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SPORTING.
ROVERS F.C. v. UNION F.C.
A match was played on Saturday last in
the Fremantle Park between teams represent-
ing the above clubs. The weather was quite
of the sort appropriate to football, the air
being crisp with frost, and the sun having
but feeble force. The park at Fremantle,
however, cannot, in its present state, be call-
ed a field fit for the game of football. It
provides fair running ground, but it takes
the shape of a scoop, and dotted pretty well
all over it are ugly looking boulders. Each
of these boulders forms a point of danger to
the players, for a fall on their jagged surfaces
would be certain to leave a mark, if it did not
result in serious injury. If these stones were
picked out of the ground, the park would be
by no means a very unsuitable plaoe for the
game of football. This work should be done
at once by the Municipal Council, unless the
members prefer to wait until a coroner's
jury has reoommended them to do it. The
Fremantle athletes, we believe, have made
few, if any, calls upon the public purse for
the support of the noble games of football
and cricket. They are allowed to play these
games in the park, but the Council have done
nothing that I know of to make the ground
there fit for the purpose. If the matter were
fairly laid before the popular Mayor and the
Councillors, many of whom are good support-
ers of athletics, it is probable that, not only
would the council pick out the rocks which
form a standing menace to the life and limb
of the football players, but would also spend
some money in levelling. By the expenditure
of a few hundred pounds, a very good oval
could be made in Fremantle Park, and this
must be done if Fremantle is not to lag very
far behind Perth as regards the forming of
places for recreation. To return to the match
of ¡saturday, the clubs were represented as
follows :-Union F.C. : J. Humble (captain),
W. Bateman, H. Herbert, G. Hicks, G. Her
bert, G. Jarvis, B. Doneon, B. Birch, S. Mais,
W. Mahoney, A. Shaw, J. Snook, W. Price, E.
Back, E. Mason, A. Loukea, A. Woods, F.
Allnutt, G. Griffin, H. Fay ; Rovers F.C. : L.
Ogborne (captain), E. Ogborne, P. L. Huseey,
S. J. Sandell, J. Scrymgonr, S. J. Chipper,
W. Grundy. F. Millbank, G. Caporn, A.
Drake, A. Sinclair, A. M. Lowe, A Birch, C.
Birch, H. Glyde, E. Angelo. W. Trigg, E.
Stevens, W. Laurance, and J. Bose. In the
first quarter the Rovers played dawn hill,
and thus had an advantage over their oppon-
ents. Play had not been started five min-
utes, however, before it was palpable that the
Union mon were showing the better form.
They at once fell into playing the little mark
and did it so deftly that their opponents were
frequently completely baffled. The Rovers,
on the other hand, neglected the little mark
almost en li roi v, only ono of their men, A.
Birch, seeming to think of it. Thus the play
of the Rovers was both selfish and futile, and
in the first half, at any rate, the Fremantle
men simply played rings round them. With-
in a few minutes of the kick off, Fay had got
a mark in fro t of goal, but failod to score.
Then for a while the Rovers managed
to keep the ball somewhere near the middle
of the ground, only however, eventually to
givo way before the little mark and allow
their stronghold to be assailed. The assault
of the Unions was most successful, first
Mason and then Herbert kicking goals from
chances given them by the mark. In the
second quarter, the Unions with the hill in
their favour, mado lively play m front of the
Rovers' goal, and Loukcs managed to kick
a goal from the field. After the kick off
again, the Rovers succeeded in making an
attack upon the Union goal, and finally E.
Ogborne got a chance. He kicked well, and
the ball passed through the posts, but it hav-
ing been touched by the opponent who stood
at his mark, the score was not allowed. This
was a great disappointment to the Rovers,
as they bad worked well for the goal. In the
few minutes that remained to half time, the
Unions had again all the best of the play,
and scored two more goals, one got by Fay,
and~the other by Mahoney. The latter was
cloverly got ; the goal keeper having " hand-
ed " back the ball from an attempt to score,
it was caught by Mahoney, who instantly re-
turned it for a score. When half
time was called, the score stood: 5
goals 1 behind for the Unions ; 1 be-
hind for the Rovers. In the first half
it was a very one sided contest, bnt in the
Becond the Rovers turned their attention to
the little mark, and, consequently, made a
much better fight of it. The captain, L.
Ogborne, set the example and it was followed
by most of the players of his team. By means
of the little mark they kept the ball well in
their opponents half, but behind3 only resul-
ted. In the last quarter, however, L.
