Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), Monday 4 August 1902, page 6


INTERSTATE LACROSSE.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA BEA'ilS VICTORIA. ' A FINE EXHIBITION. MELBOURNE. Aueust 3.

The tenti representative lacrosse match between South Australia and Victoria waa played on the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sahirdav afternoon in weather which was

cola and wet ana generally ciisagreeaDie. The game was looked forward to as a failtrial of strength between the two states, as Victoria was represented by its very best 12, while the visitors' side constituted practically the first choice of the Adelaide selection committee. The South Australians decided to leave out P. Goode and play \V. Taylor on defence, and the following teams took the field: — South Australia. Victoria. -Goalkeeper ? .1. Ayers F. Delves Point ? E. Smckcy T. JfcrJonell Cover-point ? .U Jones F. Bonnin Third man ? C. V. Hughes II. Sutherland Ri.?ht defence...,!. Fletcher W. A. Walsh Left defence.. ;...W. Taylor W. Joynt Centre ? R. D. Ncwland I). White Hight attack..... F. Kcll W. Eurncaux ' Left attack ? V. Bishop F. Dunn RiRht home.....»P. II. Newland B. Murray Left home.r. ? U Humphris R. Wingrove , Home..... ? U. T. Ward - B. Gay , ' The Acting Governor-General (Lord Tenns-ffim) left the races to witness the latter part of the game. During the interval the teams joined in drinking the health of the Chief Justice (Sir John Madden), who has seen every interstate lacrosse match played in Melbourne since 1896, and on ona occasion said that the pastime was one for thoroughbreds. Sir John, in acknowledging the compliment, professed himself an ardent admirer of lacrosse. Notwithstanding the unfavourable ebndi tions, the game was full of spirit. There has never been a closer result in the series. The Victorians, finding their feet earliest, scored (he first goal, Furneaux getting theball into the net, after Wingrove had failed to break through Ayers'e defence. It was not long, however, ? before Humphrfs beat Delves with a low shot, but a beauti- 1 Ful long pass by Dan White landed tho' ball fair into Basil Murray's crosse acnong the, Victorian 'homes,, and he scored a neai seal, worthy of the man who holds ihe Australian individual goal record. Humphris again came to the rescue of South Australia with a nice shot, but a moment

later Delves stopped a very aot one by trie Shirt crack. The Victorians were playing the better game, their checking and passing beine superior to that of their opponents, and before the first quarter ended George Gay got an;»opening, and an easy goal, making the 'scores:— Victoria— 3 goals. South Australia— 2 goals. On the change of ends the visitors began to play better, and settling down to their work soonplaced a different complexion on matters. They showed good pace, and theit passing and ticking were splendid. Ayer3 kept goal magnificently, and in front of him istockey's work at point was very fine, while further afield the cleverness cf Ralph Newland, the pace of Fred Kell, and the unerring accuracy of Humpbris slowly but surely told their tale. Ward, dodging Delves, who had left his goal, tipped the ball into the net, and a moment later a fast straight shot by Phil Newland got through Delves's defence. The Victorians attacked strongly, but time and again Ayew, in goal, smothered their efforts, a hard straight shot by Gay hitting him fair in the chest. Stuckey and Fletcher drove the Victorians back, and Kell, picking Phil New

lana ouc an aione, passeu iu- mm, him me South Australian captain got the fifth goal. The scores at half-time were:— South Australia— 5 goals. ? Victoria — 3 goals. In the third quarter the Victorians again attacked strongly, but Ayers was impassable; and stopped many fine shots. On-ly one goal was scored during this quarter, and that was put to South Australia's credit by Humphris. In the final quarter the Sturt champion began with another goal. Then Wingrove passing to Murray, Victoria scored tneir fourth goal. Humphris got another past Delves's shoulder, and just before the end Wingrove stored Victoria's fifth and last goal, the final scores being:— South Australia— 8 goals. ' Victoria— 5 goals. The game was clearly won by the better side, the visitors' combined play after the first quarter being splendid. They showed greater aptitude than the Victorians in eluding their checkers, and played to one another beautifully. To Julian Ayers must be given much of the credit of the victory, for time and again he stopped shots which would have beaten most players, while bis long throws were killing. One of the oldest lacrosse players in the Commonwealth said of Ayers:-'The burly South Australian is an absolute specialist, created for the position of goalkeeper. His, equal as custodian of the net may never be seen in the Commonwealth.' E. Stuckey, at point, was splendid; L. Jones (cover point) played a fine, sure game; while 0. V. Hughes (third man), J. Fletcher, and W. Taylor (defences) were excellent. Ra'ph Newland at centre, notwithstanding that this was his first interstate gams, was clever and cool. F. Kell was much too fast for Walsh, and he did a lot of excellent work for his side. Phil Newland, in addition to handling his side like the experienced general he is, played a fine, clever game; and Humphris, who got -five goals, did all that was required of him. Mr. A. Wettenhatl made a strict and impartial referee. The visitors were entertained at_ a banquet in ? the evening by the Victorian Lacrosse Association at tie Vienna Cafe, and early ia the week will leave for Sydney-witn the Melbourne team to take part in the lacrosse carnival there. The following table shows the results of the representative games between the two states:— ?Date. Where played. Results. 168S ...... Melbourne .. ~ Vic 5—1 18S9 „ .. .. Adelaide .. .. S.A. »-2 1892 ...... Melbourne « - S.A. 6—3 18% _ _ .. Adelaide - - S.A. 15-0 1897 .. ? Melbourne ~ - S.A. 8-1 1898 .. - ~ Melbourne ., *i Vic 9-5 1S99 .. -i. -? Adelaide ;., .. S.A. 10-3 1900 _ - .. Melbourne .. .. S.A. 8-3 1901 ..- - « Adelaide .. .. S.A. 9-4 1902 .. .... Melbourne ? S.A. 8—5 South Australia, has thrown 77 against .35.