Morning journal and courier., 1889-01-07
SPORTING MATTERS.
Hit and Misg Chat About POl0-Re.
 view of the Past Weeks Work

Hit and miss Chat About Polo-Re-
 view of the Past Weeks Work
 Breezy J0ts-Game To-NIght.
 We are glad at the work of the New Ha- vens during the past week, and we will be delighted If they only do as well this week. It is fully expected that they will, for it seems as if the time has arrived for them to make something of showing. Not person who saw the game Thursday night in Bridge port and the one last Friday night with Springfield, doubts, if they continue to play so well, that they will occupy better place than the last at the end of the season. It is pleasing to see the boys pitch in with all their might, throwing jealousies aside, and trying to win, after being convinced by bet- ter sentiment that they will be better treated if they do their best at all times. AS the team now stands we can have faith in it, and we should all be proud to have so good 8 man as Hill for captain. He is said by players in general to know more about polo than anyone else on the surface; yet this knowledge of all the fine points had the sin gular effect of bringing down upon his head considerable abuse from some of the boys. But they see their mistake and now all is harmony.
 There have been, during the past week, 8 few changes in the personel Of the team. Knowing full well that something must be done, the players committee telegraphed Monday night for Reed, ss Phelan had been in Massachusetts the week before and practi- cally engaged him. Reed arrived here Tues day night, and at once he convinced Spring. field and Bridgeport people that he had strengthened the team, notwithstanding that the only poet in New England beside Whit tier, Jake Morse of Boston, mendaciously wrote that the trouble was not in goal but everywhere. Friday night Reed, long fa- vorite in this city, appeared and created 30 left with the idea that New Haven is not now weak in goal.
 One of the surprises of the week was the playing of Newcomb. He has been laid off nearly the entire season as he did not at the start give much promise, it looking very much as if he was out-classed. It must be said that his playing both on Thursday and Friday nights was a surprise, delightful in the extreme. He did some neat juggling, that was heartily applauded; he jumped around the players like frisky fve-year-old colt; he appeared to have a new lease of life. We admired him on Friday night, and all his friends unite in hoping that he will continue his good work. Of Connors nothing is neces- sary to be said, az he seldom relaxes from his high order of work. New Haven people do not hesitate to say that Phelan is the best half-back that graces that position.
 coming here to play center. It was intended to play him Friday, but as Connors and New comb rushing and Hill at center did so we'll in Bridgeport it was deemed advisable to put the same team on the floor Friday night. It is quite probable that, for a time at least, Connors and Newcomb will rush at home and Hill play center, while out of town Hill and Newcomb will rush, and Stamford play center.
 There is no truth in that report in the Bridgeport papers that New Haven has ap- preached John Smith with an offer of $500 to come to this city. New Haven, for certain reasons, does not want Smith. The report might have arisen from the fact that Hart ford offered Pierce and Riley at the begin ming of the season to New Haven for $1 900, which offer was most respectfully declined with many thanks for Hartfords unlimited generosity.
 The seventh week of the polo season ended Saturday night. During the week the New Ravens did better than in any previous week, as they won three games, two more than in any other week except one. The Bridgeports are still in the lead, but 1t is not probable that they will be there at the end of this week, as Pierce is of on a vacation. Hart ford and MerideR are tied for second place while Springfield is next to New Haven. Bridgeport has won 16, lost 13; Meriden and Hartford won 16, lost IA; Springfield won IA, lost IS; New Haven won Il, lost 21.
 The Meridens play here tonight and the New Ravens will try to take three straight.
 In regard to the words. of praise several papers are giving ex-Referee Stumcke the COURIER cannot join. It now agrees with all that the Bridgeport News said of him. Certain facts have come to light which, if told, would grate harshly on his ears and he would have difficult work to deny them ,even with the assistance of such men as Jake Morse and Manager Clark, with whom he as- sociates.
 Meriden took seven straight goals from the New Ravens the other night. The latter are out of the race already.-Boston Herald. How Morse does dislike the New Haveas.- Springfield Union.
 Before Referee Stuncke resigned his posi- ton as referee he made an excellent proposi. tion to the Bridgeport management. He manager and captain of the team and allow him to play center he would bring the pen- nant to Bridgeport at the end of the season. Manager Harris said that he had not suf6- cient confidence in his playing and manage rial ability to entrust the home team to his care.-Farmer.
 The Boston Herald seems to be published for the exclusive purpose of running the Interstate polo league, with Jake Morse as adviser. The Springfield Union remarks: "Will the Herald please tell us what it doesn't know about the Interstate league. It would vary the monotony of telling us what it does know"
 A Bridgeport man in card in the News Thursday morning offered to bet that the Bridgeports would not win five out of the next nine games played.
 Here is sample of the kind of game they play in Connecticut: Roberts jaw nearly broken; Dunning, black eye and bloody nose; Cunningham's clothes transformed into rags. A respectable referee had to resign because he was insulted at every turn. Polo in such hands will soon die.-Boston Herald. There might be something to the foregoing if there was vestige of truth in it, but there isn't. By the way, was Morse ever known to tell the trutha
 Bridgeport Farmer: "The players should be glad to have a man like Hill on the team and should do all in their power to keep the game they did here last night, and any body could see that Hill was the cause of their great improvement"
 The Springfield Union asks why Donnelly, the substitute referee, is not sent on there when the other regular referee is not avail ablea
 Hill looks handsome in that new cap.
 Donnelly refereed in Hartford Saturday night.
 Saturdays games: Hartford 7, Bridgeport 9; Meriden 8, Springfield 8. Riley had 33 stops.
 If any difficulty exists between John Smith and the Bridgeport management, and it cer- tainly looks that way, it should be speedily adjusted. Should Smith refuse to play with the Bridgeports for a month the latter team would not worry the leaders very much Bridgeport Farmer.
 A Hartford paper says that Referee Stumcke has bought the Boston team, and in all probability it Will be admitted from New