South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Saturday 10 September 1887, page 7


LACROSSE NOTES.

[BY FACER]

A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE SEASON.

The season may be said to be concluded, although there is a not altogether remote probability of the Adelaide and Noarlonga teams meeting once more. The end of April ushered in the 1887 season, which

in all respects has been eminently satisfactory, and in results has surpassed its predecessors in every way. Lacrosse has benefited more during the last six months than it did during the two previous years. 'Notes' have kept the game before tbe public, who have exhibited more interest in the pastime, but for some unaccountable reason that interest has never been of a very extensive description. People in the country have been moved by some influence to give attention to the sport, and twelve months hence the club will have been considerably augmented if the present enthusiasm is maintained daring the recess. We have still only four clubs in existence., which is indeed unsatisfactory when we remember that the game has been played here for three years. Some young people are inclined to regard the sport as ' an old woman's amusement,' but of course such absurd criticisms simply reflect unfavourably on those who utter them, and display their lamentable ignorance of tbe game, which requires the greatest skill and agility. Certainly the Noarlungas have a jubilee representative in their team, and the plucky old gentleman looks ever so much stronger since he joined the ranks of the athletes. Not many men of his age could stand the labour involved in a match, and it is sufficient to say that young players always welcome tbe ' time' bell, to show that the game is the very reverse of what it is said to be. Before any matches were played the present North Adelaide Club was formed chiefly through the exertions of Professor Bragg, who seceded from his old comrades tbe Adelaides for the purpose of of establishing the club, in order that matches might be more frequent. Tbe Adelaides of course were somewhat grieved to lose so good a man, but welcomed the new team with pleasure, aa hitherto they had only had the Noariungas to fight against- Mr. Talbot Smith, another good Adelaide, also became associated with the Norths, so that the pioneers suffered much for the new club's sake. On May 21 the first match took place. The Adelaides drove to Noarlunga, and were badly beaten by the local men and on the following Saturday the Norths appeared for the first time. They met the Adelaides and played a capital game, which was drawn, each side having thrown three goals. A week later the youths of Knighsbridge held a meeting and decided to organize a club if sufficient names were enrolled. In less than a fortnight the requisite number was obtained, and tbe club began to fly its colours on a suitable patch of ground south of the Burnside Tramway. Here again the Adelaides suffered. Cossins, ' new and very promising man, who lives on the hillside, was one of the prime movers at Knightsbridge, and consequently preferred to leave the Adelaides to join the club which was nearest his home. A very reasonable course, but rather discouraging to the blues. Negotiations bad been carried on with the South Melbourne Club, which resulted in a team visiting this colony. They arrived by train on the morning the Jubilee Exhibition was opened, and on the 22nd the first match was played, the Adelaides being the opponents of the visitors who were not a little surprised at the proficiency shown by the local adepts. The ground vras extremely heavy, and the Adelaides performed with brilliancy enough to make the match a draw. On ihe following Saturday ' the Souths were driven to Noarlunga, where they played against and beat the locals and were afterwards entertained at a capital dinner. On the following Monday they met a team composed of the best men of our clubs, and this time the South Australians were victorious. On Tuesday morning tbe North Adelaides were defeated by the Souths, who did not engage in any more contests. They were banquetted in Adelaide, and spent as enjoyable a trip as was possible in the face of most unpleasant weather, and on the 23th most of them returned to Melbourne. Adelaide has been honoured in many ways during the jubilee year, and not the least interesting and important incident to be recorded of our history during this period of festivities is the fact that the South Australian capital was the scene oi the first Australian Intercolonial Lacrosse Match. Since that occasion Sydney has sent a team to Brisbane, so that the visit of the Souths may be said to have had a good effect in stimulating intercolonial interest. Next Year we will be sending a team to Melbourne, and hencefotth is intended that the matches will be annual engagements if possible. It was not until the middle of July that tbe Knightsbridge lacroins began work in real earnest, and on the 27th they were pitted against the North Adelaides, who naturally enough scored a victory. A large number of people witnessed the game, in response to invitation cards which had been issued, and the ladies, with all the thought-fulness which is incidental of the sex, provided after-noon tea, which was very much appreciated by the

