FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2408, 26 April 1900, Page 45

FOOTBALL.

NOTES BY FORWAE!>.

The Auckland Rugby Union Committee has been instructed to report as to the advisability of requesting the New Zealand Union to send a team representative of the colony to England. It is with regret that I noticed in the Canterbury Times the report of the death, at the

j Chatham Islands, of R. Mathison, who, when ! a member of the Taieri Club, played for Otago f in the matches against Wellington, Southland, and Canterbury in 1891, and played for Canterbury against Otago in the two following years. The Auckland Rugby Union has £1732 10s 4d in hand for Che purchase of a ground, but the prospect of obtaining a suitable piece of land appears (writes ' Lynx " in the New Zealand Herald) further off than ever, as Potter's Paddock, which was offered to the union some time back for something like £4000, could not now be jmrchased for three times the amount mentioned, and, look where one will, there does not seem to be a suitable piece of ground within reasonable distance of the city available to the union. A meeting of the Committee of Management of the Otago Rugby Union was held on Monday, and attended by Messrs Morris (chairman), Gallaway, Isaacs, Harris, "Duncan, Rosp, Hutchison, Campbell, Macasscy. and Dr Macpherson. It was decided to accept the offer of the Caledonian Society to lease the ground for 1 a term of j four years, and the ground wns sublot for the season to the Rmiadm Football Club. It was s-lso decoded to rent tho Caripbrook ground from the Dunedin Amateur Ground

Company for the ■nresent, season and to sublet' it to the Pirates Football \Chib. „ Peri- mission -was-g'rarftecKto -Jthe .Pirates _\Eootball j Club to travel to Christclrarch on May 24-, j but the secretary was instructed to reply. | that their request that no fixture be arranged ! for their First Fifteen, for May 26 could not jbe complied with. Dr Macpherson arid Messrs Harris and Macassey were appojntecT i a Flag Committee for the season. It was | decided that flag matches should start on Saturday week, May 5, that the names of teams competing must be in the secretary's hands by "the 26th inst.,' and that lists of teams competing must be forwarded to thor secretary not lated than Tiiesday next, May 1. .

The Alhambra held a very satisfactory practice at Opoho Park, 35 members taking part. Teams were chosen on the ground, and a fast and interesting game ensued, the young players especially showing good form. The follow- . ing were responsible for scores: — A. King, Wallace, Hobson, Stephenson/Whinham, and | Wilkins^ ! The Ivaikorai opened rhe season at Bishops- ) court with their annual match President ~v. | Vice-President, about 40 players taking part ! in the game. The President's s\de won' by , 16 points lo 9. I The Union held a practice on the "North ' ground, when there was a fair muster of play- , ers. Sides were chosen on the .ground, and a ' fast game was indulged in. Most of the play-, F ors showed greatly improved forni as com- ( pared with the previous practice. The Southern pisyed a scratch match at -Fraser's paddock. Sides were jnclced bjj , Neil and Spence, and a very fast game resulted in a win for Neil's side by 10 points " to 9- The Southern Band v/ere in attendance,* and played .a few enlivening selections. > • The .Wakari (Association) Club opened the season with a match President v. Yice-Presi-i dent. There was a large attendance of'mem-' I bers, and some excellent form vras shown by j some of the younger players. The game I ended in favour of the President's side by 3 goals to 2. \ At a meeting of the Alhambra Club on j Saturday evening Mr A. Hobson was "elected ' captain, and Mr W. Wallace deputy-captain, I while Messrs J. Baker, A. Hobsonj and G. Phillips were returned as members of the i club's Match Committee.

OTAG-O FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.

The following- is the report of the CJT.A., to be presented at the annual- meeting: —

