OTAGO v AUCKLAND.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9520, 12 September 1896, Page 2

OTAGO v AUCKLAND.

[By T-Xrgraph From Our Own Correspond-***..]

The third and last of the representative ! football matches fixed to take place this season between Auckland and . other j provinces was decided at Epsom on Satur- \ day, when our reps met the chosen j fifteen of Otago. The weather was beautifully fine till the conclusion of the match, and nothing stood in the way of there being an interesting exposition of the Rugby game. About 5000 people were ' present. In addition to its being Auckland's third interprovincial match, it proved also to be their defeat by 8 points (a goal and a try) to nil. After having a good deal the best of the game, the Otago team proved, without doubt, to be superior to the local one, and they well merited their win. Their backs were a smarter lot by a good, deal; they knew the game better, and were much more reliable in defence. Auckland,

however, proved to be possessed of m tin » if not better, forwards, and three timesoS of four Auckland got the ball f rom _. scrum, though the opportunities tbe looj backs thus got were seldom taken f„|i advanUge of. Had it not been for _i_ smartness of the local forwards in .„• respect the Otago score would have p.ob»b|» been twice as much, for the passing, running and kicking of the visitors' baoks we*,' excellent. The effect ot one aido playi n _ with three halves and no wing forwards while the other played with only one half and two wing forwards, was watched *'n, interest. The former's forwards proved t_ be a good deal more useful than the latter"*, and it was, in fact, one of the reasons wb> the Otago backs did better than ours. Intbg line work the Otago forwards usually b_a the Blue and Whites, but excepting t tendenoy to loaf whenever the ball got be. hind them the local forwards were more conspicuous for good play in the than open ths visitors. Of the local backs the beat were Smith, the full buck, and Edmunds, tin half, though Wyny.ml, Absolum and q. Smith also played serviceable games, ii th*- two latter had taken more advantage of the touch lino in kicking they would have been of more service, Elliot played a poor game and apoi'j many of the best chances Auckland had. Among the forwards Whitley McKeimo, and F. and P. Murray were the best. Regarding the Auckland team as « whole, the only opinion I can come to now that the 1896 season has practically con. eluded and with the record of tho past four or live seasons before us, is that football in Auckland is not what it was nine or ten years o. From whatever cause the standard has evidently degenerated. Up to 1892 Auckland could boast of as good representatives as any of the other provinces, but now it is absolutely lust. Since 1893 the Auck. land Union has not won a single interprovincii] contest excepting against some of the second. Tate provinces. The district gome w*introduced in 1892, and since tho beginning of that year tho standard of football in Auckland has been distinctly lowered. Since that time Auckland has played eleven matches, and won only two, while they have lost eight and drawn one. i Mr A. Campbell, of Wellington, acted at referee on Saturday, but his decisions were not satisfactory. The fairnoßs of his [ decisions in the case of Olago's first try in particular is decidedly questionable. McLaren was playing off-side nearly the I wholo game, and on this occasion ha was fully ten feet off-side. The ball was kicked by I Stephenson, and without striking any Auck- [ laud player was caught by McLaren, whs ran behind the posts. If he was on-side McLaren must be a smarter runner than lis has the credit of being. On other occasions, too, the referee showed an inability to watcli the game as ho should have done.