New Britain herald., 1922-01-20
BRISTOL PRINCIPAL
 SCORES LOCAL BOYS
Echo Of Last Weeks Game Re
 Election on New Britain

A statement in connection with the basketball game played In the Red Mems hall in Bristol Inst week be- tween the Bristol and the New Britain High school iHsms, appeared Tn yes terday's edition of the Bristol Press It was signed by Henry E. Cottle, principal of the Bristol High school and casts n very unfavorable reilec- ton on the sportsmanship of the members of the N B, Il. S. quintet. It reads as follows
 Bristol's Side Of It.
 '.Through misunderstanding on the part of one of the high school boys an item in last nights Press stated that the Bristol High school basketball team would play n re- turn game in New Britain on Febru- ary F. This article was erroneous and makes necessary definite au- thoritative statement.
 ''The High school basketball games are not merely athletic contests. They are also social events. The patrons of the games are mainly pu- . pills of the school, their parents and friends and they get together for an cVcHlus ol vltdI hpoil "lol'- some enjoyment. The players are taught by the coach to play accord ing to strict interpretation of the rules of the game and according to the highest standards of team play and sportsmanship. The patrons de- sire only that kind of a game and the B. H. s. teams are accustomed to give them that kind only. This years team is no exception. It is composed of a group of clean, sportsmanlike boys who play hard but fair. The school authorities who have investigated last weeks game are convinced that 1t would not tend to the maintenance of these stand ards to play in New Britain on Feb ruary IT. and they have notified the feet.
 HENRY E. COTTLE,
 Principal.
 Evidently. Mir. Cottle has been lis- tening to the reports of the Bristolites and has failed to get to the bottom of the matter, according to local peo- pie. who say that while his statement has been made In all good faith, it is only fair to the New Britain team that he should have heard both sides of the story.
 Game Ends in Fight
 The game last week ended up in small riot, precipitated by a fistic argument between the players on the floor, who in the heat of the game lost their tempers and struck each other. With about a minute to play, policeman, acting under the orders of the Bristol chief, stopped the game Naturally, Bristol planes New Brit ain. and the denunciations which have been passed out concerning the local boys have been anything but pleasant to the ear.
 Referee Is Blamed,
 According to a number of the spec tators of the game, the referee was the cause of the whole thing. He is boy from Choate school by the name of Percy Rogers, and it was because of the fact that he let the game get beyond his control that the fight was possible. How far his experience in the basketball world goes back, it is not known but from the manner in which he officiated in last weeks game, 1t appears from High school students, that as referee ne is far from being experienced. His deci- sions were for the most part, local followers say, weird and the interpre- tation which he placed on some of the rules was certainly novel. In all jus tice. to him, however, it is said that there is no suspicion that he was playing a favorite, but rather it was because of his inexperience that he was bewildered. He was engaged by the Bristol authorities
 Fight Starts
 The game had progressed up to about five minutes before the final whistle, and Bristol was leading 16 to 14, when Landino of New Britain be- came entangled with Warehouse of the Bristol five and both went to the floor. Upon arising, Landino lost his balance and went down again on top of the Bristol boy. Immediately Crozi, the Bristol forward. rushed upon Lan- dino and struck him. Then the fol- lowers of both sides crowded onto the floor and a general fight ensued. Many blows were struck on both sides and the hits were about even, before the floor was finally cleared and play resumed This is the local yer sion. Continuing they say:
 Game is Stopped. Referee Rogers, at this point, ban ished Landino from the game and placed no such penalty on the Bristol youth. This however, did not cause any disturbance to the New Britain team, as they were ready to play, but | only few seconds had elapsed when | the Bristol policeman rushed on the | floor and stopped the game. The ref cree hereupon, forfeited the game to | Bristol.
 On the Sidelines
 A youth by the name of Billings, local High school boys say was on the side lines and is reported to have cast insulting remarks at the New Britain players. This same young man is said to have been one of the first to rush on the floor to join in the melee which concerned only the players on both teams.
 Relations Strained.
 Relations between Bristol High and New Britain High are pretty well and it is a question whether they will be broken or not. Principal II Louis P. Slade of the local High school is reported to have gone to Bristol today in answer to the Bristol communication, cancelling the return game in New Britain.