The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-16
Great Improvement
on the Foot Ball
Field.
TECH SHOWS UP THE BEST.
Big Advancement in Holy
CroSS-General
Notes.

An excellent opportunity was given
by last weeks football games TO size up
the local teams. All teams played
games. and although only one Of them
was in Worcester, the strength OF the
teams could be easily distinguished.
Worcester Tech undoubtedly showed
the greatest advancement over its
work Of the previous week. The team
a week ago didn't give any evidence of
being entitled to medals, but after the
game with Holy Cross at the oval Sat
urday Techs stock took decided boom.
The team is much stronger than IL has
been and could undoubtedly trim elev-
ems which might have beaten IL a week
previous. Had the Tech team showed
the same defence against Amherst as IL
did against Holy Cross the score would
have been a close one.
REGULARITY OF FOOTBALL.
The popularity Of football is shown
by the games In which those four teams
played. a week ago Tech was easily
beaten by Amherst and Holy Cross
made monkeys Of the Trinity team.
Last Saturday Trinity and Amherst
played a tie game. neither scoring.
Trinity had the best end OF the strug-
gle, getting 10 the courtyard line once.
Holy Cross and Tech played the same
day and Techs game was 1000 per cent
better than Trinity's. The fruitlessness
Of making comparisons between teams
on account Of games played with other
teams Is illustrated by the results, for
on those comparisons Tech should have
beaten Amherst, which II didn't do by
any points.
Nevertheless. Tech played a remark
able defensive game against Holy Cross.
II may be that thorough knowledge Of
Holy Cross style OF playing. which
Tech football men must have. helped
Tech considerably In its defence. But
whatever the reason. Techs light team
did remarkably well.
A goOdly portion Of the strength dis
played was no doubt due 20 n knowl-
edge Of the game. The Tech men
have learned fast and play a fast game.
They realized IL would be hard work 70
stop the heavy Holy Cross line and
played very low, showing Enthusiastically
the advantage OF that style OF play.
HOLY CROSS SHOWED IMPROVE
AfsNT
also. While a bigger score was looked
for. II did not signify weakness on the
part OF Holy Cross that they didn't pile
up the points. The men played the
proper game and played better than
they have at any time during the sea-
son, save at points where they became
listless by the heat. Another thing
which probably accounts for lack Of
life among the Holy Cross players is
that the outcome was never In doubt,
and there was no incentive for as hard
work as they are capable of. When
Tech got the ball the team played with
increased vigor and a gain Of five yards
by the Tech men was an exception. The
Holy Cross men had twice as much life
when Tech had the ball as when they
had IL themselves.
That Tech did not gain against Holy
Cross doesn't mean the team Is weak on
offence. II means the teamtwas weak
compared with the strong and stalwart
Holy Cross line. but against a team Of
their own weight Tech would have
made big gains II. Walsh. captain Of
the team. showed himself an excellent
ground gamer. and Willis proved a
good one. too. although he Is substitute
quarterback. The Interference which
Tech threw against the Holy Cross
right end was exceptionally good. A
noticeable Improvement was shown In
the work Of the backs In following the
interference Hitherto Tech backs
have shown a weakness for running
way out and leaving their interference
entirely. Had that style Of play been
adopted by Willis when he made two
pretty runs around Lnnehan. ne would
have been thrown back with losses Of
10 yards. But he chung close and
made pretty gains.
Unquestionably Tech showed
stronger defence than offence, regard
less Of the weight Of the Holy Cross
line But they showed an improvement
all around. II the team practises as
faithfully as II has for a week or two
and improves as steadily Il will be a
record team for such light one. The
showing II made Saturday ought TO en-
courage II.
HOLY CROSS GREATEST WEAK
NESS
appears at right end Linnehan was the
only man on the team who showed a
weakness against Tech. His cud was
turned several Il mes; in fact Tech made
their only gains around Linnehan. II.
tackled poorly. going too high for the
runner and Is easily bOwled over by in
reference. He ought 10 make a good
man for the position and would II he
learned 10 tackle low.
Hanr1han VINO played his first game
showed up well. He had Trail against
AiAtAf AslNhfHAlNlAnlN one OF me best
men on the TEN line. Hanrahan Is a
sturdy follow and very strong and gives
evidence OF knowing how to apply his
strength, which Is one ~ the chief re-
quisites for the position OF guard. He
hasn't much knowledge of the game
and deserves even greater credit for the
way he played considering that fact
Hanrahan shows a disposition To learn
the game, however, and that Is coed
quality. He viii doubtless he one OF the
most valuable men on the team before
many weeks.
Back OF the lire seems 70 be- prima
nently settled with OReilly and Mona
han to help out Kenney. Both are good
men. They are better backs than any
that have played with Holy Cross ,his
season. far better Monahan Is recover
ing from his weI kness In fumhlirg.
O'Reilly follows the bail closely all the
time which Is 4 good quality. In addi-
ton 10 those OF line bucking Monahan
is a star line buckle. He goes In head
down and hits II like A tornado. The
backs show a disposition 10 neglect fol-
lowing their interference, which should
be corrected.
Kenney Is a prize. He has long since
demonstrated his line hitting qualities
and speed In turning ends. He Is sure
catch Saturday he showed superior
qualities as punter and Holy Cross
will probably fare much better In sub
sequent games " Kenney punts more.