Why on earth don’t the Central get someone to play with? It can’t be that they are so clever and can knock any club out of time. The fact is that the energetic secretary has been arranging with teams which he knew for a certainty would have no chance with his own. Perhaps he is under the impression, like a good many more are, that no matter what kind of team the opposing club possess, if the locals are on the winning side the gates are sure to increase. This is a mistake, and the spectators get just as tired of witnessing a one-sided match, even if their pets are always on the winning side, as they do when they are continually seeing them defeated. On Saturday last, in their encounter with Chorley, the visiters had never a chance, as the Central men simply romped around them, and just scored whenever they pleased. Such was almost the case in the match with St Helens a fortnight ago, but today they meet foemen worthy of their steel, and whichever team wins will, we are sure, do so by a narrow majority. The battle will be with Irwell Springs at Bacup in the first round of the English Cup, and those desirous of seeing the local champions in the field had better travel at reduced fares by the trains leaving the L. and Y. Station at 11-30, which will contain the following representatives of the Central. Tyldesley, Baxter, Walsh, Horton, Ackroyd, Shaw, Lea-Jones, Sourbutts, Taylor, Graham and Duncan.

The second string of the Central, known as the Swifts, travelled to meet the famous Lostock Hall team. The last-named club has a far-famed reputation on account of having played five drawn games with the ultimate winners of the Lancashire Junior Cup – Bell’s Temperance – and in consequence it was thought that the Swifts would fare badly at their hands. Such however was not the case, as after a most desperate encounter, which had to be brought to a conclusion twenty minutes before time owing to the bursting of all the balls the Lostock Club had in stock, the match resulted in a draw of two goals each. Had time been played out, there is no doubt the visiters would have chronicle a victory, and when the stock of balls had been exhausted, the Swifts were playing with a strong wind behind them. This afternoon the Swifts meet Whiston on the Sports Ground in the first round of the Liverpool Cup, and we have no doubt they will render a good account of themselves. The following will be the team: Guest, Walmsley, Pasquill, Evans, Blundell, Rimmer (captain), Forshaw, Hibbs, W.Rimmer, Blackledge and Brighouse.

Lostock Hall (1st) v Southport Central Swifts – Those yet unbeaten Swifts journeyed on Saturday last to Lostock Hall to meet the redoubtable club of that name. Many were there prognostications of pseudo-profits as to the unfavorableness of the result of the match for Southport, but the predictions of these self constituted seers happily lacked practical verification. Rimmer again winning the toss chose to play uphill against the wind. In kicking off, the home centre passed to the outside left, who, after racing down the field, centred beautifully and a goal was headed through a few seconds after the start. This woke up the Swifts who began to really play, and as a consequence got in several good shots at Lostock’s goal, none however taking effect until about twenty minutes play, when Brighouse headed the ball through. The Lostock men, playing now with an amount of dash, put into Guest’s hands a couple of shots in quick succession. A scrimmage in front of goal resulted in a fast low shot scoring for Lostock. Shortly after, the ball burst. Another having been secured, the game was resumed, but no further score was registered up to half time. In the second half the Swifts, with a tolerably stiff wind and the slope to aid them, commenced to press, and in a few minutes equalised. Once Lostock broke away, and a goal looked likely, but Guest cleared. Although Southport were playing well nothing further was registered, the game coming to a forced conclusion by reason of the second ball also giving up the ghost. But for this unfortunate circumstance finishing the match twenty minutes before time, instead of an unsatisfactory draw, it is very likely the Swifts could have boasted of a victory. Team:- Guest, goal; Baxter and walmsley, backs; Rimmer, Blundell and Evans, halfbacks; Brighouse, Hibbs, Pasquill, Blackledge and Forshaw, forwards.