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LOCAL SPORT.
FOOTBALL NOTES.
Kowloon made a good start last Saturday by defeating "H" Coy. Buffs. A want of under standing among the forwards of Kowloon pre-· vented them from taking advantage of many openings that occurred, but of course in any team good combination can only result after a good knowledge of each other's play.
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The "Sappers" with a little practice should manage to give any of the league teams a good run for points. They had to turn out Saturday without Meaney, their popular centre forward, but bar accidents they hope to be at full strength on Saturday against the Club.
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Fractice has not yet commenced on the Club ground this season, but a six-a-side competition Entries will commence some time this week. closed yesterday and I understand the entry is
a record one.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
wielders of the willow are content in pro- tecting their bails and driving the leather along the carpet. Really the only useful practice for a team as a team are matches against other teams. It should therefore be the policy of the Selection Committee to select their team quite a month ahead and to arrange as many matches as possible against the next best combinations available It should not be a difficult matter to have the pitches for these matches away from the turf they intend to use for the interport contests.
Military teams have been notified by the Hon. Secretary of the Garrison Recreation Club that no matches must be played on the Military Ground before Monday, 11th instant. This means that the match Buffs v. Naval Yard, which should be played on Saturday, must either be played on the Naval Ground or postponed
till some future date.
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It is certainly hard on the league committee to have their arrangements upset so early in the season, but there can be no doubt the extra week's rolling will do the Military ground a lot of good, as there are still a few bumpy places.
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League cricket has not yet started, but
of the clubs have some
had friendly matches, Kowloon, Craigengower and the Buffs
having had games, each
but nothing very startling has developed in the way of new blood. League matches will be watched very closely as having a distinct bearing on inter- port matches.
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Telegraphs are to be congratulated on again entering the lists. Their form at the latter end of last season was quite good, and it would not be a surprise to see at least two of their number chosen to represent the Colony.
UMPIRE.
LEAGUE FOOTBALL.
A serious start is being made with football to-day, when the second season of the League will be inaugurated. Since last season there are not so many possible claimants for the Hongkong Daily Press Cup. The Y.M.C.A., the R.A.M.C., the Club Lusitano, and the B.O.C; have dropped out of the league, which, howeverl has been strengthened by the Hongkong Football Club and the newly-formed eleven at Kowloon. To-day's matches will be watched with interest, as "B" Coy. Buffs are expected to take the they will doubtless show the capabilities of the place of the Departmentals in the second divi-respective teams. The premier football club has sion of the league, and the Secretary, Mr. A. Ellis, B.O.C., is only waiting for a definite answer before publishing the fixtures.
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gathered together a very likely lot, and as the R.Es. may be expected to show up well, this struggle for the first brace of points should be well worth seeing. Kowloon's debut will be inci-watched with interest, and the new team will be able to prove their merit against a strong combination from the R.G.A. The Naval Yard and Buffs face each other this afternoon, and it may be expected that the Yarders will make a better display than they did against the B. O. C. on Tuesday.
A warning to referees. Take care that dents which incur penalties are not accidents, or it may be the peculiarities of individua. players. Rules are not made to be broken; but in putting any rules of football into force a referee must use his discretion to a great extent. If a referee makes a mistake or thinks he has made one let him consult his linesmen, whether neutral or not. Things of this kind add to the confidence spectators and players put in a re- feree, and without the confidence of spectators and players a referee is better off the field.
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An emergency committee, composed of Mr. A. P. Storrie, Mr. Frank Browne, and Sapper Heigh as Military member, was elected at the last league meeting to deal with any matters requiring immediate attention.
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The transfer question was settled to every body's satisfaction, and in case of any transfer being applied for Secretary Storrie must be notified.
REFEREE.
CRICKET NOTES.
Cricketers, or rather cricket clubs, are some- what slower in getting down to serious work this year than at the commencement of previous seasons. That does not necessarily mean that cricketers are less enthusiastic; the explanation lies rather in the lack of opportunity. The H.K.C.C. authorities are undoubtedly to be congratulated on having got their ground in such perfect condition, but are if anything over-careful in nursing their pitches. After all, what we want to do during the coming interport tourney is to win matches, and if our cricketers haven't the opportunities of playing in serious matches, and plenty of them, there will be a sad lack of combination.
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Maclaren and Fry, two of the greatest cricketers of the day, und without any question authorities on the fine points of the game, lay particular stress on the absolute necessity of fielding and combination. If this applies to Home cricket, where the batsmen place the balls practically where they want to, how much more so should it apply to Hongkong, where most
R.G.A. V. KOWLOON.
A good number of spectators watched the first league match in Kowloon, and, as was expected, the points went to the soldiers, who certainly deserved them.
The teams lined up as follows: Kowloon Foulkes; Van Ginkel and Allen; Stubbs, A. P. Storrie, and Blackburn; Mead and Wilkie; Brown; Morris, and Hedley; R.G.A.-Bazley; Oxley and Waters; Walker, Weaver and Hewett; Crump and Ansell; Watts; Nash and Bellis.
