Morning journal and courier., 1888-12-31
spoRr,NemArrERs.

VIII New Haven Defeat Bridgeport
 TO-NIght-Revieyv of the work Done
 by she Team During the Past Week.
 The Bridgeports play here tonight. and whether the New Ravens will serve up the same old diet of defeat remains to be seen. Connors and Hill will rush, Perry will play center, Phelan half-back, and Lations goal. Bridgeport wants the game anyway, for if she loses sne will drop into second place, as Meriden does not play tonight. Brace up, boys, and see if you can't win another game.
 The directors of the New Haven polo team had meeting last night and talkad up the misfortunes of the home team. They have
 been trying every way during the last week to get Mckay, but it cannot be done. The directors decided that if one or two of the present team do not play better that they will be released.
 Of course there is no need of saying who ! won in Hartford Saturday night. The score was to 5. But who would expect team to win when only twelve drives for goal were l made9 It is astonishing, but such is the fact.
 that only twelve little measly drives for goal ! were made, and yet Hartford had her weakest team on the floor. Mccarthy being sick. Sullivan took his place and Shea played half back. Sullivan was out of position, Shea l hadn't played but one game this season, and yet New Haven could not beat this broken down team. horrorsl The New Ravens played strong game (what chestnutD, but was defeated. Hard luck? Yes, it was the eighteenth game lost in that way. In Meriden the home team defeated the Bridgeports to in hard-fought game. During the past week the Bridgeports took the lead away from Meriden and notwith- standing they lost Saturday nights game they are still leading in percentage. Spring field has dropped to fourth place and keeps there because New Haven is kind enough not to give up last place. The Hartfords have taken brace and are now close on tC Bridgeport, being but two games behind, and but one behind Meriden. This week will probably see them in the lead, but they got into third place because they defeated New Haven in three straight games last week New Haven won two out of the six. Notwithstanding the New Ravens have 1oat so many games and played strong game yet they have already begun to play better since Hill came here. There is no better coaeher in any of the teams than he, and h' is teaching the boys to place the ball every time where it will tell the best. Il is better to lose first and win afterwards than vice versa. All who have attended the games have had their moneys worth, af some of the best ever played have games have not been decided until after the 1 forty minutes were up. The COURIER made one prediction-that the New Haven's would win three out of the four games played weeb of the 18th. It would have been nearer COT. rect to have prophesied that they would wir none, for they pulled only one out of the fire We will make another predition-that at the end of the season the clubs will stand: Hart
 ford, Springfield, New Haven, Bridgeport | Meriden.
 MHR1DEN, Dec.29-The Meridens are some what broken up on account of the ten dollar l fine that Manager Lucas inflicted on eac1 ! player for indifferent playing in New Have1 ! last Monday. Cunning, as usual, kicked | badly and said he should pack up and to morrow start for Poughkeepsie and join that 1 team. When Dunning commences to kick he can demoralize a whole team. Last night Swords was ordered to dress, but as soon as Dunning saw that he couldn't have his owr way he came down off his high horse and said he would play. One thing is certain, toe many victories do not seem to agree with the Meridens.
 The Springfield Union thinks that good times are coming for the New Ravens. John Smith is playing better goal thar any other man in the business. That is the secret of Bridgeports success.
 Down in Bridgeport they are trying tC work Dan Shannon in as referee in place ot Stumcke.
 The reason of the Bridgeport News attack on Stumcke is said to be because he told its fhat ha vra rafaraaipcy and VUQnfa1 no advice. The Boston Herald remarks
 ''They do not know a good referee in Con necticut. The present referees are acknowl- edged to be the best in the business. They gsgysd satisfact9Eily during & the gh9e r of last Massachusetts league they ought to be good enough for any crowd"
 The Hartford Record thinks the New Ha- vens will come in second at the end of the season. Thanks. That will make the boys happy. They won't come in last, you can set that down.