Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), Saturday 27 August 1904, page 21


Eatrt)00t

CLOSE OF T1IR SENIOR SEASON.

(IJy -''Anon.'1

The fixture card of the South Australian Senior Lacrosse Association was completed en .Saturday, when. East Torrens defeated University by 5 goals to 3, and thus tied with North Adelaide for third place on the liBt. Only two important matches now remain, those against Essendon, the* leading Melbourne club, in which the exponents ot South Australian latrosse will be a com

aiuea Aaeiaicte rejin ana i'ort Adelaide, itifi winners of the association competition. The lacrosse pfa-oii iji Adelaide is a short one. It barely covers three months. Nevertheless, a groat -J.? J of enthusiasm and ^porting fervor Ik. packed into that short period, and (.Ix; i;:et that lacrosse does not (ire the public here as it does jn Canada is no fault of local lacrosse players. Why lacrosse d»e-* not 'go'' with an Adelaide crowd as football does has always been a iny.st.cry to tliose who tasted the cxltilarating delights ot the Canadian pastime. Hut although the game rouses only spasmodic excitement unions the people who look on, it lias pushed its way steadily in the active service part of the community, and these, after all, are the men who make the game from every point of view but the financial. It has been n keen season all along, owing to a large extent to the remodelling of several leading, clubs before play began. The fact that Sturt, last year's premiers, decided to run two senior clubs, and that Port Adelaide amalgamated with Holdfast Bay, and so formed a solid combination, has uiveu a

fipprting 'interest ^othe race for ''tfe prc-mierghip right from 'the moment the pistol was fired till the tape was finally breasted. Port Adelaide deserved their laurels, but -they will at the same time concede that Sturt fought .gamely, ana had rough luck iu not scoring an equal -number of pcinlg. In the first match between the two clubs, when the Ports won by 7 to 6, Sturt had the misfortune to be without Kell. Then they suffered a further disadvantage by losing their best man, Noblettj who is certainly far stronger than Stapleton, the player whose injury led to the equalisation of the sides. On tieir form that day Start would certainly have drawn, and in all probability ?would have won if they had nad their full strength in the field throughout the match. In the return match at Unley the Sturts were fairly and squarely beaten ou their own ground. It was a long way the?, best game seen in Adelaide this year, arid one of the hottest fights known in club lacrosse-. The form shown by Port Adelaide on that occasion deserves the wannest acclamation. They may not have been better than their -opponents, but they were every inch as good, and no one who saw the match could quibble about the result. As it iej Port Adelaide finishes two pointy Uglier up the tree than Sturt. Sturt s reversed position is the best thing that could happen for lacrosse. The balance of power has been restored, wilieh has as palutary an effect on club games ns on international politics. As far as goals go the Sturts have far the best record on the list, and they can soliliquise that if they had not run two senior clubs they would have been top again, but they chose the unselfish part, and mav therefore be reconciled to playing seconrl fiddle. Of the remaining clubs University have suffered the greatest eclipse. They have been quite unable to get ' over the loss of stars like Newland, Gardiner, and Clayton, and consequently are only fifth, with 5 points, instead of second with 10. North Adelaide, with practically the same team as last year, has gained two places, scoring 10 points against i. East Torrens started strong favorites, and finished in the 6ame place as last season, %'iz., third. With Mann aud IT. Goode in their ranks they had a stronger ieam than last year, but lost ground through -loose combination early in the season. _ Sturt A has not won a match. Their inclusion in the senior list was an experiment, which has diminished the glory of yturt, whilst increasing interest in {Tie competition. If they could borrow one or two good men from the first team they would do better next year. In coming to individual men, two or three familiar names have to be reiterated. Humphris and Koblett are the best pair or forwards in the State, and C. V. Hughes is still the best back. Crosby and Jeffrey ore a niueh-imrjioved and verv Rfrnntr nair

Naughton has come on amazingly, and no one fights more gamely. Clare and Wintorbottom are best goalkeepers in the State. Both have come on with Brobdignagian strides, nnd the goal-keeping of each hus been a pleasure to watch. Presgrave has been a consistent goal-thrower, and Gepp has played several good games. The following have been (he leading goalthrowers:— L. Ilumphris, 56; W. Noble tt, 45; A. Presgrave, 40; W. S. Crosby, 32: C. Gepp, 32; V. Bishop, 25; A. Mann, 25; P. Jaffrey, 25; A. Thompson, 21; G. II. Thomas, 18; R. Taylor, 21; F. Jackman, 13; A. Ballans, 11. The competition table stands thus: — e ^ nub. 1 g i I 1 1| 1 Tort Adelaide ? 10 9 1 — 87 40 18 Sturt ? 10 8 2 — 338 54 10 Kcrtli Adelaide ? 10 5 fi -r 07 75 10 Kast Torrens ? 10 5 5 — 76 75 ]0 University ? 10 2 7 1 38 67 5 Sturt A ? 10 — 9 1 83 121 1 In the following club reports I am indebted lo Mesirfi. M. J. Xaughton (Port Adelaide), TreJoar (Sturt), and H. W. Hodgetts (Kast Torrens), for x-&ri.iculars about tlj-eir respective clubs: — Port- Adelaide. At the beginning of the present season both Port Adelaide and Holdfast Bay found themselves extremely weak. Port Adelaide in their forward lines and Holdfast Bay on the defence. The result way an application to the association for permission to amalgamate and play as one team, which was granted, under the name of Port Adelaide. During the season 87 goals have been thrown for and 4(3 against, showing that, although the Ports are top of the scoring sheet, it has been no easy matter to retain that position, ns was instanced when East Torrens defeated them by 11 goals to 9. Because of the unccrtninty of an easy lead greater interest has attached itself to the club matches.

