THE ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 214, 10 September 1896, Page 2

THE ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT.

AUCKLAND DEFEATS OTAGO.

(BY TEIiEOBAPH.—I'RKSS ASSOCIATION.)

' Donbpin, Wednesday. The firsb round of the New Zealaud Football Association Tournament was 'held today on the Caledonian Ground in the presence of a fair number of spectators. The day was perfecb, excepb tbab ib was rather boo warm for the playera. The match was between Auckland and Obago, and resulted in a win foi Auckland by 3 goals to nil. The visitors proved better individually, their combination was superior, and they had the advantage in height and weight, as well as speed. They wore as superior in defebce as they were in attack, Mr Nicklson made an efficient referee. Obago- played against a slight breeze in the firisb spell, and a few minutes after the kick-off the visitors swepb down with a dribble, and scored the first goal, ! Kober making a poor attempt to cave. By good combined play, Otago took.the play bo the viß»bors' quarters, bub Bmith relieved with a fine dribble. Play then wenb on in the visitors' territory, bub bhe combined play of Heather Brothers and Rice gained the visitors .a * cor-net,?, bub nothing Came of ib. Play went ;,o'p up and down the field for some time, neither side having the advantage until V. Heather dribbled up the line, and Smith scored»* necmwL «*>aWor .jAncktefldjah.The visitors continued to press, and obtained two corner kicks in quick succession. D. McMillan broke away brilliantly for Obago, bub waa well stopped by Todd, Smith and Heather did some fine passing and the local goal was again in danger. Kober smartly stopped a shot, bub fell, though bhe attempt to rush the goal failed. After midfiold play McLachlan wenb on to the visitors' territory and obtained a foul. Myers relieved Auckland and was mainly instrumental in obtaining a corner, bub nothing came of it. The slighb breeze which had been blowing died away in the second spell. After the kick off play was in Auckland quarters, bub from good play by,; Rice and Smith Obago's goal waa in dancer. McMillan relieved his side and Otago gained a corner, bub-nothing resulted. Fast play up and down the field followed, the local men playing better together. They invaded Auckland's territory and Adams had a shot ab goal, which waa stopped by Thomas, and then Spraggon had a long shot ab the visitors' goal. Fine kicking relieved the viaitora, who in return got a corner kick, bub D. McMillan and McLachlan were again pressing the visitors, and bhe latter made a beaubitul shot, which struck the inaido of the goal posb, bub in some mysterious way the ball did not go through. The visitors cleared'the line and Otago goal-keeper had an anxious few minutes, but Wabeon and Bunting playing well together, menaced the visitors' goal, which Adams shob ab. Combined play carried the ball into Otago quarters, where the slowness of the local team in kicking enabled Bice to shoot another goal for Auckland; The visitors continued to press after the kick oub, and bad several shots, which Kober stopped. McMillan had a shob which went a trifle wide. . McLachlan, Spraggon, Adams, and Spraggon again had successive shots, but without effecb, and time was called with the play in the visitors' quarters. Of the visitors Chamberlain, Smith, Heather, Todd, and Dacre. were, perhaps, the best. The looal team snffered severely through P. M,cMillan being taken ill, thus breaking up the combination of the three brothers, on which so much reliance wae placed. The two who did play, with Spraggon, who took the other brother's place, were mosb conspicuous. '." " . ■>..■-.■. «,■ ' i Auckland and Wellington meet for the final on Saturday.