INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 186, 19 August 1901, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL

CANTERBURY. DEFEATS OTAGO.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, Saturday

The Canterbury-Otago interprovincial football match was played to-day on the Caledonian Ground, which was in good order. Canterbury (red) won the toss and played with the wind m the first spell. The struggle against the heavy pack no doubt took a good deal out of Otago and except for the last ten minutes the game was not very exciting. Canterbury made the play as tight as possible while the blues strained every nerve to make it open and fast. Duncan played a wonderful game rind with Armstrong nipped in the bud many of the Canterbury rushes. He was everywhere, and his collaring, kicking and charging down on the opposing backs were mainly responsible for the visitors not showing to better advantage. He got his men together in the last ten minutes and had decidedly bad luck that some of his cleverly organised tactics did not result in a score. from the kick off play settled about the Otago 25 flag, the home team bein°- forced. The kick out did not relieve them much, and Ormandy securino- a mark Harper made a somewhat indifferent attempt to place a o-oal. The blues then got on a loose rush and went on to the reds' 25, but a free kick to the reds saw play settle ao-ain about Otago's 25 flag. Hera there was more tight work, and then Harper getting the ball from a scrum made an unexpected long pass to Ormandy The Otago full-back made a poor attempt at collaring and Ormandy slipped quietly round him and scored the first and only try. Harper failed to enhance the score. Despite Duncan's efforts to open up the game play was for some time very uninteresting until Uttly made a high kick m front of his own goal, which Harvey cleverly marked. Harper was again at fault with the kick. For the rest of the spell Otago were on the defensive From Canterbury's kick off rtJ with the breeze in their favour, Otago, With the d territory an d

play centred for some time. Line out and scrum work followed for some minutes and then the reds with a. fine rush invaded the Otago 25, but the blues soon cleared their lines. The blues swept clown the ground, and were pressing Canterbury hard, but over eagerness gave the visitors freo kinks three times in quick succession just in the nick of time. Duncan, handling hi* men well, got back ou each occasion, and Hennetl had a shot at go'dl, but he waa not successful. In the Canterbury 25 Armstrong whipped out the ball to Duncuu, and he passed to Bennett, who sent Ihe leather on to Booth, who had a clear Held, but failed to take the b»all. Huvhauan Failed to take the ball from a kick near the corner, when a score appeared certain if hi* had succeeded. The blues once more returned to the a Hack, but a kick by Canterbury finding the touch]ine the bell sounded no time, and Canterbury thus won by "3 points to nil.