FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2533, 1 October 1902, Page 50

FOOTBALL.

NOTES BT FULL-BACK. Writing on August 23, our London correspondent says: — It is staited. that arrangements are in progress for the visit of a New ZeaJand football team (Rugby) next season. The matter was considered by the Rugby Union on. Tuesday night, and referred to a sub-committee to make the necessary arrangements. Ait the same meeting an invitation from the union of New South Wales for an English team to visit Australia in 1904- waa considered. It is understood thai the/ proposition, wae favourably regarded, so tihat there is every probability of a boom in initernational football. ! With reference to the> above paragraph the London Sportsman to hand by the last mail, in its report of the English Rugby Union's Committee meeting, states that there is hardly a doubt but that matters will be satisfactorily arranged. A Christchurch telegram states that the football match between teams from the Wellington and Canterbury Volunteer battalions resulted in a win for the home team by 3 points to nil. The score was made by Laurejice, who kicked a. goal from a penalty Wot,

A. RUGBY TEAM FOR ENGLAND. WELLINGTON, September 25. The secretary of the New Zealand Rugby Union has received a communication from the Agent-general and the secretary of the English Rugby Union with reference to the proposed tour of a New Zealand team in England. The letters com*' before the union next Tuesday, OTAGO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION. The weekly meeting of the committee of the- Otago Rugby Football Union, held on Monday, was attended by Messrs Hutchison (president), Macassey, Harris, Wilkinson, Ross, Duncan, Priest, Munro, and Smith (secretary). A letter was received from Mrs Adam gratefully acknowledging the receipt of the imion's cheque for £101 17s. being the amount of the Adam Benefit Fuud. The Lawrence Club appealed against the match Milton v. Lawrence being awarded to the former club on the ground that full i time had not been played. — It was resolved that the appeal b© dismissed on the ground that the referee's report stated that the I spell 6 were of equal length, and that neither i side had any advantage under the ccodij tions. , The Excelsior Club applied to have the case against J. Hegarty reopened., — It was resolved that the request could not " be granted. It was rpsolved that, owing to there being no grounds available', the committee regretted that - they were reluctantly compelled to abandon the Charity Tournament. MILTON v. CLUTHA. After considerable delay, en account of the games with the Lawrence and Milton j Ol'iibs, the final for the banner to decidej the premiership of South Otago was played at Milton on Saturday. The ground was v«ry soft, pools of water lying all over it, I but the weather was fine and warm, and a ' large number of spectators witnessed the | match, including visitors from Kaitangata, I Balclutha, and surrounding districts. On lining out it wa<s evident that the southern playc-rs vrorc a good deal heavier than their opponents, but as mbsequent events proved Milton were more than a match both in the scrums and in the open. In the first spell, towards the tnd, a try was scored by the wing three-quarter (G. Littlojohn) after a passing rush, during which C. Grant and O. Draper had possession. From a penalty kick in the second spell A. Powley regis- r tered a splendid goal, and subsequently Jos. Lynch scored a try, which was not converted. Even the Clutha supporters admitted Milton's .superiority on the day's piny, and congratulated them on their nine points' win. For the winners every player seemed bent on winning, and it would he invidious to particularise, while for Clutha John Landels (at centre three-quarter) was very sa,fe, saving his side time after time, and was ably supported by G. Patorson, T. Mackay (backs) , ~ and W. Finn, J. Hawker, and Siovwright, among the forwards. Mr J. Williams (Drucdin) an efficient referee, giving universal satisfaction. Country football has received a decided -fillip through the- initiation of these flag contests, and the O.R.F.U. is deserving of the thanks of the South Otago clubs for this forward movement. PROFOSED ASSOCIATION TEAM FOR ENGLAND. At a council meeting of the English Football Association, held in London on August 8. a letter was read from the New Zealand Football Association suzgesting the sending Home of a team of New Zealand Association footballers in 1903-1904. It was decided to reply that the English Association were of opinion that the class of football that would be shown by the New Zealand team at the present time would not be sufficiently attractive to warrant the E.F.A. in incurring the financial responsibility and certain loss of such a tour. V TEAM OF ASSOCIATION PLAYERS FROM ENGLAND. WELLINGTON, September 29. It was stated at th« annual dinner of the Association footballers that Mr Jessop, the English cricketer, has definitely decided to bring a team of English Association footballers, composed of Oxford and Cambridge men, to the colony in 1904.