The visitors went off in fine style and secured a couple of goals through Ansell and Nash before the home men were able to get their bear- ings. Kowloon were decidedly uncomfortable, and suffered from lack of cohesion. However, as the game advanced their confidence returned, and they had less hesitation in tackling their hefty opponents. The soldiers were indeed playing brilliantly, and if a forward got away with the ball the whole front line swung into position, seconded by the halves, rendering their attacks Their defence, though not very dangerous. greatly tried, proved very effective when A third goal was added occasion demanded. through Watts, and only the ubiquity of Kowloon from having a Foulkes saved
Van Ginkel bigger record againt them. shared honours with the goalkeeper, as he stopped many dangerous shots and frustrated many likely runs.
Kowloon's halves did not
feed their forwards as well as they might have done, though Storrie did exceedingly well after he found his feet. Half-time: R.G.A., 3 goals;
Kowloon. 0.
In the second half Kowloon improved materially. The players realised each others' position, and, placing well, their combination resulted in their becoming aggressive fairly often. The soldiers, however, kept up their dashing play, and after Foulkes had beaten off several attacks his charge fell, again to Watts. Not a minute elapsed before Kowloon, getting
[October 11, 1609.
well away from the centre kick, were in front of Bazley, who was beaten by Brown, who scored Kowloon's only goal amid great enthusiasm. Encouraged by this success, the home men claim- ed a greater share of the game, and kept the ball travelling, and time was called just as they were threatening the soldiers' goal, Result: R.G.A., 4 goals; Kowloon, 1.
HONGKONG V. E.E.
The opening match of the season with these clubs took place on the Happy Valley on Satur- day afternoon at 4.30 p.m. The teams were:- H.K.F.C:-C. C. Hickling; J. McCubbin and F. G. Carrol; H. W. Lester; A Gregory and H. Kilby; A. Aitcheson and A. E. G. May; W. Weston; W. Whitmarsh and H. Herstlett.
R.E. beardmore; Coxon and Lamb: Jackson, McCrory and Culley; Parslow and Morrish; Meaney; Taylor and Orsmond.
When the teams lined up it was noticed that four changes had taken place in the advertised team for the Club. The Sappers kicked off in the presence of a very poor attendance of specta- tors, due no doubt to the inclement weather. The Club players at the commencement were very ragged in their play, and the Sappers had no difficulty in keeping them to their own half of the field. Meaney, tricky as ever, gaye Gregory the slip and passed to Morrish, who gave Hickling all he wanted to keep his fingers warm. From the kick-off Gregory got the ball and
gave Weston a fine chance to get away; Weston sent the ball out to Aitcheson who with a splendid individual effort carried the ball up to the Sappers' goal, where Coxon had some difficulty in clearing. A surprise shot from Herstlett at a long range was caught by Beardmore, but the ball must have slipped through his hands, as to the surprise of everyone it was seen to roll into the net, putting the Club one up with their first goal of the season. Parslow and Morrish each had tries to beat Hickling, but he could do nothing wrong, and the Sappers were one goal down at half-time after having the lion's share of the game.
From the kick-off the visitors settled down to work in earnest, and Morrish gave Parslow. chances to get away, which the ex B.O.C. did with avengeace, some of his shots being quite as much as Hickling could hold. From a centre by Orsmond, Hickling punched the ball against Carrol and Morrish rushing up carried the ball into the net. No further scoring taking place the match resulted in a drawn game of one goal each.
With the heavy rain of Saturday, which lasted to within an hour of the match, it was not ex- pected that many spectators would turn up. Not- withstanding the unfavourable conditions the ropes were fairly well lined, and a few Club enthusiasts, including ladies, sat in the stand, which is still without the roof.
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The visitors were early prominent with their short passing game, but a want of understand- ing among the forwards lost them many a good chance at close quarters.
The home team did well to draw, with four of their regular players away, and but for their starving of the new player Aitcheson, might easily have captured their first brace of points, after Coxon left the field.
Both goals were very lucky and were the result of the slippery ball.
The best men for the Club were McCubbin, Aitcheson, Carrol, and Gregory, with Weston as star. Mention must, however, be made of Hickling and May, who did all that was required of them, although a fondness for punching the ball is a great fault in the former.
The Sappers were best served by Morrish, Meaney, McCrory and Coxon. The latter player was forced to leave the field, having put his knee out. Parslow, and ex B. O. C. player, is a
young forward with a promising. future before him as a footballer; Beardmore was safe between the sticks, and could not be blamed for the goal scored against his side. Lamb was slow lost nothing of his old dash. but sure, and last, but not least, Orsmond has
The Club deserved to share the points, although the Sappers certainly played better football, and lasted better. With the early inclusion of Barlow and Hamilton in the Club team a good position on the league table is
assured.
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