FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10619, 14 March 1896, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

OTAGO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.

The final committee meeting of the O.F.A was hold at the Chess Club's rooms -mi Thursday night. Mr J. Findlay was in the chair There wore present—Messrs Clehcd, Komnitz, Salmond, Moucrieff, Nicholton (treasurer), and Csmpbell (secretary). The draft of the annual repott prepared by the secretary was read, aud, with a low alterations, adopted, and instructions given io have it printed. The treasurer's report was also received. ,It was decided to hold the .annual meeting oa Tueiday, 7th April. Before, concluding the meeting, ■Mr Keranitz moved—" That a very hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the president (Mr J, A. Fibdlay) for the painstaking way in which he had carried out bis duties as chairman of committee and for his untiring efforts in trying to bettor the cause of Association football, and that a note of such resolution be recorded in the minute book." Mr Moncrioff, in teaonding the motion, referred to the great enthusiasm' Mr Fiudlay had shown throughout the year, and hoped that he would long be spared to continue his work in helpiug the game. Official word was also received that it had been definitely decided that the New Zealand tournament should bs played in Dunedin this year. , • *

EOSLYN ASSOCIATION CLUB. The annual meeting of the Roslyn Association Football! Club was held at the Coaucil Chambers, Roslyn, last night. Mr L. Kemnitz presided, and there wns a largo attendance. ANNUAL EEPOBT. The committee, in presenting thoir eighth annnal report, congratulated the members cm I the sucks* attained by the club during the year. There had been an' increase of 15 members during the season. The finances were in aflounstonß condition, there being at present s balanca of £3 7s Id to carry forward, thauks to the liberality, of the office-bearers. The First. and Second Elevens agiiin secured the aenior and junior preraierships lor the third time in succession. The I'irst also won the Charity Burner, presented by Ihs O F.A. for competition between the clubs ol Duntdin. The First Eleven pUjed 12 mutches, winning 11 and drawing 1. The result of the matches was 59 goals, for the club and 11 againafc. The Second Eleven played 8 matches, winning 7 and drawing 1. Goals: Wfor, 5 against. On account of the tournament being held in Auckland, the O.F. A. decided not to send a team, but irthey had, the committee felt confident that the Roslyri Club would have had the largest number of the representatives. Tb« elub'a No. 1 team (G. M'Millan, 8. N. Brown, D. M'Millap, A. Hayward, and P. H'Millan) succeeded in winning the five a-sida tournament held on the Caledonian ground. On May 2$ the club plajed-a match on tho Caledonian ground against the Christchurch Club, and succeeded in defeating them by 9 goals to 1. The. committee regretted that a team could not be sent this year io play the return match, but trusted that every "tffqrfc would be put forward to do so nest year. The committee also regretted to state that on account of the Otago Golf Club having leased tho land at Bishopsco'nrt, the club b>.d lost the use of the groupd for the ensuing year, but they trusted that another might be found. During the latter part of the season.tho club secured the use of. a building, kindly lent by Me Bunting, for training purpose?. The committee trusted that the same enthusiasm would he shown by all the Members during the ensuing season as bed been phown liist eeafon, slid thoy urged Upon them the necessity of securing new members.

The CHAihjun, in moving theadopfcion of the report and balance sheet, complimented the club on being in such a good fiuauolal position; and also On the success that hid attended their efforts during the past season. He mentioHtjd that it «M iutended to have a tournameat in Dunedin dnring the iiicoming season, and said if the club got together as good a team for the tournament as they had lust season they would bo able to give a good account of themselves. So. far the committee had not been able to secure a ground, but he hoped that they might yet be Eucctssfnl. He was in Cbri6tchiirch last week, and leirned that they would not be able to send a'tenm to Otigo thin year. - ■■_ s Mr G/M'Miixan seconded the motion, which ■Wts'carriipduunnimoiisly. . . . ' . ■ '^.'a j '.'.'"'^.torrioji pf.officfJis.* '—'■■ '• ■ -. ,fibe following offiee-b'earats we're elected for ths ensuing year :—President, Mr P. Smeatiri ; vice-preßidents—Rev. E. K. M., Sutherland, Messrs LrKemibitz, B. Cbieholm, J. W. Brindley,; secretary and treasurer, Mr B. H. Ellis; captain, Mr G, M'Millan ; deputy-cuptaiu, Mr S..N. Brbwri; General Committp«—Messrs W. Bunting, W. "Dobson, W. Watson, G A Calder, and W. Wright; Match Committee— "Messrs G. Ul'Millan,. S, N. Brown, jun., and B. H. Ellis;, delegates to O.P.A.—Messrs G. M'Millan snd L. Kemnita; • auditor, Blr G. A. Cslder. ; " ' : .' ; ■ A NEW GEOOND. I Metsro G. M'Miljan, B. fit. Ellis, and W. Watson were appointed » committee to see if a suitable ground conld be secured, end report to.a future meeting. .>. ,_: .' - liJ'.'1;: v'""NEWMibnßßks.' Niße ilew inemberii' were elected."

