THE PLAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 209, 3 September 1900, Page 3

THE PLAY.

-First Spell.—Auckland Won the toss and elected to kick with the slight breeze that was blowing from nearly due east. As the teams lined out, it was seen that the Otago forwards had the*, advantage in weight, and this soon became apparent in the scrums. Murphy kicked off for Otago, 'and McGregor and Adams exchanged kicks. Riley marked near the Otago 25 line, but A. Wilson's kick waa unsuccessful. Kiernan passed to Riley, Who transferred to Harrison, but the Auckland captain kicked too hard and Adams forced. Kiernan initiated two more passing runs, but they were failure-, and Wallace relieved. Duncan looked dangerous on two occasions, ahd, Donovan mulling the ball both times, play was transferred to Auckland s territory, McGregor eventually forcing. The blue and white forwards worked the leather to half-way, but the blues returned to the attack, and Booth dribbled the ball across the line, Harrison just managing1 to force. Play continued to fluctuate between the half-way and 2. flags for some time, the backs frequently exchanging kicks. The blues, however, kicked too hard again, and Donovan fof fed. The Auckland forwards, headed by A Wilson, transferred play to Otago S 25 with a fine rush, where, after some passing between the Auckland backs, McGregor ran out near the corner flag. Stephenson, however, relieved from a scrum. From a scrum near the boundary line on the grandstand side, Kiernan made a fine opening for Harrison, who dashed along the line and was only stopped by Adams a few yards from the Otago line. The blues, however, transferred play to half-way again. After an exchange of kicks, play worked flown to the Otago 25 line, where Irvine secured from the throw In, and, running a few yard*, transferred to Tyler, who dashed across and drew flrst blood for Auckland amidst great applause. A. Wilson failed With the kick. Auckland, 3; Otago. 0. Encouraged by this score, the Aucklai»a forwards swept the ball over the line f-om the kick off, but Wa lace forced. Returning to the, attack again, some ex citing play was seen in Otago b r 25, but eventually McKenzie relieved. Wanace, Armstrong and Duncan got off some pretty passing, but the local deffflMW sound. A free kick to Otago tranf erred play to Auckland's quarters, but MC Gr/gor relieved, and the spell ended With the ball in neutral territory. Auckland, 3; OtagO, 0. ' Pouring rain, in the face of i U» Jlneand Whites, greeted the opening of the secona spell. Shortly after the ,kl ck-oft J. Bt-it, an Otago forward, was Injjired/^mson. retire, his place being filled by Adams^n When play was resumed, a *■»<*&/££ K-n-ie put the home team on the defe^ive and a loose rush by the bines carried tne ball dose to the line. Gallaher, however relieved. Then Auckland,. With a loose for ward rush, got close to the Otago line, «•>" McKenzie Stopped progress In the.nick ox time. A scrum was formed near the u» and Kief mm passed out to Doran, but tne wing man was brought to earth rignt on tlie line, and Otago saved by forcing. Otago then assumed the offensive, and «i long: aica by McKenzie forced the blue ™d whites^ Donovan made a weak retuinfrom an Otago kick, and the ball went; ou: atae *> lliie Duncan passed to McKenzie from tne \ne-out, and tne latter nearly got to. Tnree ■Mimfl were held right on the tme, oui $lson and Cunningham relieved -tne m. ahd white vanguard got ai«™ng rosn °h iaa invaded OtagO*- territory, but cross ahdVcKewen dribbled back to centre. Be*. twebthalf and quarter way, f "S^ to ed anc passed to Booth, who tionsrerieu *. McKeriSfe, and the latter beat Donovan ana

stumbled over the line. Hearty ___./...«- Otum ft _Bmp. °. goal- 3; !_-,_? '- , AucKland, roused by the score « S_ n. ed v SO-ousiy, and Kiernan h.aded a good rush, but -Sooth relieved ___tl_ waTl._ a/ iT Aut*llind* ,H side ofthe *U? _i-- ■• Dol-' un transferred the scene of -o__ _. * a lo, ng kick ' aa<* exciting play line Pl. _?» a,.5f, W yard. Xl'om the blue's »ne. the bait passed through several bunds but none of the blue and whites ME? ,CapaWe °f hol&ins "• Harrison had aud th_ r&-' but, lUo pafcS wus too low, tuSr fn__f n?nrt ,v,iioßt- TUe Wues cleared atfain *..-_'■ ~. play wcut t0 half-way ___*..__• i __ piay was iI(JW becoming most determined, each side imikin*** deal e__. f _.* forts to score. Kiley • picked" up^ nd.after making some ground passed to McPike who made a slushing r _ u Ullti ;;^ cll^d^tli. 0..^-' on.c the biu W e _ cieuieu their lines, and Auckland was shortly afterwards forced with a long kick U l tlUUea*.° hau« abo"t tue half way ,_,? T 1 _- neur the cali of time, when Dun tan Booth, and McKenzie took part in a good passing rush, and the latter was 2_ l'°T_ e o___.°fh. ,oimds U; lthln the ASdclana to- Ihe bell then rang, leaving the scoresAuckland ... ~ Ocugo j*