OTAGO v. NEW SOUTH WALES.

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6544, 13 September 1886, Page 3

OTAGO v. NEW SOUTH WALES.

[run AssoctanoK tklxgbax.] DUNEDIN, September 11.

There waa a very large attendance at the football matoh between New South Wales and Otago to-day. The weather was excellent, and though • shower threatened at one time, it kept off. The ground th in capital condition, though the Sydney men appeared to find it slippery. The game was fall of excitement, though the incident* wete tco onesided to make it so interesting ac it would have been if the game had been closer. Both teams were heartily cheered on their appearance, and they took places as follows :— New Sooth Wales—Full back, Q. W. Walker; three-quarter back?, G. W. MacAxthur, £. Weaver, B. M. Blaxland ; half "iaoks, C. Y. Caird, P. Cjlquhoua ; forwards, A. Pearson, H. Head, **. Shortun, B. A. Werrin, F. B.loridge, T. P. Carr, J. DeLauret, J. Shaw (captain), and A. C. Wishart.

Otago—Full back, E. J. Austin; threequarter back/-, J. Bets, M. Boes, G. Millar; half backs, H. Fr&eer, J. B. Thomson ; forwards, James Allan. J. Hunter, T. Henderson, B. Mill, A. W. Morris, W. MoFarlane, W. Suosg, K. Martin, H. Tresseder.

Mr J. Austin umpired for New Smth. Wale*, Mr H. Boee for Otago, while Mr W. Wjinka waa referee.

Allan won the toae and elected <o defend the eastern goal, bat there wa3 no advantage, aa a light breeze only was blowing across the ground. Shaw was sufficiently recovered to play, and kicked off, but the Blues roan worked the bill into the niiton' territory. A long pass to Wearer reHevirg them slightly, BCruma followed, from which the Blues worked the ball to near the corner flag. After the thro* out a pass was made to Miller, who quietly potted a goal five minutes trom the ntait. Play was no sooner started than it was back in Sydney.! territory, but the Sydney men worked it back, andßeid emerged trom a scrum with I the ball at his toe, beiig slopped only in I froct of the Ot*go goat, which was the only time it was really in danger. A pass ! made to Blaxland only lost ground, as he I could not keep hie feat. He made a brilliant ran shortly alter, bat was brought doirn by Themaon. After some pley in the centre, the ball was worked into the visitor** quarters, and a kick by Thomson forced them down. Thie tcarceJy relieved them, for a return kick by Bjae brought it back again. Blazland and Shortu3 made a brilliant run, but each time they were collared, and the Oraga forwards carried the ball back again. Tnesamerrffcultiolloweda good run i>/ Walker, and near the visitors* flag apass to Mill, which he transferred to Bee, saw that player pot another goal seventeen minutes from the commencement of pl»y. Some long drop kicking followed and some scrums, and Walker not getting hold of the hall Allan was down I on him. dribbling along the touch line and over the goal line. The umpires decided, however, that Allan had gone •at of bounds. From a scram at the twenty-five fl&g, Martin emerg-d, and got over the line at the corner flag, but the try was disallowed After a scrummage Taomson passed, but Mactxthur aecured it and made a good run. It was soon back, but he and Blaxland by more good run* took the play into the Otago's quarter*. One of the beet runs of the day by Thomson cleared the ground, and the visitors were again threatened. Blaxland and Shortos made some excellent runs, responded to by Boss, who immediately from a pass made an excellent attempt at a pot, missing only by about a yard. The play was back in the visitors' territory almost immediately. A scrum at the twenty-five flag was carried by Otago, aad Thomson, securing the ball, got ores the line before the Sydney forwards realised the situation. Bat* was given the kick, and placed a neat goal, the Otago's tcor*. being 13 points, and only half an hour gone; Mew South Wales nothing. After some play, in which Colquboun made a serviceable run, a Blue lush was only stopped by Walker. Can relieved bis tide by a ran, But the play was in the visitor** quarters when halftimo was called.

Allan started the second spell by s good kick, which Waller did not return bo well. Sjnae wild pasting on the visitors' part kwt rather than gaiaed ground through a serviceable run on Bee's part. From tae serum Morris emerged and dribbled clote to the line, where a good pass to Walker enabled him to gsin some ground. The Bines were not to be denied, and rune by Allan, Bee and Boss took the ball to the corner flag. From the throw in a para was made to Strong, who straggled over the low with half a-doz-n hanging on to him, twelve minutes from the start of the second spell. Aβ it w*s under the goal poet Bee converted it iato a goal, making the Otago score 18 Play was almost immediately back in the same quarter after the kick off, and the visitors made a scram five yards from the line. From this a pass was made to Stroog in front of the god, but the leather did not rise when kicked, and Bjdney farced down. The relief was very temporary, for a grand run by Thomson, who passed to Kosk, brought tbe play baok to the same corner, where a maul in goal followed, and Walker rolled Strong out a tew yards. From the scrum that followed a pass was made to Miller, bnt again tbe leather did not ri«e, and Sydney was forced down. No sooner was play started than Thomson by a run and kick forced Sydney to touch down in self-defence. Again, it was set in motion, but again a rush of the forwards, which Syaney failed to stop, enabled Morris to dribble over and secure a try, which Bee again converted into a goaJ—Otago 23. New South Wake nothing. Play was back in the Hvdney quarters almost immediately, «d £»••* g***u»g the ball made a run, pat mopped it just on the line, and Sydney forced down. The visitors now pulled themselves together, Bhaw making a g"od fending run. Blaxland fallowed his example a little later, and paesed one after another of the Otogo backs. He even evaded Austin's loving embrace, but it w*s dose enou*hto cause him to lose his feet and the chance wss lost. Mscarthur made • brilliant run shortly after, but though nest of the Sydney men made desperate efforts to score, their opponents were too much for them, and a grand run by Ross only stopped in the nick of time, resulted in another force-down. A eerus of struma followed in the remaining few minutes, and when time was called the ttlmes were in dangerous proximity to the goal line, the match thus ending in a victory foe the local team by SS points to nothing.

The play of aome of the visitors w« brilliant throo«hoat; bnt they lacked oombiaatJoß. filazland, Ibeanhnr, Sbortu« aad Walker were rery prominent, while Shaw worked very hard. Otago's foil back never handled or kicked a ball throughout the game, and had only onoe to attempt to cellar. Of the local players, nesrly ail ahowed op welL but Bee by kicking three goals from place and potting another aad by hi« rune was Tery prominent. The rest of the Otago backs tnide good ruae, Thompson and Bobb especiaUy. The Sydaey team were entertained at a amoke oonoert this «Teniag. The following -p-atoely new team will play New South Wale* oa Monday iick J F«aa*ri three-quarter, Koacoe, H± Marsh and Soff, forwarf., Dougl". DraW^vft o - tain) Moniaon, Shepard, Teiaame and Wnght. WELLTNGTOSr. September 11. The heat for the senior f«* b £" c 1 ?P J* day between the Poneto and Welhagtoe dub* resulted ia a win for Poaeke by two tries to nIL