Bodily Contact Much in Evidence
Bethlehem's clash with New Bedford on Saturday was a regular he-man's game. So much so, in fact, that the conclusion of the tilt left in its wake several players who will be shelved for the next several games. Not that the roughness might be termed as deliberate, but it was simply the natural result of the hard playing inspired by the intensive going and the determination to annex the victory. The fan craving for "bodily contact" had his fill at Saturday's tilt, and at times the daring of the backs in tackling bordered on the spectacular. The Steel Workers have apparently taken a page from the book of the other clubs and have awakened to the realization that occasionally body checking is highly essential to cope with the game of the rival clubs.

Undue Liberties With Fullbacks
Rival clubs in the past have taken undue liberties with the Bethlehem fullbacks, realizing the always gentlemanly tactics of the Steel Workers on the field of battle. Probably when they realize that the Steel clan have awakened to this situation, forwards will not be so daring. In Allan and Berryman the Steel Workers have a pair of defenders who do not hesitate an instant in getting on the ball. Their tackling in recent games has featured the contests. Neither one is deliberate in unnecessary methods, but are determined and show and ask no quarter.

On the Side Lines
It was with much regret to many of the local followers that Johnny Walders, of Philadelphia did duty on the sidelines in the Bethlehem-New Bedford game instead of being the odd man on the field of battle. Johnny, in the opinion of many and the opinion is well founded, ranks with the best officials in the country. But for some reason or other this fearless arbiter who knows the game from A to Z and is never lost in the going, was side-tracked as a regular by the league moguls. George Bloom, originally hailing from Pittsburgh but now working out of New York was given the assignment here on Saturday. Bloom apparently is sincere and honest, but at times seemed puzzled by the speedy play and his work was not entirely satisfactory. Players were quick to sense his inefficiency and at times took advantage. Bloom missed many, but in missing them was impartial. The fans would rather have seen Walders or Danny Oates -- the latter another good man given the go-bye -- handling the game. With weak officials there is danger of players taking the game out of his hands, especially when rivalry is as pronounced as in battles against opponents such as New Bedford, Providence and Fall River.

Laying Up for Bethlehem
Fall River has developed the habit of laying up players for their more important games and fortune has favored the league champions in the arrangement of the schedule in such strategy. The champions had the Giants as their guests on home loam on Sunday, and conquered 3 to 1. Conspicuous by their absence in that game were no less than four first string men, who apparently had been shelved as a precaution against probable injury and to assure the champions their regular lineup when the battle Bethlehem here on Christmas Day. Missing in the lineup in the Giants game were Tate, a fullback, Fryer, a halfback, Campbell, and White, a pair of forwards. It is a hundred to one that this quartet will be in the game when the league leaders square off against the Steelmen.