CANTERBURY V. OTAGO.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 206, 29 August 1904, Page 3

CANTERBURY V. OTAGO.

A DISAPPOINTING DISPLAY. OTAGO, 20 POINTS; CANTERBURY- 9(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CEnSTCHUBCH, this day. Saturday's match between Canterbury and Otago was one of the most uninteresting of the important games played in Christciiurch for a long time. With tnr wind in their favour in the first spell the local team gave a very poor exhibition, and missed many opportunities of scoring. In the second spell they played with more ; Ttgour, but were quite unable to preveut their opponents from scoring repeatedly. Many oi the forwards played sluggishly, and the backs were without combination and method, and handled the ball budly. The visitors, after playing a good defensive game in the first spell, took full advantage of the fresh breeze behind them in the second. Their forwards were at least as good as the local vaiigiiuid. uud their backs were safe, faster, and Iv every respect much superior. The decisions of Mr Morris, who acted as referee, did tiot give b.v any means unqualified satisfaction. The teams were:— Otago: Fullback, Kindley: three-quarters. Baxter, Booth, (iilray ; live-eighths. Bolt aud King; half back, Jlnni-o; forwards, Casey, Spiers, I). Stuart, MeDouald, Abbott, Johnston, C. Stewart, Portc-ous. Canterbury: Fullback, Love; threequar- ! ters, Menstes, Harper, Lavcry: fiveeighths. Deans and H. W. Byrue; hiilf, back, P. Byrne; forwards, Corbett, Shannon, Fanning, Newtou, Pearce, Bniusden, j Denhtun, Roddick. THE GAME. Lavery won the toss and Otaga kicked off against the wind. Good line work by the Otago forwards took the ball to the Canterbury 25. From a scrum the Ouit;o forwards btoke away, but kicked too hard, and Deans secured a mark withii) easy range, Harper just failing at goal. Roddick and Brunsdcn were prominent in another attack on the Otago line. Gilray saving well. An interception by Porteoos spoiled the Canterbury passing that followed, and the Otago captain made touch just outside the 25. A dribbling rush by the Canterbury vaujjmird' had Booth and Kindley in trouble, but the attackers refused to t?'*J advantage af the opportunity, and Monro relieved by a g-ood kick. lloddick broke away, but was collared by Kindley when looking dangerous. Loose ptay followed in front of the Otago goal, and Lavery foolishly potted, forcing the visitors. Roddick and lirunsdeu led a dangei-ous rush for Centeßtwry, but Gilray saved well and plax centred. Fast following up by Roddick resulted in his charging a kick by Kiudley, and tha ball ri-bounded over tlie Otago line, but Ghray piovid faster than the Canterbury man. and forced down. A loose rush by Otago btought play back to centre, but the nome team qnHkly returned to the attack. From a scrum just inside the Otago '2~> 11. Byrne ran rooml. beating tyro or three men. aud passed to Deans, the ball dropping at his feet. Kicking gently, he followed up fast and snapped up the ball ugaiu, dashing over the Utapi line. Harper kicfceJ a fliie borl. Ou resuming Otago more than held tl*eit awn, rushing the bal! to within ten yards of Cantorbury"s lint', wbere loose irfay followed. Johnston picked up, arid making a good run passed tv w-ho jost «ot over the line. * Booru kicked a fine goal, and half time wxis called with the store: Canterbury a. Otago 5. With the wind behind them in the second spell th«? Otago mriu started w<»ll, and a long kiefc by G-Qray tot play to the Cauterbry 2T>. Denbam. Corbett. aud Roadiok led n rush into Gtufjo's territory, but the opposing forwards still went wetl in the loose, and rnshed the tnill back. Denharn aitd Brniisden were prominent in shifting the play, but Stuart, Abbott, aiitl Stewart worked tbelr way back, and Muuro, by kJ-'kicK. further improved' Otago's position. Passing between and Harper saw the latter nearly in and from a second attHinjjt al passing U. liyrae was posbed into touch-to-goal. The Canterbury forwards coutin-ued to carry the scrmns, aud kt'pt the Otago backs bu.>iy, but Baxter kicked hard down tte -field, where Low attempted to run, but passed wildly. Gtlray snapped up the ball and ran in, scoring an easy try uuder the posts. Booth kicked a goal. Following the kick-out Fanning broke away from a loose scramble, and ran to the Otago 25. but the visitors' forwards came back with the ball at their feet, and Baxter kicked to the Canterbury 2f>. A free kick gave the home team relief, but passing between King, Muuro, ami Gilray kept Canterbury on the defensive, and a loose rush following the ball wus kicked over Canterbury's line, Booth fell on it and converted the try. The Otajro backs got several openings cring to the forwards beating Cauter-btu-y for tho ball In the scrums, bin the passing was wretehotl and little ground was gained. Finally Stewart broke uway from tho line out and ran rigb*. throngh the Canterbury backs, but the i.ry was disallowed, the ball having been thrown in from the wrong place. The home team was now absoJctely disorganised, and the ball i was soon on their line again, the Otago forwards having matters all their own way. A scrum was formed od the line, and though the bail wae apparently never in the scrum Porteons snapped .t up and fell over the Bm\ a try being allowed. Booth kicked a fine goal. Dm* ing the last two mhiates neither side eoultl H-irini any advantage, and time was calleii play at half way, Otago winning by 20 points (four goals from tries) to i) points (a goal from a. try and a srnal from v ruarfci.