New Britain herald., 1929-12-27
Spe a kin g of s ports

1 u sport | s Z
 ssS>sssssssssess%~@~ssess By staying idle, the New Britain
 l'ahthcrs, the Hardware City's entry
 m the American Roller Hockey
 League, has been sent into first place m tho standing. The local quintet was behind Hartford in the standing when the two teams battled here last
 Wednesday night. A victory over Hartford by New Britain failed to change the complexion of the league but last night, the Amsterdam team pinned defeat on Hartford and New Britain went into the drivers seat.
 Whenever a team lands in the top position in the polo league, it has generally been the signal for the other clubs all to strive to dump it from the pinnacle. That is what New Britain fans can expect in the future games as regards New Britain.
 Teams might play careless polo against other clubs, but every one of them will be out 10 trim New Brit ain. It appears that polo players, as a general rule, take q particular de. light i'll trimming the league leaders.
 Looking over the various combin- ations in the league, New Britain appears 10 have one of the best playing teams in the entire circuit. Fms comment is made in view of the fact that Hoff, the goal tender, is proving to be as good as any goal tender that New Britain has ever had.
 Fans who have not been attending the games regularly, were Skcptical about the glowing praise being given Hoff, but many who attended the game between New Britain and Hartford Wednesday night, came away satisfied that Hoff is as good as VIC have been saying he is.
 The best tricksters in the game have been having difficulty in get ting the ball past Hoff and when an opposing player gets a goal, he earns it every time. Hoff is in the game at all times 10 win. Give him q look at the specdiest drive and he will block it.
 A great part of his success is made possible by the spectacular work of DohertY and Griffiths, two veterans. | These keep the opposing forwards ' travelling at top speed all the time to ! keep the ball and the man that can | get by them is a good one Steve |. Pierce is about the only player in |. 'he league who gets clear with any ! consistency.
 On the rush line. no comment ! hardly need be made about Kid" ! Williams. This year. however, he ! seems to be hitting tho ball harder . than ever. His drives have been | laundering against the banks at the | stanley Arena. like cannon balls | against the bulwarks in the Civil . War. Tho goal tender that keeps his . drives out of the cage is doing a weeks work in one night.
 But, a great deal can be said about the playing of Earl Pierce, Williams running mate. When Pierce formerly played with New Britain, fans here didn't care so much for his style. Teamed up this year with Williams. Pierce has filled the breach in excellent style.
 Pierce is fast. q good skater and he can handle the ball. Formerly two opposing players could ride Will Hams all night. Now. if this is done, Pierce scores the goals giving New Britain q double threat on the rush line.
 All in all, it appears this season as if New Britain has the best team since the game returned to this city. The club is popular and it now stands in its rightful place, at the head of the league. On to the championship.
 Basketball fans in this city are going 10 turn out in droves to see the Atlas quintet play here Saturday night. The Closeness of the first game was an absolute surprise to those in attendance and another good battle is predicted this week. ; New Britain's reorganized team will be put to q great test during the game.
 New Britan's record of wins and losses is not as good as other teams. a fan remarked to LIS last night. Our { answer to this is that the other teams in the state haven't been pick ing the tough spots that New Britain { has had this year. When a team plays a line of games that includes contests with the Brooklyn Nisita- lions and the Renaissance, it is no surprise that it gets beat two or three games. Out of seven games played so far, New Britain has won : four and lost three.
 New Britain has defeated the { hryslcr Rcdhcads. the Holyokc Mo- hawks. Bristol Endecs and Atlas and has lost to the Bristol E,nGccs, the {; Brooklyn NiSitations and the Rcnais- sance team. I
 The team has already scored 195 ( points to 167 for it's opponents, not 2