FOOTBALL NOTES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9811, 21 August 1897, Page 2

FOOTBALL NOTES.

[Br Drop Kick.)

"Weekly Press and Referee."

For the first time for some weeks the weather experienced in Christchurch for Saturday's football was what is usually looked for at this season of the year, the air being keen and bracing and a "few light showers fell.

The second of tho Trial Matches in connection with the forthcoming representative contests was played at Lancaster Park when two fairly good teams faced each other, although neither was as strong as it might have been, the A team playing with only thirteen men throughout and in the second spell the' 13 team played ii' man short. The public took very little interest in the game which proved a serviceable practice, some fine passing and dribbling rushes being made especially by the A team Which had no difficulty in winning easily. One lesson to be learnt by the game is that some of the most prominent men who are likely to be chosen to represent tho province should practice place kicking, as of the ten tries gained by the A team only two were converted.

The Canterbury members of the New Zealand team returned to Christchurch on Thursday motaing, and the Otago men came south by the same boat. The latter reached Christchurch just in time to catch the south express the same day.

The annual matches between the Otago and Southland Rugby Tj nions will be played on August 25th and September 4th, tho first one taking place at Invercargill and the return game in Dunedin.

A special general meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union is being called for next Thursday week, the business being the "New Zealand Rugby Union!"

The secretary of the Queensland Rugby Union has forwarded a cheque for £78 15s to the New South Wales Rugby Union for fares and berths for the New Zealand team, and in doing So wrote stating that his Union did not anticipate paying for sleeping berths and meals. 'As the New Zealandera, by travelling by rail, were able to play two extra matches in New South Wales, the Queensland Union asked the New South Wales Union to re-fund £36 4s 6d. At a meeting of the latter j body it was pointed out that Queensland got the New Zealand team cheaply, paying their fares from Sydney, while New South Wales paid their steamer fares, and it was decided not to grant the request. - - •

The next time a New South Wales team tours New Zealand (says a Sydney writer) part of the cost ought to be borne by the New South Wales Union, owing to the small gates (doe to the small population) at matches in Maoriland. Another thing, New South Wales teams in future must do less travelling; and they must be less unrepresentative of the strength of the colonj'; and the men must be allowed proper travelling expenses. Establish the New Zealand v. New South Wales matches as the matches of the tour, treat the players as gentlemen ; and you'll lift football higher in the opinion of those whose good opinion is worth winning.

The final match for the Nelson Rugby Union's Senior Cup was played on August 7th, when the Prince Albert Club beat the Albion by 5 points to nil. The losers had a lot the best of the play, but they did not take advantage of the many chance* they had of scoring. During the game C. M'Leod, one of the Albert three quarter backs, had the misfortune to get his left leg broken a few inches above the ankle.