wearied exponents of the game. At matches which have taken place at Knlghtsbridge since then the ladies have gained the hearty thanks of players for similarly treating them. Early in the season I wrote to the Secretary of the National Amateur Lacrosse Association of Canada for information, and in reply he forwarded copies of the Association rules and laws of the game, which were placed by me at the disposal of the club Secretaries, but up to the present no application has been made for a copy. Upon receipt of Mr. Snow's letter and parcel, a second communication waa sent asking for detailed information on certain points, but sufficient time has not passed to allow of an answer being received. It will be useful for the opening notes of nest season. Mr. W. J. Fuller, of Clarendon, addressed me on the subject of lacrosse some weeks ago, and solicited information which was given, and which it is to be hoped will lead to the formation of a club there in 1888. The local residents were desirous of seeing the game played, and their wishes were gratified on August 20, when the Adelaides and Noariungas proceeded to the rural settlement and played a match under most serious disadvantages. However, the trip was not without good effect, and Mr. Fuller is confident of producing a team in the near future. Mr. H. Cobb, of Port Germain, and Mr. C. J. Shipway, of Strathalbyn, have been furnished with information, and I am hopeful of clubs being organized in each of those townships also. Including tha intercolonial contests the clubs have engaged in only sixteen matches. Three have been played on the Old Racecourse, five at Noarlunga, three on tbe Adelaide Oval, two at North Adelaide, two at Knightsbridge, and one at Clarendon, In all 103 goals have been thrown, divided as follows : — Adelaides, 32; Norths, 29; Noarlungas, 20 ; South Melbournes, 17 ; Combined, 4 ; and Knigbtsbridge, 1. The following matches have been played :— Adelaides v. Norths four times, Adelaides v. Noarlunga three times, Norths v. Noarlunga twice, Adelaides and South Melbourne, Noarlunga and Souths, Combined and Souths, Norths and Souths, Norths and Knightsbridge, Noarlunga and Knightsbridge, and tbe Adelaides and Knightsbridge, and the following table shows the results: Won. Lost Drawn. North Adelaide — 5 2 1 Adelaide - 3 3 3 Noarlunga - 2 4 1 Knigbtsbridge — 3 — Combined- 1 — — South Melbourne 2 1 1 The Norths, therefore, though in their first year, bold the high position of premiers. Noarlunga players take the first place with regard to the highest score in a match. They threw thirteen goals against the Knights, and the Adelaides and North Adelaides are together for the second place, each having obtained 11 goals against the same team. These big scores do not reflect on the Knights, because it must not ba forgotten that they began very late in the season. A movement has been set on foot to secure the establishment of an Association, and shortly the various clubs will hold a combined meeting to discuss the subject. It is extremely desirable that some parent body should exist, to govern the play and deal generally with matters affecting the game. Besides being an institution to which the affiliated clubs might look for assistance, and, if necessary, appeal to the Association would carry with it influence which cannot be brought to bear by individual clubs or persons. Indeed, in every possible way the Association would be a benefit, and it is to be hoped the proposal will be matured — this year if practicable. It is understood that if arrangements can be made the Adelaides and Noariungas will play a match next Saturday, but it ia more than possible that the contest will not come ofl Neither will the match which which was contemplated between tbe Premiers and a combined team from the other clubs be played. This review will conclude the weekly notes for 1887. It is to be hoped they have bad the desired effect. One result of tbem is certain — they have kept the game before the public. Since April 30 no less than fourteen Register olumns have at various times been taken up by notes and reports, so that tbe sport has received a pretty fair share of notice. Country folk who would like to gain information dniing tbe recess will have their wants supplied, as far as possible, on communicating with ' Facer.' -