FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16315, 23 February 1915, Page 8

FOOTBALL.

OTAIUJ JUJUBY UNION. A irioi.'liiifj hi I-μ.' I'oiiuuittcii <>i mo Utwinu Rugtiy Lnioii vv4ih Iwjd liu.l evening, wiicii a iiruiL oupj oi liif iiiiiiii.il ii'iKiii, was <.'uiiintltrtyi oiui uppruw<l <i[, sulijit'l to <:(.ruuu .ukiitioius whn;ii liuv<' y< t Ui In , - niiulo.

lllC! COllJplulU IKJl'tlllll.i (it tllO 1-tlXlit il.l f an IoIIowh: —

'i'iio ooiumittuf. , . in |)r<M'.ntii)K tln> t.liirlyloiin.h JUiUliil rojiou. wirlhh 1.0 roii^r.itulitli' Lin «lul)r> on iiiioUU'i , riiiix'ii.slul fiiiii.->tm. 1 lie iumdiinl ol plij , , on l.ln , wiioln, did nui, dliow any iiiai'kod inifurtivi inciil, on t.li.- iircVious ytNir, altliougn l\tr I'xlnl'iiioiiH j;,\cn by the lorwardts oi iv)inr ol Un- clubs wuru OS a hiffll orcitT. Oil tlm otln.'i lia.nd, tin* liiuk play was a loupj way bi'lovv (in: al.ii.ndard l.li.it, cbaractcr.Kcil Oliitfo lonihiill sumo yi'iii'ei liiK'ii. ami an inipiO>r.in. ni. in thii* di , - (lartaiciil is «'agc.rly looki'<l lor. it i-i again iilciL.-iing to rvcurd tliat very few ca.sca of inistMinduct caim: before t.lio (■oirunitt.iw. and tin* ctirbn .ire ti> bo ivonon the faot that tlie game vv;:.s pla.vixl in a friixridly iind sporLiunmliki , Bpiril..

During t.foe fi«ison our representatives went on tour; but, owing to tin- outbreak of war, a Large number of our leading players were miabl:> to make the. trip, and the tcsun did not meet wilJi a. great deal of twee-ess. Tho only representative* match at homo was that, against -South Canterbury, but a counter-attraction in the city considerably affected tho attendance, and a small litianeial lons was sustained.

• Unfortunately tho Oanterburv junior representative team was unable to meet our juniors, and wo trust that tin's fixture will be. revived iji tho near future, as all the junior representative matches are keenly looked forward to, and are greatly appreciated by our junior players. The flag competitions were again keenly contested, and tho intarret of players and spectators was maintained until tiie Lift match was played. The football shown by souio of the junior teams was very good, and the number of promising young players pointe to a bright future tor the Kugby game.

iiaikorai -won the First Grade competition; Southern won tho Second Grade; High School won the Third Grade; ZingariRiclunond won the Fourth Grade; and AJhambra A won the Fifth Grade.

Tho schools competitions "were contested by a larger number of school* than during the previous years, and some excellent iorm was shown by several of the teams. The Senior Grade competition w-ne won by the Bojs' High School B 'tc;un, and Ulo Junior Grade by Forbury School A team, which holds tho cup presented by Mr G. Ritchie for the season 1914.

The Wednesday competition was carried out, and some good exhibitions were given, i'ho Union Club won the flag. Your ccnimittee trusts more teanu will support tiiie oorupetitioji during the coining season, and thue help to maintain the interest in Wednesday tootbalL

The annual Schools' Representative match between Otago and Southland was played at lnvcrcai-gill, and, afttr a keenly-lought contest, Otago won by 6 pointe to 3. The receipts from fl.ig matches were greater than for any previous season. The new grand stand at Carisbrook soon became very popular, and at the principal fixtures was not. large enough to ;;ceonnnodate the crowd. The committee will in the near future have to consider the advisability oi considerably extending the nvK structure, and it will also be necessary to improve the drainage of the playing area. The committee has again to report an unsatisfactory position with regard to the Footballers' Accident Fund. Tsio season started with a debit balance of £65, which was increased during the year. The liberal benefits from this iund do not appear k> be appreciated by our players. a.nd tiie time has now arrived whon the matter will have to be dealt with, and a scheme devised that will be eelf-supporting. The committee ie very reluctant about reducing the benefits to the players, but the scant support aocorded the fund in the past will not permit of it being carried en under the present system. it is with deep regret that we have to record the death of Mr Robert Chisholm, who was connected with the control of Rugby lor a number of years, and also occupied tho position of president for several yeare. The Empire's call for soldiers has been responded to by a large number of Rugby footballers, and the committee extends «to them its best wishes while serving their "Flag," and a safe roturn at the termination of the great war in which our Empire is at present justly involved. All of our clubs have contributed towards the various contingents, and eorn© have had their playing ranks practically reduced to nil, so that it will be necessary for tho flag rules to be remodelled for the coming season in order to cope with tho unusual circumstances. UNION CLUB. Tho following are the principal clauses in

,ho annual report of the Union Club:—

Matches. —Teams were entered for the First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifrh Grades, and also a Wednesday team. Tho

First Grade team was probably the youngest team that has represented the club in tho field, and, taking all things into consideration, it did really weß. The second Grade team -was also a very young team, and it battled hard against older and more experienced players. The Third Grade team showed considerable improvement this year, several of tho players showing promise of developing into useful members. The Fourth Grade team was aleo an improved team. The Fifth Grade team played really well throughout the season, and finished third on the list in this grade. The Wednesday team had the honour of winning its competition. The teams, as a whole, showed considerable, improvement: in all, 67 matches were played, of which 31 were won, 30 lost, and six drawn. Training.—Tho committee regrets that the players did not train in the way they might have done. Training on a Tuesday night was not carried out in the way it might have been; in fact, Kome Tuesdays there was no

training done : it all. The Thursday night's hall training was well patronised for a start, but towards the end of the season players showed a lamentable lack of enthusiasm in this important matter. Owing to tho war the committee has been forced to postpone its scheme for having the ground lit up by electricity, but recommends the incoming committee to go on with the scheme if conditions arc favourable. Caps.—The caps presented by Messrs J. Hope. H. Harris, and H. H. S. White for the most improved back and forward in tho First and Second Grado teams have boon awarded to Messrs A. Mills (back) and R Fosrarty (forward). First Grade; and Messrs S. Gallon (back) and P. Devine (forward). Second Grade

Finance. —The committee has great plnasurr> in announcing that tho ohib is at last absolutely free from debt, there being a small credit balance to start the- season's operations. Expeditionary .Force.—Your committee winh.es to congratulate tho following members and ex-membrrs who have gone to tho front— viz.: Messrs J. Armour. H. Armour. G. Sterling. A. Robertson. A. Don, W. M'Lonnan, W. Baxter, 11. Varley, F. Daubney. H. Piiterson, J. ITondTson C Bell. M. Heslin, E. Simpson. W. Ti-i.ill, R Sutherland, K. M'Lennan, R. Harris. G. Henderson, C. Palverlcy. J. M'Konzio E Wood'. P. Devino. S. Coarrl. E. M'Lonnan'. and C. Walsh. Wr> uro sure that all mombers of the club wish theso members ovensuccess in (ho now gamr they aro playing. May thoy havo a piiccespf ul journey and a safo return. Knetor Match.—Th- Linwood Ohib has v>ry kindly forwarder! nn invitation to our nkyors to make tho trip to Ohrisrcrmrch at Enstor tune to play our annual ma.tch. It will bn loft to tho playrrs to decide at tho annual mortmg whether this trip will be 'one , on with or not.