New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-11-24

THE teams we're quite evenly
matched. The New Britain High
school men were light in the rush
lire and the Hartford team has had
more practice and out-played them
in team work. The only score made
by the team in the first half was by
Chapman. Hartford's left halfback,
who got away with the ball and by
a magnificent run took 1t away
down the field and made touch
down. He failed, however. to kick
the goal and the score stood to Q
in Hartford's favor.
"The only score by New Britain
was won by Walter Hart who made
a big run and touchdown from
which a goal was kicked. This made
the score IL to 6. Hartford's favor,
and this was the final score" (The
reporter omitted to explain how
Hartford made its other points.)
young of New Britain did some
remarkable good work. The best
work for Hartford was done by
Cunning. Buckley and F. Havens."
Considered Legalizcd Murder
That was all. There was just a
handful of people In New Britain
who followed any type ,of football
Women were not interested and
many Of the men and women con-
sidered It legalized murder. Perhaps
the game was as near to murder as
game could be. Those were the
days Of the flying wedges. flying
tackles, kicking, wrestling. fighting
and any tactics possible as long a.
the man carrying the ball went
down the field.
1t was a hard rough game and !,
was the survival Of the fittest. I'm
less one weighed a great deal he Was
not efficient. The forward pass. the
lateral pass and the trick running
plays were unheard of. 1t was case
OF hammer your opponent into sub
mission.
When these warriors fought the!
did not have the uniforms of the
present day. They picked up theiT
uniforms wherever they could gel
them and 1t was not uncommon te
see a team with various uniforms
and colors lined UP. The team IN the
COS were not the acme OF neatness
There were no bands playing al
the annual game. There were no RED
and gold and blue and white color'
on the stands. The games were MOI
colorful. They we're the rough and
tumble exhibition Of football played
by men who loved a scrappy con
test
Long accounts OF the games could
rot be found in the papers. Proeahl,
the foregoing notice was the larEes'
given to any team during the period
They carried on without encourage
ment and were the real pioneers Of
the present game which with the
possible exception of baseball ii
Americas most popular sport
And Is Years Ago
Twenty-Five years ago. in spite o.
the undeveloped state of modern de
vices for working up enthusiasm
and enmity to all opponents. thu
grdron rivalry between New Brit
ain and Hartford High schools ex
listed i'll fully the intensity of thu
present day. 1t has been thing o
Immortality. surviving two wars anC
remaining undated even in these
days when the local student bod!
takes little interest in any othel
game on the schedule. Always
whether the teams were event.
matched. or not whether they wer'
fighting for a league title or settling
private argument. Hartford ant
New Britain High schools have bat
tied furiously against each other.
Curti0's Men Sought
But IS years ago New Britain wa
aiming at the state championship
and the game with Hartford wa
doubly important. for the winner wa
to enter the finals Of the Trinit,
league tournament and receive th'
trophy which symbolized supremacy
It was a peculiar season at the loca
institution. II started poorly with !
defeat in Meriden. hut Just one wecl
later Captain Curtin's boys c,ene'
matters by downing the Meridel
fCoptipuad m k'nliou,ny poceN