Ogborne kicked a goal in capital style, and a
few minutes later, the same player, kicked
another. At intervals, the Unions, who
seomed to have relaxed somewhat in their
efforts, made rushes, which resulted in the
addition of two more goals, one being kicked
by Jarvis and the ether by Bateman. The
match olosed with the score as follows ?
Unions 7 goals 3 behinds ; Rovers 2 goals 4
behinds. The score fairly represents the
quality of the play of the respective teams.
The Unions played a grand game all through,
thanks, perhaps, to some extent to the coach-
ing of Batemen, who from centre seemed to
completely control the Fremantle team with
bis voice. Still the " boya " required little
urging, for they all played "stuffily," and, what
is more, unselfishly. Bateman, of course,
both on account of his generalship and his
play, waa a tower of strength to the Unions.
All of the others did their best, and if they
keep together and continue to improve as
they have done in the last few weeks, the
Unions will have a great chance of taking
the premiership left vacant by the defunct
Fremantle Club. For the Rovers, best form
-that is, playing according to the rules-was
shown by A. Biroh, who did wonders for so
light a man, and who, during the first half,
vainly set the example of playing the little
mark. The play of all the members of this
team improved in the second half. The
captain showed some of his old form, in running
and kicking and, what was more, played the
mark. E. Ogborne played a very £ne game,
as did Millbank, Randell, and Scrymgonr.
Hussey showed considerable improvement
npon'his form of lost season, and before the
season is out, may become a really prom-
inent player. Several of the Rovers are light,
untried men, but most of these played in
promising style. The Rovers, we may add,
have begun this season in the same style as
, last season, each man playing too much on
his own account. They conquered this
failing last season, and unless they de so
this season, they cannot hope to win
many matches. W. Spooner officiated as
umpire in the match in a highly satisfactory
manner, though he did, through an oversight,
moke the mistake of giving to Bateman a
mark that shonld have been given against
him. The new rules were rigidly enforced
by the umpire and the effect was the stopping
to a considerable extent, of unnecessary
rough play.
MEBCANTILE FOOTBALL CLUB.
A meeting of the members of the above
clnb was held on Saturday evening for the
purpose of making a presentation to their
captain, Mr. H. Gamson, on his departure for
Victoria. Mr. W. J.Hayes, a vice-president
of the club, occupied the chair, supported on
his right by the guest and Mr. J. F. Reid on
his left, the vice chair being taken by Mr.
G. T. Fruin. The chairman said the meeting
had been called to bid farewell to their
popular captain. Mr. Gamson, he said, bad
been the most zealous and ardent supporter
of both cricket and football, and they would
miss him very much. On behalf of the
members, he had much pleasure in presenting
him with a formal address, expressing the
feelings of the members on his departure. The
address was then read, after which Mr. Gam-
son acknowledged the gift. He said he felt
very deeply the kindness that had been ex-
tended to him by one and all. He would like
especially to thank the chairman and the
members for the kind words spoken of him,
and for the address, which he felt he did not
deserve. It came to him quite os a surprise,
and was, therefore, the, more welcome. Re-
freshments were then'brought in and the
chairman proposed Mr. Gamson's health, and,
in doing so, he referred to the way in which
their guest had always interested himself on be
behalf of the mercantile employees. To ¡his
efforts to secure the change in the weekly
holiday-Wednesday being substituted for
Tuesday Mr. Camson suitably responded and
proposed the toast, "Success to the Mercan-
tile Football Club." Mr. W. Reardon (vice
captain) returned thanks. The vice-chairman
then proposed the toast of "The patron, the
president, and the viee-pregiáe&ts," and, in
doing so, speke in eulogistic terms oí Mr.
Gamsón as* à' cricketer. Messrs', Hayes aqd [
Oëlà iiépoiip«: ä cordial Vote of thanks
and "Auld iiâng" S^ne" brought to' a Close av
very enjoyable evening, ^frt the suggestion' j
of Mr. Gamson.the post-of captain, fendóréd' |
vacant by his departure, was filled by Mr*.
Horace Glyde, who was unanimously elected.
PEET« F.C, v. WEST AUSTRALIAN P.C.
The match between the above clubs took
place on Saturday last où the Kew Becrea
tiori Ground, Perth, add resulted in an unex- 1
pected win for the Perth P.O. by 1 goal & \
behinds to 4 behinds. For the winners,
MoGann, Nolan, Peter, Neesotl, Reilly,
Delaney, Vincent, and Keaughraun showed
good form, while for the losers, Ramsay,
Rowland, McDonough, Cahill, and Hardwick
performed well. The Perth P.C.-who are
all youths-are to be congratulated upon
gaining a victory over such a team as the
Wests.
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