Your committee, in laying before you the tenth annual report, can congratulate you upon the improved position of the association, anct that in the face of a big season of counter attractions. This highly satisfactory state of affairs can only be accounted for by the fact that the members of the clubs affiliated seemedto have the interests of the game at heart, and by so many enthti3iasts p\itting their shoulders to the wheel your committee were very; * materially assisted in their efforts to better the position of the Association game in Dm din. The 'opening of last season saw the game's old bug-bear, lack of grounds, prominent, and the Rangers' Club were forced to drop out of the Association's ranks for lack of a play field.' It is very much to be regretted that this shouldhave been the case, but your committee were , unable to see any way out of the difficulty, andthey sincerely trust that, the lack'^ of playing* 'field's will '■not' again' prove a" hindrance to the game's progress. The loss of the Exhibition gioiifid was more than compe'nsdfed for by the fact that the "VVakari Club obtained- a lease* Wakari Park, and put it into good playing order. The club is "to be congratulated on - this move, for your committee . believe. , that . when 1 the tramway, at present under course of construction, is finished, "and the ground thus put within easy reach of town, the game will be very greatly assisted by the fact of its havi ing at least one first-class ground. I Finance. — This all-important item in a reXaort need not^be approached -with fear and - trembling. The balance sheet to be read by the treasurer shows a highly satisfactory credit balance of £10 12s lid as against £J 3s lid for last year. Your committee consider this the more notewOithy in that they expended a greater amount than'usual in their endeavours to popularise the game, and on account of the big season of Rugby interprovincial matches theie was. very -. little assistance to ,your. finances 'from the gate-takings at the various games played. However, it can be safely said that although the credit balance was not swelled to any great extent during the past &ea?on. there was certainly a swelling of the ranks of '" socker " supporters. Banner G-smes. — Last season's banner games j, were perhaps the best that have <yet taken j place. The Northern team beat everyfliina thej' met up to the semi-final, when a splendic? , fight was witnessed between that club and the ( Southern, the game resulting in a draw, twq j goals each. Great excitement prevailed during | 'the contest, for the result was to decide whether Roslyn or Southern would meet the Northern in the final tie, but as the Southern failed to legiater a win the Eoslyn secured the' covdted honour, and proved themselves worthy there*' of, defeating the Northern by 4 goals to 3.The game was played at Bishopscourt 'on .August 5, and a really first-class exhibition, of scientific football resulted, as already stated., in the Roslyn once more getting possession ofthe banner. Junior Cup. — Your committee thought It acTI visable to encourage junior players more than, had previously been done, and to this end thejj secured a handsome cup. The cup WivS piesented to the junior elevens for compstitisw** i

under the same rules as apply to the Charity 33air-ier, excepting the last clause of rule 2, avhich was deletsd. The inception -of these congests was much appreciated by the juniors, and had the effect of greatly improving the 'play as well as creating that keen rivalry which always tends to keep up the interest in the Snatches among players and supporters alike, ffhe final tie for the cup brought out the Green •Island and Mornington Second Elevens, who gave a very creditable display, which resulted in a win for the Green Island. The honour of having the name of their club engraved on •the cup and holding it for the first year is therefore with the Green Island juniors, who justly earned that proud position. , Five-a-side Tourney. — The interest in this part of the season's sport is still keen, our entries being again one better than they were at the previous tourney, and that with one club Jess in the field than there was in 1898. The total entries for 1898 were 22 from seven clubs b<3 against 23 entries from six clubs in 1899. Jit can hardly be said, however, that the play ;at last year's tourney was up to the standard Df previous years, but nevertheless some very fair games were played. Tho trophies were won by Southern No. 2 team, who played with treat consistency, and thoroughly deserved their win. in the senior division, arid Eoslyn No. 3 In the junior division, while the Northern No. L and Southern No. 3 were runners-up in their respective classes. ,H.M. Warships. — Towards the end of the reason a match was played between a team from H.M.S. Ringdove, captained by Lieutenant Kerr,' and a mixed local team. The game was played at Bishopscourt ground, and was witnessed by a fair number of spectators. The local eleven won by 3. goals to 2. Some fine play was seen from a few of the men-o'-■wevsmen,' who greatly enjoyed the game, and expressed themselves as highly delighted with the progress of Association football in Dunedin. ' In the evening the Jack Tars were entertained at a banquet,, and a very pleasant evening was spent, a-t the close of which all jcined in wishing for many more such contests with the lads in blue.

Thanks. — You are agaiu indebted to your •worthy president (Mr S. Myers) for the use of Ms room for committee meetings. Mr P. D. •Leslie, Otago's delegate to the Council of the iNew Zealand football Association, is also deserving of your thanks, while you are also deeply indebted to the press of Dunedin, and the Otago Daily Times in particular, for the free use of their columns for reports of matches, etc.

T n conclusion, your committee would point out th^t Ota go is almost duty bound to send a team to the Brown Shield tournament this year, so that the finances will have to be carefully studied during the season, and every endeavour made to raise the necessary money io send a team. Your committee would also urge upon each and every player in Dunedin to use his best endavours lo make the game popular, anU the best way to do this is to improve the standard of play. "Let each player make a study of his own department of the game, and develop those jDointa which make mot only a good player but also a good man. Three words express as much as whale chapters of instruction books. They are: Unselfishness! Diligence! Obadience! Your committee trust that the season now opening will be one of unbounded prosperity for the game and for the Otago Football Association.