FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1239, 28 August 1875, Page 17

FOOTBALL.

A soratoh match was played by the Dunedin Football Club at the Southern Oval on Saturday afternoon. At the Northern Uecreation Ground the Union Club's match, English v. Scotch, caused much enthusiasm. The English team was captained by A. G. Barber, while G. M'Kinnon looked after the Scotch representatives. After about an hoar's really excellent play, Cowie managed to kick a goal for the Scotch. No other goal fell before five o'clock, when time was called.

A general meeting of tbe Dunedin Football Club took place at the Shamrock Hotel last Tuesday, when about eighteen members were present. Mr A. K. Smith waa voted to the chair. The Secretary (Mr H. Rose) said he had received several letters concern ing the condition of the Southern Oval, and the following motion, proposed by Mr Park, waa carried :—": — " That the Dunedin Cricket Club be requested to employ labour to put the Southern Oval in good condition, the account to be sent to the Secretary of the Dunedin Football Club, and the cost not to exceed £5." After some discussion, the following motion was lost by a small majoiity :—": — " That no more football be played on the Dunedin Cricket Club ground this season, and that a sub-committee, consistingof Messrs A. K. Smith, Mills, and Wathen be requested to ascertain whether they can obtain a suitable ground whereon to play p•# liminary games and the Auckland match." It was resolved— "That; the Match Committee of the Dunedin Football Club, with Messrs Gr. M. Thomson and Samson, be requested to select 30 Dunedin players of both Clubs to practise for the Auckland match." A Sub-Committee was appointed to make enquiries for a suitable piece of ground, provided the Southern Oval be not suitable for the Auckland match.

It is most satisfactory to find that a football team is likely to visit the South this year ; and, although we shall not be able to send the very best lot to be found, still I think they will be quite able to hold their own wherever they go. There are few cities in New Zealand where football and oricket take such a prominence as they do here, and the number of local clubs for both games is very numerous ; and as they all are constantly in competition, a degreeof proficiency is obtained which those who practice less can never come up to. From Southern papers I rather take this feature of continual practice i* not in the ascendant. Dunedin and Christchurch may, from circumstances of ■weather, not be in the position to practice all the year round, and, so far as I can »cc, they don't go in for it like wo do here. But, be this as it may, I hope that too much confidence in the Auckland representatives is not manifested here when I anticipate for them an all-round victory. While, however, they are away some suggestion might be thrown out by them as to a Southern team visiting this Province next season for the exemplification of the game of cricket. We want a little life infused into the game this season, and there is no doubt a Southern team would be warmly welcomed .here in every way, and would do more to keep the ball rolling than anything else we could do, more even than the advent of a speculative team from Australia. — Auckland News,