The Portland daily press., 1897-12-10
A NEW GAME.
Hand Polo. 1t Is Called, and Prof. Lee is
the Inventor of It.

L W. A4O0' Ul0 distributor at the Port
land Athletic club, is the inventor of =.
new game which can be played in a own.
nasium, and which gives an onnortunitv
for great deal of exciting exercises
without any roughness, but SLOWS Of tne
display of considerable skill and STRATEGY.
Several games had been played before
last nights but an opportunity was given
the club members to witness the contest
for the tirst time last evening.
The game is called hand polo. A goal
IS set up at each end of the gymnasium
Win cross bar about five feet from the
noor, similar to the goal ID football.
Inc ball which is used is of very light
runoer and will weigh something less
IMAM an ounce. 1t is some three or four
inches IN diameter and when dropped on
the hoor will bound almost as high as
the point from which it fell. 1t IS, in
fact, just the kind of ball as is made
Tor children to play with, but the game
which the Athletic club young gentle
men are using this ball in is by no means
child's game
The rules of the contest are in brief, as
follows: A player is not allowed to car
~, throw OF. kick the bail. II he does
any of these things a foul is called as 1t
is in polo, and certain number of fouls
will cost the team which makes them
goal. The player can drop the ball on to
the floor, and when it rebounds, can
trike it with his fist in order to pass it
from one side of the hall to the other.
He can also roll the ball along the floor
or strike it with his fist when it is On
the floor, but should he strike it with his
foot Intentionally or lift it from the floor
tosthrow it, the act is considered foul.
On each side there ale four players.
Two of these are rushers as in polo, an
other plays half back and aids tho goal
tender in defending the goal, while the
goal tender himself can use any method to
prevent the ball from going over the
cross bar or through the goal. -Four peri
DDS of five minutes each are played and
after each period or goal the teams
change goals. Between periods two
minutes of rest are allowed, and as the
playing is always fast and furious the
contestants are usually glad enough to
have an opportunity Of resting.
The ball is rushed for in the com
mencement of the game as 1t Is in polo
and from the time it is removed from
he spot in the centre of the hall the
playing is very exciting and requires
the hardest work of every player to
score or prevent being scored against.
The young gentlemen at the Athletic club
have worked up a great deal of science
in the play. Football tactics and passing
from one to another as in pole requires
much experience and team work. Last
night the game was between two teams
of well-known athletes, and the crowds
in galleries who were seeing tho contest
for the first time became wildly enthusi-
astic and the applause for adroit moves
and skilful work of the contestants was
almost constant.
The teams last night were made up as
follows:
First team-Harold Stevens, Louis Fitz-
patrick, Nash, rushers; Dennis, half
back; Nash, (Fitzpatriok), goal.
Second team-A. L. Macreadie, Fl. f..
| MoI6oQ, kRerry), rusn6rs; Jonn 0ma4l,
! half back; Perry, (MeLeod), goal
| The score was as follows:
First period-First team, /; Second
team, l.
Second period-First team, /; Second
team, g.
Third period-First team, ?; Second
team, z.
Fourth period-First team, 5; Second
| team, g.
Final score-First team. 81 Second
team, 8.
The ball is SO light that it Is impossi-
BILE for any one to be injured by it, and
the rules of the game are such that nc
rough playing isspossible and light team
stands as good a chance of winning af
does heavy one. 1t is quickness and
skill which count, not mere beef. u
Prof Lees excuse for inventing the game
was to give his classes a chance to get
thoroughly warmed up after the usual
drill and he has succeeded wonderfully
in this idea The winter is likely to see
many exciting games of hand polo al
the Athletic club as several teams are al.
ready organized and prepared to partici
pate in the game.