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FOOTBALL NOTES
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SENIOR FIXTURES:
To-morrow. — Launceston v. City.
August 2S. — City v. North Launceston.
JUNIORS.
'ic-morrow. — :Invermav v. Inveresk, at York
Park.
The lai 1 round of matches under the
Northern Association was commenced on
Saturday. Although there is practical
ly no honor hanging to the victory,
still not a. little interest was taken in
the meeting of the premiers and North
Launceston. The victory of the latter
came as somewhat of a surprise upon
the football public. The spectators
were treated to a good game. From
beginning to end tne play was very
interesting, and their ' success, to an
extent, compensated the wearers of
the red and black for the defeats that
have been inflicted on them by the
premiers.
Among the winning team, Towell
played a great game. So did Hinman
on the wing, who badly beat his op
ponent on several occasions. The de
fence line for North was very solid, and
in that department Courtney displayed
attractive form. Woolley worked hard
for the premiers, and at. times gave a
splendid exhibition of dashing and sty
lish football. The premiers missed V.
Valentine forward, but had' he been
on duty perhaps North _ Launceston
would ''have still been winners.
Persons interested in the . juniors
turned rip as usual at Cornwall Square
on Saturday, but they were disappoint
ed. The boys comported themselves
)n York Park. Invermay piled up a
jig score, and won easily. Second
3ity did not have a strong company.
It was a one-sided game.
The North Hobart and Lefroy match
an Saturday was, it is reported, mar
red by the field umpire having twice
to stop, the play for the purpose of
separating players who had mistaken
the football arena for a pugilistic ring.
The Tasmanian footballer, Len Nor
man, was not among the Melbourne
team last week against University. I
have heard it stated that the clever
Tasmanian rover has decided sot to
again play with the red legs. As there
were vacancies to fill, Melbourne gave
young M'Bean a trial. It was his first
appearance in a senior match, and he
is not likely to forget it in a huny.
He had one of his ribs fractured. The
injured junior is a son ^-f a member
of the M.C.C. committee.
All arrangements have been eom
Eleted for the visit of the Central Ho
art club to Launceston, to play their
return match with the Shamrock club
to-morrow fortnight. Efforts are being
made to obtain the nse of the Northern
Association ground for the match, and
it may be granted: ,t
During the match between . South
Melbourne and Richmond last week
end, P. Bourke, of the Richmond team,
had his ankle badly wrenched .in .the
second quarter, and did -not come out
after half time. It was ah old injury.
He was attended to in the southern
gymnasium by the South 'medical offi
cer, Dr. J. d Amer Drew. Jones, the
South wing inan, broke a bone in the
left band early, in . the lust .quarter,
but played pluckily on. In tne , last
quarter, he had a fall, and the skin on
the injured' hand torn off . . He, too, re
ceived medical attention. ?_
The juniors were compelled to: shift
their 'camp' from Cornwall Sguajre to
York Park last week.- The reserve,
might have been allowed to remain in
its old condition for a couple of weeks
longer. By .that time ; the football sea
son would have been over, and - then
the employees of the Corporation: could
have commenced top-dressing without
inconveniencing a single individual:
Hundreds of citizens have been inter
ested by the junior matches played on
Cornwall Square. ,
The ' members of . the . North- Hobart
team on Saturday wore crepe arm
bands as a mark of respect to.' the
memory of the late Mr Edward Mahei l
who was a warm supported'of . 'the club.
The deceased gentleman was :very fond
of football, and -many years ago was a.
staunch follower of the Railway blub.
? According to reports,' very little en
thusiasm was manifested in the .game
between Fitzroy .-and JGarlton last
week. The latter, to nse a racing
term, won in a canter; the last quarA
ter not being seriously contested, al
though for a few brief minutes, when
the play became congested on the fitz
roy goal lines, half a dozen or so hot
bloods made things willing, and
threatened a violent outbreak. Taken
right through, it was not a rough
game, but there was one objection
able incident, which the umpire duly
noted. Just before the half-time bell
sounded Caine, the brilliant Carl
ton forward, was ' in the act
of taking a mark, ' . when he
was charged by an - opoonen^,' and
rather badly injured, a small bone in
his head being broken. He played on
till the finish, however. The umpire,
Bain, subsequently notified the League
delegates of his intention to report the
offending player!
Hie season in the south is nearing
the end. On Saturday North Hobart
gave Lefroy a bad beating. At : pre
sent North Hobart lead on points for
the Southern League - premiership. The
club cannot go higher, as it has com
pleted its full number of matches.
Should Lefroy win to-morrow, the
three clubs will be level on wins, but
Lefroy will lead on premiership points.
