The record-union., 1893-02-06
FOOTBALL IN Mud.
The Oakland Team Downs the Ath-
Ietic Clubs Eleven.
An Exciting and Amusing Game al
Snowflake Park Saturday-The
Local Team Crippled.

The first exhibition game of football
that has been played in Sacramento in
many long years was witnessed at Snow
fake Park Saturday afternoon by about
300 people.
Had the weather been pleasant there
would probably have been five times that
number present.
The field was spotted with puddles of
water and was certainly in no condition
for scientific game of football. People
wondered that the teams would play, but
they did, and for two hours afforded the
spectators some rare amusement. The
contest very much resembled a game of
"tag' in a swimming bath. There would
be grand rush for the man with the
ball, splash, and then twenty-five men
could be seen getting up out of pool of
water about foot in depth. The people
III attendance seemed to enjoy the sport
immensely. The footballers didn't seem
to care, and so the game went on just as
If the field had been in perfect condition.
The contest was one-sided. The Ath
letic Club boys knew they We're over
matched, but nevertheless they played as
strong game as they possibly could, and
they now consider that the score of Is to
was not such an inglorious defeat for
them after all. The Oakland Tennis Club
was team of powerful young fellows,
and beside, they were all practiced play
ers. Benson, the Berkeley player, who
is regarded as one Of the best all-round
football players in the State, was on the
Oakland rush line during the first half of
the game, and he was tower of strength.
What he lacks III weight is made up in
science and trickery, and he proved what
excellent results may be accomplished in
game by one who has pluck and closely
watches each play. He was here, there
and everywhere, and the Interference he
afforded the 'half-backs" of his team was
one of the features of the game. When he
saw an opponent too heavy for him he
would drop on his knees or stomach.
even in a pool of water, if need be, and
upset the opponent in this fashion. Both
half-backs of the tennis team were good
runners, and aided as they were by per-
lect system OF interference. they were
able to gain ten or fifteen yards every
time the ball was passed back. Pierce,
the center rush, was good one, but the
weight and strength of Kimball of the
Athletic Club told against him, and in a
scrimmage he could as a general rule be
seen on kimball's back.
Bernard Miller, the Oakland's s fulIback.
is perhaps better kicker than the full
backs of either Berkeley or Stanford
Universities. His place kicks Saturday
were perfect, and every time the ball was
brought out after a touchdown" he
kicked it cquarely between the goal
posts.
The Athletic Club has good timber in
its team and few weeks more of prac-
tice will do the members great deal of
good. Bentley's playing was noticeably
good, and Cole played an excellent game
as "halfback." A harder worker would
be difficult to find, and he was generally
successful in his attempts to break
through the Oakland rush line. He
managed his team well, in addition to
doing effective work himself. His team
was badly crippled, as four of his best
men were on the sick list and could not
play.
The Oakland team were well treated
while in the city and expressed desire
| to come to Sacramento again.
Hunt, the captain of the regular Berk-
| eley eleven, was the referee and he filed
that position admirably.
There were nearly one hundred ladies
present despite the stormy weather.
The colors of both teams were dis
played on all sides, and every one went
away satisfied under the existing circum-
stances. The score stood: Oakland Is,
Athletic Club 0,