Morning journal and courier., 1888-12-24
SPORTING MATTERS.

SPORTING MATTERS. End of the Fifth Week-New Haven
 May Catch Up With Hartford This
 Week-PolO Makes Him PoetIcaI-
 Squfbs.
 The Meridens play here tonight and an exciting game may be expected. Connors and Hill will rush for the home team. Perry will play center, Valiant ha1f-back and Phelan goal.
 The fifth week of the polo season ended Saturday night. There have been two fea- lures of last weeks work-New Bedford held first place in percentage for one day, and by winning Saturday nights game in Hartford 8 to 6, and by New Bedford losing the game in Meriden to ?, the Bridgeperts advanced to second place. The Bridgeports have played a most remarkable game, not hay ing lost one of the eight games played in the last two weeks. John Smith says their run of successive victories will be stopped to night at New Bedford. Meriden haa won 13. lost 8; Bridgeport, won 12, lost s; New Bedford, won Il, lost 9; Hartford, won 9, lost 12; New Haven, won 6, lost A.
 The CoUR1ER's prediction that New Haven would win three out of the four games played last week was away of, as they won but one. Hill has brought new life to the team and there seems no reason now why they should not win fair share of the games. During the coming week they will have an excellent chance to pull up nearer Hartford. They will play six games, two with Meriden, three with Hartford, one with New Bedford. Phelan will probably play at goal, as Lations has not re-- covered from his illness. He has been 1od all and haa reason he has not played the game he is capable of putting up. While Phelan is a first class man at goal, yet the management thinks he is too strong at half-back to keep him at goal long. Here's to New Ha- ven's good luck this week.
 An old, gray-haired man, who has attended almost every game in this city glided silent ly into the COURIER office last night, and, leaving a neatly dene-up package on the polo editors desk, heaved sigh as he unload ed his burden. Here is what it was: OUR TEAM. Billy Hill is daisy,
 He's set cranks all crazy,
 sinee to our losing sing gait he he will put & stop He's going to fill his position, Which is to place New Haven somewhere near the top.
 I Now he and Johnny Connors Will carry of the honors, For they know the tricks useful to their trade; At center Perry plays well And as to Valiant can tell Hard he works in what CT position he is played. As for Phelan's playing goal Of our craHks not soul Had 'sr thought of his playing there before; Yet one thing he must stop. On the ball he must not drop When they try to get it past him on the floor. \ And as for I.ations' playing One thing there is worth saying, Which is player can't play when he's sick; Yet as soon as he Tecovers He'll surprise our polo lovers By the work that he'll do with foot and stick. AS for Newcomb we will say Hes getting better every day, And will soon be able te play stronger game; For he's conscientious man And does the very best he can, And plays for victory rather than name.
 NEW BEDFORD, Dec 23.-Your dispatch from Springfield the other morning about 1 covered the case of Bancroft's going back to Springfield. There is no question at all here l but that Bancroft cannot stay the season out. He is trying 10 make negotiations with Drury of the Springfield toboggan slide, but the latter telegraphed Friday that he wanted 1 $2, 900. This Bancroft refuses to give. It | is understood that he is quietly looking about in several other places, if Drury does | not come to terms. He may possibly go to Birmingham or New Britain if he could get | the armory there, and there isn't much doubt l about that as long as Bulkeley is governor. The fact is, polo is played out here. The New Bedfords have not done well since they have 1 returned. Not game that has beeR played here has the attendance been enough to pay expenses. In fact, Bancroft must do some- thing, or else risk considerable money. All the talk here now is the series of three games between New Bedford and Boston for $500 a side. Two of the games will be played here Christmas day.
 The luck of the Bridgeports is explained. They have a ChinamAn as a mascot. His name is Lee John. Manager Lucas will protest to nights game with Meriden if the latter doesn't win and Hill plays. Well, New Haven will win and the protest won't amount to anything.
 The league meeting to investigate who has claim on Hill Will be held this afternoon Canavan of the New Bedfords has signed with the Detroit base ball club for 1889. The Detroits will be members of the International league.
 The question of the Spring6elds returning to this city will be definitely decided next week. If they are to return, the opening game will be played Monday, the 31st, with the Hartfords. Springfield Union.
 Frazer of Bridgeport will not play this week. He will be married tomorrow.
 III tne lasI two games ln brldgeport NeW Haven has failed to make goal, while the homo team made 12.
 Parsons is laid up with an injured leg.
 If Bridgeport wins tonight and Meriden loses, Bridgeport will be in first place, having as many won, but having lost one less
 Meriden is in . stew over the signing of Hill with New Haven. Neriden tried to beat Hill down on the matter of salary, but was not successful. The Meridens are at the head of the league and the New Ravens at the foot. Is Meriden afraid that it can't hold it's position if it allows New Haven to do much needed strengtheningl-Spr Union,
 What will Jake Morse of Boston do now, poor things He helped run the Massachusetts league into the ground and now wants to tell the Connecticut managers what to do. Not rnnnh fnr r-a krnor. ,rcr, Ial<ia dn.-