The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-01
POORLY PLAYED GAME.

Bradfords Make a Show of the Team
Known as the Worcester Athletic Club.
The Bradford athletic club football
team had a ciuch in it's game against
the Worcester athletic club team at the
Sutton lane grounds yesterday. The
Bradfords were superior in all depart
ments of the game, and the Worcesters
saved themselves from a shutout by a
fluke play
The Bradfords didn't deserve an ex-
ceptiOnal amount of credit for their VIC
tory, however, as they persistently vi
olated rules of the game in making
most of their gains. They used forma-
tions which are not allowed under the
rules, playing more than the permissi-
BILE number of men back Of the line. A
taVorite play, and one which gained
them the most ground, was a close for
nation, with five players, in addition to
the quarterback, back of the line, every
man being inside the end positions.
They neglected to follow the rules in
such formation, by putting two men
back five yards.
The Bradfords were many pounds to
a man heavier than their opponents,
and made the weight count. During
the entire game they plugged straight
at the Worcester line for consistent
gains.
On defence the Worcesters got togeth-
er in the second half playing a good
game. The sturdy Bradfords were
held for downs several times in rapid
succession. 1t was the only feature
of the Worcesters' play that gave them
license to put on football suits. In
every other department of the game
they were wretched.
They couldn't advance the ball an
inch on aggressive play. The weakness
of the line and execrable judgment
shown by the quarterback in running
the team were responsible. They fun
bled worse than a crowd of old women
could have done. The line couldn't
stop clock The backs We're under a
tremendous handicap. Before one of
them could get started, the Bradfords
were through like herd of wild steers
through a hedge fence, tossing the
Worcester forwards aside as if they
were windbags. Added to this, the
poor judgment shown by the quarter
back in not varying the plays and the
fumbling that was done, together with
several poor passes. made it impossible
for the Worcestecs to gain an inch.
Twice during the game Bradford
touChdowEs were directly due to bad
passing when a punt was necessary to
IeIlGNe the SIIdlu Oll the Worcester
goal. Once the pass was on the ground
and the other time was so high and so
late that a Bradford man was on the
back before he had time to punt the
ball.
1t was not contest that would give
pleasure to a lover of football. There
was altogether too much smuggling in
the game, in which both teams took
part, but which was started by the
iab hA
returned when they saw that they could
get no protection from the officials.
If a desire TO satisfy the crowd that
patronizes their games is any excuse
for the rough work of the Bradfords,
they are entitled to that much excuse.
When the play brought the ball any
where near the side lines where the
crowd was gathered, they were encour-
aged numberless times to slug.
The superiority of the Bradford for
wards was easily apparent. They
played all around the Worcesters. Nc
Gourty, at times, outplayed Mott, but
at other times was himself outplayed.
He was, however, the only line man
who held his own at all. The only
played well was T. Dowd. He put up
a great game, getting into every play
we'll McGill played a magnificent
game for the Bradfords. He hit the
line like a tornado, and went through
for his distance with anything like
half a chance. Styles ran his team
well, and Beckton played a strong, gen
tlemanly game He was strong in in
reference, and was up with the ball
all the time.
Worcester hadn't full team. Two
men didn't show up, and players were
picked from the crowd. Naturally.
that didn't strengthen the team.
Adrian won the toss and gave Brad
ford the ball, showing eXecrabdle judg-
ment at the start by also giving them
the goal from which the wind blew
Styles kicked off to Burns at the eight
yard line, and Burns made a miserable
muff He was downed in his tracks
Moran made a five-yard gain around
the Bradford left Lowder fumbled
the next pass, and the teams batted the
ball around as if they We're playing
basket ball Gormley batted it over
the w. A. G. goal line. where T. Dowd
dropped on it, The referee made a pc
culiar decision, giving Bradford the
ball on the w. A. c. 10-yard line. Brad
ford fumbled, but recovered the
ball. and McGill hit the line hard for
a touchdown. He failed at goal on an
easy try. The time of the touchdown
was four minutes.
On the kickoff, Bradford was guilty
of a forward pass on their own 25-yard
line. Moran made three yards, and
then Burke fumbled, Beckton getting
the ball on the Bradford 20-yard line.
McGill made his distance twice, but T.