the next half-minute Rawson marked clow
up and looked tbe third goal for Norwood.
The Adelaide timekeeper protested against the
goal bring allowed on* tbe ground tnat it w>s
kicked after time, but m in the end it in no
way iotiurnoad the result the matter will no
doubt be allowed to drop. Ends were changed
for the last time, and the Adelaides rallying
tried to wipe off tbe hasdieap against which
they were playing. A. King centred, anil
Muule had a ahot, but only notched a behind,
a similar addition to their score remitting from
the return from the kick off. The Norwoods
returned down the o?otre, and Nonntn aad
McGrath had shots in tuceessinu, but only
soorrd behind*. The "lads" were now pal
pably beaten, and tbe Norwood* tying them
up added two or three bebinds to their More,
finishing with a goat from the foot of Ratwson.
Tbe red aud-blaeks rallied from the kiok-off,
and Giles inssing to R. Stephens the saoond
goal wax potted to their credit. Tine was
called shortly afterwards, the board showing—
Norwood, 4 goal* 13 behinds; Adelaide, 8
go*). X behinds. Mr. Sidoli acted a* nold
umpire.
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