The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-05

the Game. y.
Of all the funny polo, games which
have been seen in this city that one which
was played last night in City hall be-
tween the Porslands and the Rocklands
was by all odds the funniest. 1t was so
complicated that the audience was at sea,
and after the third period, when the game
should really have come to an end, they
didn't know whether to cheer with de-
light or weep in vexation. Not even the
players knew what the score was or what
il should have been. The referee himself
was dumbfounded and had to figure the
thing out by complicated algerbraic
formula. When he Had worked out the
problem, and arrived at it's true solution,
it was found that after forty-fiye minutes
of playing the teams stood just where
they we're at the beginning of the game,
ty and had yet one goal to win before
they could be properly in the game.
After over two minutes more of the
hottest kind of playing on both sides
Rockland got on earth once more and had
wiped out all the forfeits they had gained
by their rough work. Both teams were
now on even footing once more, just
where they were when they started, and
nearly three minutes had been played
over time. A goal won by either team
would settle the game. The goal was
made, but Portland did not make 1t.
The winning goal was made by Gendreau
of the Rocklands. and yet Portland won
the game by score Of one to nothing.
This was due to the fact that Gendreau
Gagged the ball in his own cage, thus
practically defeating himself and his own
team.
The complications arising from last
nights game were due to the fast y that
both teams played very rough polo, and
the referee, Mr.. Spear of South Portland.
had the courage to call foul on every
player who violated the rules. He is just
the sort of referee that is needed to
purify the game OF polo in Maine and
stop this rough laying which is fast
demoralizing the game. He did his work
nobly, and though by many untbinking
people his decisions were often Kissed he
stood by his colors and continued to call
fouls for every violation of the rules he
saw. He was in the right in every in
stance and he should be commended by
every lover of the game of polo for his
efforts Mr.. Spear is just what is needed
in Maine and with him on the floor as
referee there would be more science, and
less of this slugging business in thegame.
The Rockland team has won reputa-
ton for rough work this season. They are
very sore over the fact that they let
Campbell go to Massachusetts and after
selling him for pretty figure and getting
their money for him they are highly ex,
asperated to find this same star player
back here in Portland playing a star game
for an all star team. Consequently when
Rockland sailed into the game last night
in City hall they were out for blood or
something like 1T. In their goal WIS
John Smith, the star goal tender of the
defunct New Bedford, national polo
league team. His presence saved Rock
land from a terrible defeat last night and
his work was gilt edged throughout. But
even then he didn't tend his goal any
better than did John Allen Of the Port
lands who has little to say, but cuts a
great deal of ice. In fact last nights
game was goal tenders battle and this
is what made it SO thrillingly interesting
from the start.
1t was slam, bang dash, scrap, bang
again, in the first period. Neither side
scored, but Rockland got three fouls
called on it's players for rough work.
Portland had one foul to its credit too.
when the gong sounded for the end of the
first period. Allen and Smith each had
fifteen stops to their credit at the end of
this period which shows pretty clearly
low the game was going.
In the second period there was more of
the banging and some scientific work by
both teams, Portland fairly exoelling in
the latter, but John Smith seemed in
vinoible. Whipple had been chasing the
ball good deal in the first period, but
now he chung like leach to the Rock