In such case, Cananore has the right
to challenge for a play-off, for, as no
one club has a better average on wins
than the other, the position' is deter
mined by the club liaving the best
average on points kicked for or against
during the season. Ganahore lead on
this calculation. On ihe other -hand,
should Cananore win, . the : premiership
will go to them . outright, as they will
have the lead in premiership, points,
and also a better average on wins than
the other clubs.
In the third quarter of the match
between the Melbourne and University
last week, ^ an incident occurred about
which there was afterwards : much dis
cussion. After Ratz had got second
goal ' for the University, with a run
ning .shot, and so put them in tha
lead, _ he had a second easy, chance,
but, instead of taking his shot, sought
to force his way farther in. There was
a scramble on the wing, where Dro
han's attention was drawn 'to the con
duct of Harris, of Melbourne, Who was
alleged to have struck Ratz. Drohan
drew the boundary umpire's attention
to the incident, and, while this was in
progress, Ratz lost the ball, but Wil
son promptly picked it up,_ and kicked
the goaL The goal umpire, : without
consulting the field umpire, as requir
ed by the rules, hoisted two flags for
a goai, out uronan would not- allow
it, presumably on the plea that play
had been stopped. The point of inter
est will be as to whether he blew his
whistle to stop the play before , the
kick was taken. It was just one of
those sudden emergencies which no
rule or instruction to umpires can
completely cover, and for which no one
was much to blame; but it affects the
result of the match.
City and Launceston are to meet
to-morrow for the last time thin sea
son. It is reasonable to forecast an
interesting match. The old rivals have
seldom failed to treat the spectators
to a rattling good battle. Unfortunate
ly the red and whites will not have
the services of a few good men, but
I believe, an effort will be made to
send a fairly capable eighteen into the
field. The break in the weather yes^
terday was bad. As the rain fell for
several hours, it 'is certain to put the
playing, -ground in 'anything Tint the .
condition 'needed; for fast football. Still
there in a chance of a stubbornly
fought contest.
The game played by South Melbourne
and Richmond was remarkable for! the .
goal kicking. For a brief period at
the outset the even character of the
game suggested a close, contest, but
after the initial outburst 'hy .Richmond
the home team practically collared the
game. Against a. stiff breeze, .in the
first quarter, they scored 3 goals 2
behinds to 4 beMnds._ Their system
was splendid, and individually they also
bad the advantage. With the wind
in the second quarter, it was only to
be expected* that ! they would score
more heavily, and, chiefly owing to ,
Hiskens, Kerr, Mortimer, and Ricketts, . !
they added 6 goals and a behind to 1
goal. Two of the goals - were luckily, /
but none the less cleverly, snapped by. r ?
Kerr. In the third quarter Richmond
started out, and made a big effort to
wipe off the deficit, and for a time
they were successful.' ' Coles, jvjth a.
difficult angle shot, aided somewhat '
by the wind, scored a goal, and for
some time tne South Melbournfe backs
were hotly pressed. . That, however,
was the last sustained attack made by
the visitors. Play was transferred to
the other : end, where Hiskens gave a
remarkable exmbition of goal kicking, jg
With three place kicks he scored thre^fl
successive - goals, and raised . great
thusiasm, as he had ; altogether c^^^H
tributed six goals,. ;fn-m_ his unerru^lfli
boot.' When the final change ot ends ?
took place, South _ Melbourne had scor- :?
ed 12 goals 5 behinds to 2 goals 8 be
hinds. Hie final quarter was only a
monotonous succession of goals for the
home team. 1
'The Victorian League and' Victorias
Association premiership matches were ?
resumed on Saturday, : under ratiier nn- ? * - -
favorable .-conditions, the -rain over
night and during the , morning !affect
ing the grounds, and the ''bleak .and
chilly- afternoon presented little in
ducement 'i or people to sit out in the
open, air for tlieir amusement/ Three
League matches were played hv
the 6ix - League clubs .which had
been v on tour or disengaged '
on the previous Saturday, end
the whole of the Association clubs re
sumed their competition, after the ? ?
7th inst., being reserved solely for the
.match- between the Victorian Associa
tion, and South Australia. Despite the
unfavorable weather, there were jsplen
did attendances at the Mtzroy,. Joots-
cray, and Brunswick grounds. The As
sociation semi-finals will commence on
September; ,4, and . those of the lieague
a week . later ; , and at ??? present : it ap- ='
pears almost certain that the- four
League clubs will be Carlton; South. ?
Melbourne, Collingwood, and Essen
don. Prahran and Essendon itand high ^
above the other Association clubs, but '
the struggle for- the third and fourth
'places is very exciting, Footecray,
.Brighton, and Brunswick being dead
leveL
Believed io foe the smallest horse
the world, a tiny black mare,
only 17In high, was recently -sold
230 guineas. ;*
During 108 Wilbur Wright ? travelled
between 2500 and 3000 miles in his air
ship. .. ., '*
$