The morning call., 1894-03-22
RUGBY FOOTBALL.
The First of a Series of
Games.
Portland and San Francisco Teams
Will Meet at Recreation Park
To-Day.

The first interstate football match be-
tween the Portland (Oregon) team and q
picked team from the Nomads and I'm
gari players of this city will take place at
the Recreation Park grounds at o'clock
this afternoon.
As stated in yesterdays CALL, the Port
land players left their homes on Wednes-
day, and arrived yesterday morning, and
put up at the Baldwin Hotel, at which
hostelry they will remain until they de-
part for the north.
Among the team are some remarkably
fine-built fellows who should give good
account OF themselves to-day against the
local teams. L. ii. Blyth. the captain. has
guite record as a Rugby football player
Having at one time played under the cOlors
of the Oxford University, and other crack
English teams, he is looked upon by the
patrons of the game here as being danger
ous opponent in the field.
Some OF the players who will distinguish
themselves to-day took spin out to the
fair grounds yesterday and were disagree.
bly, disappointed at the condition in
which the ground Is at present for gams
in which contes taDts cannot possibly es
cape receiving some hard falls. Instead
of a comparatively soft surface the
ground has been hardened by a heavy
roller with which it was intended to break
the small rocks that remained on the sur
face alter the plowmen had finished their
la bOrs.
Peter Mcintyre, however, promised the
players who had visited the park to have
the grounds In good condition when the
hour for play arrived.
Mcintyre will have men at work searlv
to-day raklDg up the hardened surface,
and according to the great athletes words.
the sward Will be in such fine condition
when the teams line up for action that any
of the contestants who perchance, or
otherwise, take a tumble, can hope to
meet in mother earth the softest kind of a
friend.
Some of the players selected to repre-
sent this city had a practice game yester-
day afternoon at Central Park, and judg-
ing from their conversation they expect to
give the invaders good run for the FIRST
honors this afternoon. In the local
team there are some very good players
who have distinguished themselves on
several emerald fields on the other side of
what is commonly called the "big pond.'
The large gathering that will assuredly
be on hand to-day to witness the first of
the big games that have been arranged be-
tween the San Francisco, Portland and
expect to see some sport worth going miles
to witness.
Both teams are confident of victory, and
as there is a strong interstate feeling ex-
tstiDg among the players, the game will be
sharp and S. iritedly contested.
The famous British Columbian team will
arrive to-day, and as might be expected
hopes to carry victory TO its distant home,
where General Snow now reigns supreme.
The names of the play eIs and the posi-
ti0ns they will take in the field appeared
in yesterdays CALL. In speaking to
prominent Rugby player yesterday con-
cerning the future of the game, be said
that he hoped to see Rugby leading all
other pastmes next season. A New Zea-
land team will visit this city and play the
best of the local teams. after which il will
journey to Portland, Victoria aud other
large cities on Its way East The New