The regular season has opened most auspiciously for Canterbury clubs, and the results of the matches already played would seem to indicate a return to the strength of two or three years ago. Five matches, all against foreign club teams, have been played, and all have been crowned with success., Wellington has been defeated by Christchurch, Waihi by East Christchurch; whilst the Merivale club has beaten in succession, Oamaru, the Pirates and the Zingari. The first named match was an ap propriate introduction to the season. Pretty and scientific games are always played between the two club 3 in question and last Saturday's was no exception to the rule. The visitors came with a good reputation, having just defeated Poneke, and they seemed fairly con fident as to putting the Beds through this year. As I Indicated last week, on paper this result appeared pro bable, though at the same time I hinted that the Beds had a habit of showing up well when least expected. On Saturday they played remarkably well, having the best of three-fourths of the game, and winning finally just On the call of time. The great features of the game were the fine open forward play on both sides, and the really excellent punting and dropping of the backs. As a rule, whilst the for wards have the ball a game is somewhat uninteresting, not soon Saturday however. The foot work was splendid, and the rushes of the forwards were quite as interesting as any display amongst the backs could have been. It is rather invidious to mention names when all played so well, and my comparative ignorance of the person alities of several of the visitors prevented mc from accurately distinguishing their best performers. However, I noted Mor gan and Burns as doing good work, Smith as being conspicuous as ever in loose play, and Poutawera as giving something more than mere promise of being a player above the average. To Tumbuil and McKenzie, however, must be accorded the palm amongst the forwards on the ground. It is pleasing to find the former still on the i *var-path. There are few men his equals. ' The latter Will be a grand addition to our players. I believe he comes from Auck land, and has been a representative of that province. 