, ; PIRATES FOOTBALL CLUB. The annual meeting of tan Pirates Football Club was hold in the' City Hotel lost ovauing. Mr J. F. Praiu was.voted to the chair, and there were about 40.menil;orfl present. . Apologie* for'the non-attendance of Messrs J. H. Hosking and A. C, S'.ronacb were received. '■_< . ■ . (

.-.-.'■■. ANNUAL BRFOKT. The annual report was as follows :— Your committee desire to present for your consideration the fourteenth annual report and balance sheet, and very much regret their term of office has not been a more successful aud prosperous one. •;

With a substantial credit, balance and good membership we were in hopes of the club improving their position considerably; but owing to the e» optionally bad season our expectations were not realised.: .:.

The First Fifteen,'as will be seen by record below, are still,' we are sorry to say, in the same unenviable position! as - irf the previous year, and this, it tMMt'ba admitted, is undoubtedly duo' to the want of training.... ■ , The Second Fifteen are certainly, to be coinmended'on .their position, having an unbeaten record for the'year, and we'trust the First I'if teen will jecognise what enthusiasm and earnest training has done, and that by emulating their juniors they will be able to bo congratulated at the end of the coming season upon a much improved record. The i-econd FiJtiieu's record stands out in bold relief against that of the First, and is all the more gratifying seeing that in the previous seasou (Key wcte not even once victorious... : . . ■

1 ouiMK.niituttee trust that during the coming seasou .ill players.will display more enthusiasm and devote more time to regular and consistent tmniug, without which it is utterly itnpossibie for the club to be successful. It seems almost useless for your committee to impress upou the members the . absolute necessity for training, especially among riiimibers of the' Firs* Fifteen' and ai ions a* they continue this neglect so long willltie.Pira.tes Chili occupy the position it has li-Id for the past few years. Matches-First Fifteen; Played 11; won S, lost 8; points for, 4a; against, 125 Second Fiftaen : Played 11; ■■won-9,- drawn 2; points for, 142; against, 25. Although the number of points scored against the First would denote a-completo collapse of the team, still this is not bo, for with the exception of the jedoiihtable Knikorai (who in two matches rattled up C 2 pointß) all izam<-s were closely and 'stubbornly contested, and we aro in hopeH that with more constant training together, and renewing their efforts, the Pirates may again.be raised to the proud position of

t?T ß T mltte. l! xad *"**&& matches for'tbe Third Fifteen, but aftor several nusuci-ensful efforts to raise a teum, wore reluctantly obliged to , let the matches fall through.- The junior members are evidently abovq playing for the Third Fifteen, but they should remember that with a Urge Jut of playing mombers it isquite impossible for all to. get a place in the Second and Firtt Fifteens andi also that it is ouly by practice and beginning, at the bottom they can aspire to senior matches. - Let us hope that our juniors will display a little more sportsmanlike spirit, and infuse a ■ little more enthusiasm • this coming season. - Your committee strongly recommend the resuscitation of the Third Fifteen Christchurch Match.-We had the pleasure of welcoming our old rivals this season. The sixth annual match^took .place on the Carisbrook ground on the 24th Hay, in the presence of a large number of spectators, and after a hard and exciting name, your team were victorious by (i points to nothing. Aa usual, the game was played in the very best of spirit possible, and was conspicuous for the fine forward play on both sides and for the accurate passing exhibited at times by our backswhich enabled them on two occasions to cross their .opponents' line. Waring the afternoon the lady friends of the club very kindly provided refreshmeuts on the ground, and the committee take this opportunity of acknowledging their indebtedness to ilisa Hislop and her fair assletants for their kindness, which we are sure waa appreciated by all. We were very sorry that our jovial visitors were with us so short a time, hut let v? hope that their stay m future years will be long enough to allow us to repay, in some degree, their handsome hospitality. In view* of the Pirates ! being the visiting team this year, it behoves our . players to at once go luto training and endeavour j to repeat their last year's victory, and this- year j beat Uhi'istchurch on1 their own ground. :' Balclutha Match. — Your committee were pleased to welcome alao a team from the Clutha i Club. The game was played at th* Carinbrook and was characterised by the utmost good feelifig and resulted iv anothervictory for the Pirates by 21 points to, 16. Tha Clutha Club are most anxious for a return match, and, if possible, would like a team from the Pirates to visit thorn at Kfister. It is therefore imperative for the members to Btart nricttcc at once in view I o£ this.

