FOOTBALL.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1282, 29 April 1878, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

The members of the Christchurch Football Club mustered in strong force on Cranmer square on Saturday afternoon to take part in the opening match of the season. The weather was all that could bo desired, and, as is usual, a good number of spectators were present to watch the progress of the game. The match was an alphabetical one —A to L vM to Z—the respective sides being captained by Messrs Evans and L, M, Ollivier. The ball was kicked off shortly after three o’clock, and though some of the players appeared rather reluctant at first to enter heartily into the game, the majority quickly warmed up to their work, and it was not long before the game was being contested with the usual amount of energy and spirit that characterises a genuine love of football. In point of numbers the red and black (A to L) was much more strongly represented than the blue and white (M to Z), but both the back and forward play of the latter was superior to that of their opponents, consequently they were enabled to hold their own successfully for a very considerable time. Eventually, however, the reds forced the ball over the blue’s goal line, the latter touching it down in selfdefence. After this the ball was kept pretty well in mid-ground tor a long period, the game being contested on both sides with a considerable amount of spirit and determination. Several times the reds’ goal was in considerable danger, but the blues could not succeed in taking the ball over the lino. A very fine dribble on the part of Atack nearly resulted in a touch-down, but J. Million put himself in the way, and quickly returned the ball to a safer part of the field. During the latter part of the final spell extra numbers seemed to tell against the blues, the ball being kept continually in their ground, and several times sent dangerously close to their goal lino, Dobson got a good chance, and tried to drop a goal. The hall however fell underneath the rope, and the blues again touched it down in selfdefence. Soon after this A. Anderson made a good try, but again the bull fell short, and was quickly taken by the blues into midground, and kept there till time was called, when a capitally contested game resulted in favour of the A to L side by two force-downs to fill. The club may be congratulated on tha success of the opening match, both as regards the attendance of members, and the spirited manner in which the game was played. A few new faces were noticeable amongst those who took part in the game, but beyond augmenting the numerical strength of the club, they did not present any very noticeable feature, though of course it is too early in the season to be able to judge fairly of their merits. As yet no of matches has been arranged, but when it is done it is to bo hoped that high up in the list will be mentioned the return contest with Dunedin, and it is fondly hoped by all genuine and patriotic lovers of football in Christchurch that the defeat of last year will be wiped off at no very distant date.