ATHLETICS IN CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 39, 25 April 1891, Page 2

ATHLETICS IN CHRISTCHURCH.

(from our own correspondent.)

With the conclusion of the Senior Cup match on Saturday last, the cricket season of 1891, and that for all summer athletic pastimes, may be said to have closed. Footballers, in their various colored jerseys, may now be seen on all the recreation grounds each Saturday afternoon, and in a week or so play will be in full suing. To fill in their spare time, the various clubs played friendly games on Saturday last, and some good play was the result. Merrivale (last years champion) had an exceeding warm time with Christchurch, and though they eventually ' came out victorious by 9 points to 6, the score by no means indicates the strength of the teams. Christchurch had all the worst of that important factor, “ luck,” and it was only superior condition on Merrivale’s part that enabled them to score on several occasions during the second spell. The only other game played was that between Canterbury College and Linwood, and after a really good game Linwood came off best by 5 points to 3. The result of this match was a great surprise as it was Linwoods first appearance in Senior matches. The club was only started five years ago, and during their first season they defeated all comers in the fourth fifteen ranks. Since then their progress has been very rapid, and last year while competing for the Junior Flag they went through the season without a single defeat. This year they have entered the Senior ranks and by defeating the College in the manner they did, have thus early given promise of being well up the list in Senior contests. The Association Football Club start playing next week, and it is quite on the cards that they will make a tour of the North Island in a few weeks. Whether Auckland will be included is very doubtful. Football matters in Otago are looking extremely healthy, and a good season is looked forward to. Dunedin has always been a football stronghold, and this year bids fair to be one of the best on record. Canterbury is also well to the fore and the first meeting of the two provinces will be sure to create great interest in football circles.