FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6184, 12 March 1888, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

OPENING OF THE SEASON. The football season opened on Saturday, but owing to the wet weather and the fact, that the cricket season has not yet closed, the attendances on the various grounds were by no means large. About sixteen members of the East Christchurch Club put in an appearance, and joined in with the Cambridge Club, who have secured th 9 ground of the defunct Richmond Club. The play lasted for about an hour, and a capital practice wa3 obtained, the EasJ; Chri6cchurch men playing their younger rival?. Next Saturday the East Christchurch Club will play a picked fifteen against the rest of the Club. The Merivale Club had a fair muster, and had about an hour and a half's practice. The match was intended to be the probable Wellington fifteen against the rest of the Club, but as several of the fifteen were.absentj sides were chosen by Robinson and Hiddlestone, and the game ended in a win for Robinson's side by 2 ■goals and 1 try to 2 tries. The scoreß on Robinson's side were obtained by Crowe, who potted a goal, Plank and Lowry 1 try each, and from the latter's try a goal was placed. C. Read and Mountforb obtained the tries for the opposite side. Practice will he held every evening on Cranmer square this week, in view of the Wellington trip. The Club has obtained a large room in Mr Dombrain's buildings, Ca3hel street, for the use of members as a gymnasium, which will be opened this evening. This room should be a great boon to players, as it will enable them to train in a systematic manner, and with little trouble. The Linwood Club opened on their ground, situated on the* Canal Reserve, With a muster of about thirty members. This Club promises to have a very good junior team this season, as Price, Plunket, Bradford, Fuller, and Shand, formerly of East Christchurch have joined, and will play in the Club's colonrs this season.