FOOTBALL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11629, 10 May 1912, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY SUB-UNION

• :: A meeting o£ tLoJNorth Otngo Rugb> Sub-Union was held, last, night, the lrc sident (Mr W. Couper) presiding. .It S decided to inform the Otago Union thatitfce Sub-Union.would prefer a Msit from an Otago team to a country week inUhmedin tEis year. The Otago Union adSfthat : tf grant, of £SO had been made to the Sub-Union towards Ring George's Park. It was decided to recommend the'removal of the disqualification- from R. Scott. The. meeting decided in favor of the motion, to secede from the English Rugby Union, which will he brought forward at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Union on May 16th. The motion to appoint three selectors, carried on the 25th April, was rescinded. It was decided that the match Excelsior v- Old Boys on Thursday hex J c, loth inst,, start at 2.30 p.m. ATHLETIC v. EXCELSIOR. Yesterday saw the opening of the local football season, the Athletics and Excelsiors meeting on the Park, before numerous spectators. The ground was not in good shape by any means, the surface being rough and pitted here and there with holes that were a source of danger. However, the Borough Council has decided that something is to be done, and possibly their decision will be carried into effect. There was a - big contingent: of new and junior plavers on both sides, and a woful lack of condition, so that the game was not an interesting one. Very few of the players showed any knowledge of the game, while many evinced a desperate ignorance, kicking hard at the wrong time and in the wrong direction. There was no passing worth the name, and the scores, which towards the end came thick and fast, were almost all the result of scrambles. Montgomery, behind the Athletic pack, is safe in defence, but he, is not keen oiv letting go the ball, and his passes are often ill-direct-ed. Curran and Ross also suffered from the same troubles. Healey and Lee were the best of the Athletics, while M'Combie. Knights, and the scrum-half were the most useful men in the Blues. The game resulted in a win for Athletics by 33 points to 3. Lee scored the onlv trv that had any merit about- it. and Dorward has the distinction of registering the Excelsiors' only score. Curran showed good kicking i power.-a department in which Ross was 1 <listiuctly below usual form.