Waikouaiti Match. — The Second Fifteen, 1 having a Saturday off on July 30, journeyed to | .Waikouaiti and succeeded in d-ifejtitfg the home I team hy 11 points to 3. The sloppy state of the ! ground wan all in favour of the heavy country for-wa-ds, but the superior trainim; and combination of our team eventually decided the match af above. The game was a. most friendly oue, ana no doubt our players will look forward with plw sure to their annual match witb. the Waikouaiti Club. , Training Hall.—After repeated efforts your committee were successful in obtaining a training hall, hut too late in the season to ,bo of any material service. In the la*t matches .of the season there wa^j, however, noticeable a m<irKi*Q improvement iv the play, owing undoubtedly to. j the members attending the practices held, and we I would therefor* strongly urge our successors to at onca procure ii possible the same hall, so that players may make themselves move efficient in all departments of the same, and by working together this season lift the club into the front ranlra. Interprovincial.— The Piwtes Club was ably ruprnsunted in the interprovincial matches against Southland, Canterburj, and Auckland by aur worthy captain (Mr P. J. Priest), who played with great credit to his province and club. Messrs , Hurt,'Macawey, and G. Thomson wore selected for the trial matches—Macassey being chosen as emergency back for all the interprovincial matches. ■ Fiuancc—Your committee have to report a credit balance of £0 odd carried forward, by which it will be noted there has been a small deficiency in the year's operations, but considering the exceptionally wet season, which naturally kept the ground 'continually sloppy, thereby prohibiting most of our important matches being, 'played, and thus, causinsr a very heavy shrinkage .in our revenue from gates, we think the re-ults quite satisfactory. It would, however, have been difficult for the committee to have c«rried on the affairs of tlic club had it not bean for the generosity of the CarisbrookQround Company, who readily saw our position, and most iibnrally met us with a substantial allowance off our rent. Your committee, therefore, desire to record their indebtedness to the compauy for this and past favours. Membership.—lt affords the committee much pleasure to report «uch a larce meruhership, there being now 21 honorary and G:J playing; members In conclusion, your committee would iigain strongly urge all members to devote thnm»elvei more energetically and systematically to traioine; The club, stands on. a sound footing, both ns iegnrds membership and financially, and in resigning office your committee are hopeful that at the termination of the coining season their'Siiceessors will bo able to congratulate th<) club on having had a most successful season.

On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr J. B. Wales, the report was adopted. OFFira-BKAKiBHS.

The following office-bsii-ers were elected for the ensu'iug year:—President, Mr J. H. Hosking (re-elected); vico-presidents — Meiixrs Crosby Morris (re-elected), J. Stewart, Jamas Hutchison, and W. A. Sim; captain, Mr R. P. Mniheson; deputy cap'taiii, Mr George Thomson; secretary, Mr B. Y. Prieit (re-elected): treasurer, Mr J. S. Hislop (reelected) ;-committee —Messrs W. H. Young, P. J. Priert, J. Inder, and J. T. Pram (reelected) ; Match Committee —Mfsiirs K. P. Matheson, F Johnston, aud J. T. Pram ; dalngatca to the 0.R.F.U., McESCfI J. S. Hialop »n;5 W. H Young. ... ffir Dowbbs's letter re junior matcbes whs rectived, and it was decided to leave tUo delegates a free band in the matter. Tho matter of tha triiniug hsll was referred to the incoming comtniltee to act.

Vdtts of thanks to the chairman, tha outgoing committee, and rffice-beirers closed the meeting.