FOOTBALL.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8167, 26 April 1895, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

By Fitz.

The football Reason in Oarmru was p-opor'.y commenced yesterday afternoon, when tho various olubsall pr icl'ictily held their npening matches. The ejuno is going aheid in North O ago, and this year some good coutes s should be witnessed between the Feninr*, at anyrate, as I fancy the retina will be more evenly matched. The Athletics have held tho upper hand for some yours ; but this year the Oamaru are much stronger, and, therefore, I expect to sco Borne very interesting gam j s between thepo two old aivagonists in the football field. The Excelsior Club (started last year) have boen admitted to tho roll of tho Otago Rugby Union, and, ns its membors raado a capital stand last yetr against tho seconds of the seniors, they should prove very tough opponents ag*in this year, and with plenty r.f practice and tra'ning, I expect to see them give a very good account of themselves during the season. Most of their bint you'd players are again to the fore, and somo of these juniors have the stamina of coining player*, and many of them will soon be joining either of tho senior clubs. Last season the game went ahead in Oamaru, and this year it ngain promise? to be brisk, and I trust matches will be frequent and interesting, so that the football loving publio, who support the game in Oamaru, may enjoy this favorite winter recreation. The first match of the season will be pluyeJ, I understand, on May 16, tho week before the Queen's Birthday. On tho Utter day (24 h May) the Athletic and Oamaru Clubs play their annual fixtures — the former with the Zingari-Richmond Club in Dunedin, and the latter with tho Union Club, at Oamaru. Tho two local clubs, in my opinion, ot !y want a little more coaching in tho finer points of tho gtmo, combined with good musters at their pmotioea and plenty of training to enable them to carry off tho honors of their foreign fixtures. lt> would bo a very good thing were both clubs this year, just by way of variation of the past state of foreign matches, to win thorn both. I trust both clubs will go in for consistent and assiduous practice, and make themselves worthy and tough opponents. Tho Excelsior Club will, I believo, also play a foreign ma eh at Oamaru on the 24th. A club has been started at Kurow this year, and has been admitted to the Rugby Union membership. On its roll I notice the names of m-my old Oamaru footj bailers, notably Messrs Barclay (2), Procter, Forens, and others. I hopa to see tho Oamaru Clubs playing matches with the Kurowttes as soon as possible. True, Kurow is a good distance away ; bub matchos might be arranged for date* suitable for the clubs engaged. With the experience of the 0 imaruvians, the Kurow Club should prove very formidable opponents, and payers can recall old associations in tho gurnet phyyd at Oimaru in the p<sr. May the Kurow Club flourish. The affiliation question has been settled to the satisfaction of the majority of footballers in North Otago, ana this thould have a tendency to increase the interest in tho game, and is likely also to increase the number of foreign matches in Oamaru. The annual fixture between North Otago and South Canterbury, which was not played last year, can again be brought forward, and I trust the executives of the Oamaru Cluba will keep this in view, and endeavor to have this ma'ch played later on in the season. Three matches have boen played between these districts, two being won by South Canterbury and one by North Otago. This year, if the arrangemonts are satisfactorily effected, it will be the northerners turn to pay Oamaru a visit ; and I need not say they will be very cordially received. However, I hope tho game will be played. The Association (White Star) Club is still going ahead ; but it would bo much better wero there two plubs, instead of only one, in Oamaru. Apart from this, however, their membership is a strong one, and they should be enabled, provided they go in for plenty of practice— and they generally do 00-^to put a very strong eleven in the field against a foreign combination.

The Athletics and Excelsior hold a combined practice on the Old Cricket Ground yesterday, which was only moagerly attended. The players of the former club must roll out to practice if they want to keep up their prestige in the football field. Somo of the playerß showed that they had not forgotten how to handle the ball, but the attendance was very boor indeed of both clubs. I trust both clubs will roll up muoh stronger next week. The Oinuru Olub played a practice match on tho Norih Road Ground yeatorday, when there was a fair turn-out, some eleven a side taking part in t\]O gamo. This being tho beginning of the season, the play was nod tjrat-elass, but some of the players showed good form, while others g-ive signs that sstying power was lacking. A number of last yeaVs second fifteen players are evidently going to give the first fifteen men a run for place* this year, judging by their form of yesterday. I hope to ccc a larger turn-out next week. The ground is in capital phying order, nob being too hard. The game was between captain and deputy-oaptain, and the former's iid« won. The White Star Association Olub held ft pnofcioe matoh ybtterday, when sidea were chosen by the captain and deputyo»pt»in. The game, which wa» a vtfr

pleasant one, resulted in a tie, eaoh aido (•coring three r< als. It is to to be hoped (hat there will bo a full muster noxt Thursday, in view of a probable match with « Dunedin club nhortly.