When the National Cup champions invade the lair of the home booters the latter will have an old score to settle for it was Hakoah that marred a perfect record for Bethlehem by defeating the team in the opening league game played in New York City.
While Hakoah would much rather play the game on their home field surrounded by their partisan fans, there was no alternative when the league decreed that the club come here for the first of their several league appointments.
Hakoah is represented by the majority of celebrities of last year's team and, if anything, is reputed to be much stronger than the combination which won the cup title. Several new acquisitions have served to strengthen the forces and the club is out shooting for both cup and league honors.
The game played in New York was probably the most thrilling witnessed in that district. No less than five times did the lead change with Hakoah finally nosing out victorious in the closing minutes of play. The Jewish stars were in better condition and took advantage of the opportunity when Bethlehem started to wilt just before the final whistle.
The victory over the Giants here last Saturday was not without its toll. Beveridge, goalie; Finlayson, halfback; Stark and Jaap, center and inside forwards, were victims of the hard-going and are busy this week nursing bruises. With the exception of Beveridge, whose hurts are most serious, it is expected that the remaining three will be able to shake off their hurts and be fully recovered for the Saturday tilt.
With Stark absent at his coveted position the team would be seriously handicapped. In the previous game against Hakoah he gave one of the greatest demonstrations of how to play the center position ever witnessed in this country. Against the strong Hakoah defense the premier center forward in America crashed through to score all four of Bethlehem's goals. With Stark in scoring mood, Hakoah is threatened with a busy session.
Gradually the local team is rounding into full war strength. The arrival of Joe MacDoanld and Alec Dick, right back and forward, helps the situation materially and would be little surprising if both these new men were injected into the lineup for the Saturday game. MacDoanld and Dick are down to hard training and impressed very favorably in the scrimmage workout. Of the two Dick is the most versatile and is a valuable man in the event of an emergency. He can play any of the forward positions and play them capably. After the hard game here on Saturday the team will journey to New York on Sunday, where they appear in the star half of a twin bill, meeting the Giants in the return engagement.