The two most interesting malces of the season were those against Si urt — last year's premiers—the pftt-ond match being spoken of as one of the best displays of lacrosse seen in Adelaide for tome years. Crosby, Jaffrey, and Thomson have certainly proved themselves the goalthrowers of the team, their scores respecrively being 32, 25, and 21, a total of 78 out of 87 thrown. Thomson's claim for recognition as a first-class player seems ?to have been entirely overlooked again this season, and a little more attention by die selection committee would perhaps give him the opportunity which he undoubtedly deserves. At fir=t home he is without an equal in South Australia. The brilliancy of tlie forward players has somewhat overshadowed the quiet, dogged play of the back division, but in Rote, Liston, Barrett, Needles, and Captain Spritch there is a formidable defence, although not quite as strong comparatively as the forwards. Considering the position of the Ports on the pcoriner-eheet they have not been too weJi treated in the matter of outeide matches, ft proceeding which has not escaped the notice of the team, and which is not at all appreciated; but perhaps the selection committee iu their wisdom, forecasting the result of the reason's play, considered the Ports would be satisfied with Kssewdon to themselvcR on September 1. Pore Adelaide will jio into the field on September 1 to do their best to uphold their reputation, and a good game of lacrosse, and one well worth see ing, should be the result. Sturt.

Sturt's scheme of bisecting itself jn senior hicroi-e has not been a success from the club point of view, If there had only been one senior team. A. Ballans could have represented (he first 12 in one or two matches 111 which he would have been of great service. Notwithstanding the understanding on this point, Ballans played for the first team in several matches. If Sturt had bean satisfied with one senior team, it would probably have won the premiership in both matches. Chinner, 'formerly of Kast Torrens, has come along fast, and A. Mann's place has been more than filled by Noblett. Bishop is not quite so dangerous as of yore, but liumpliris is still incomparable fleet of foot, and deadly within range of goal. Presgrave takes the focus of goal as accurately as of yore. In the A team Prisk and ITudd have done well ior jntiiov debutants, the latter especially. Nicholas has shewn himself a capital defence iu three or four tuatcke*. A, and

3s. itollans, recruits from East' Torrens, have teen the mainstay of the team. Without 'A. Ballans tlie 'team would be very feeble. Parker is the life of the forwards. Hortori, formerly of Port Adelaide, has kept goal splendidly. Nortli Adelaide. North Adelaide Club has gone through the present season with five -wine and five losses, and third on the list, which is a better performance than the club was-,able to put up last year, when they drew with Port Adelaide for the bottom position. Last season the North's was a very young and inexperienced team, but this year the players were more mature, with the result that they gave the best teams a very good 'go on all occasions. They were successful over their old rivals. East Torreus, in one match, while only two goals separated the teams in- favor 'of the latter when they met for the return match. Against Sturt they put up a good game, aud were defeated, by 11 goals to 7, after the score at I quarter-time being 8 to 2. The principal goal throwers were E. Taylor, who was iu fine form this year. F. Jackman, and G. Thomas. The back lines were led by the captain. W. Taylor, with O. Tonkin,' W. Lang, R. Richardson, and F. Porter to back him up. C. Back at centre was as fast as ever, and kept up his reputation in fine style- Hie colts, Muecke, Sims, Frost, nnd Axfovd, also showed great promise. East Torrens. East Torrens provided the disappointment of the season. They commenced with very favorable prospects indeed, nnd started well, winning their first match hy 12 goals to 5. They were then beaten by Sturt, 10 goals to 5, and again by North 1 Adelaide, 10 goals to 7. A surprise -vyas created when they defeated Port Adelaide by 11 goals to 9. Port Adelaide having previously beaten Sturt. A defeat at the hands of University, a victory over North Adelaide, defeats by Sturtand Port Adelaide followed, and the club wound up by defeating Sturt A and University. They tie with North Adelaide for third position. The great weakness Iny in the want, of combination, especially among the homes. Kelfish play was apparent too often. In

L. Uepp Jiast lorrens has a good nrst home. He heads -he club goal-throwing list with 20, and 32 in all games.* His phy in inter-State lacrosse was promising; he obtained 8 goals while away. A. Mann, on the attack, was a tremendous help right through the season. He obtained 19 goals in club matches from attack, a very good record. C. Lord, who was absent ii'Oirt the first three matches, showed his best form in the second half. II. Goode, II. Wicke, R. Nadebaum, J. G. Partridge Were always to the love. H. Winterbortom was disappointing. F. Gooden, from the junior team, was a great success. P. Goode suffered (torn lack of -experience: V. Goode and G. Graham were in excellent form all through the season, aud thoroug'iT' justified their inclusion in the interState team. D. C. Winterbottom excelled himself in goal, and played in every match. His ''keeping' in some matches was wonderful, and his inclusion in the inter-State team was a well-deserved honor. With the material available in the junior teams Eaat Torrens should be strengthened next season. The following is a complete list of the goal throwers :— C. A. Gepp, 20; A. S. Mann, 19; H. Goode. 12; C. Lord, 9; H. Winterbottom, 8; P. Goode, 3; F. Goode, 2; O. Graham. 2; T. A. Siekinan, 1; total, 76. University. After their fine display last year, when they were beaten by Sturt alone, the University men suffered from a blurring eclipsp. Without Newland, Gardiner, Clayton, and Ward, they found themselves very weak when they came into conflict with the best clubs. In McLennan, Jones, and Stuckey the students kave three men left of the first rank. It is to be hoped that Newland will be lured back from the fascinations ot football, and that other sportingr men at the 'Varsity will be persuaded to take up lacrosse. hi conclusjo!), a word of praise is due to Mr. G-. Blookey, who has done a great deal of hard work for the association this season as hon. secretary.