OTAGO v CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9836, 20 September 1897, Page 6

OTAGO v CANTERBURY.

(PBESS ASSOCIATION' TELEGRAM.)

DUNEDIN, September 18.

Owing to the rain of last night and this morning it was decided to play the Canter-bury-Otat;o football match on the Caledonian ground, which proved to be in good order, though a trifle greasy in places. There was a large attendance, larger than last Saturday, and from the »tart Canterbury players had their sympathy, every bit of good play on the Reds' part being cheered and applauded long before the local men asserted their superiority, which they did to the tune of 20 points to 6 points. Mr A. Mcßobie (Invercargill) ruled the game strictly and satisfactorily, and the feeling and play were in marked contrast to those of the previous Saturday. Otago (Blues) defended the goal at the harbour end, and Canterbury (Reds) had a slight advantage. After the kick-off, from a free kick for off-side pay by Given, Fitzgerald attempted to place a goal from near half-way, but the kick was charged down. In the loose play which followed the Reds had the advantage, and they swept into Otago's twenty-five, but a free kick forced them back. Passing runs by the Otago backs, in which Fell was prominent, took the ball right up to the Reds' line, and in the loose play which followed Duncan picked up and scored. The kick at goal fell short. In some loose play which followed the kick out Canterbury was forced by a kick, and after that Glennie stopped a dan"erou3 looking Blue rush by intercepting a pass very smartly and took play to the centre. Here some loose open play resulted in the Reds getting away, but they were well stopped by Arinit. Wood failed to take a free kick, and the Reds sweeping down the field had a certain score, but Fitzgerald instead ot <»oin<r on passed badly, and the Blues were able "to save by kicking out of bound?. The visitors were not to bo denied, and in a sweeping rush, in which Menzies was prominent, that player scored a try. Fitzgerald's kick did not improve matters and the score was oven. This woke up the Otago players, who opened up and with a fine passing run by the backs swept up the field. A free kick gave Canterbury only temporary relief, for the ball going to Wood that player instead of passing to Fell, who was well watched, made his own opening byrunning through the forwards and the backs and scored. He took the kick himself but failed to convert. Tho play which ensued on the kick out was mo3tly about the centre and was very exciting. The Blue forwards secured the ball oftenest and some fine runs were put in by the backs, Fell and McAra eventually going right up to the Canterbury line, where after a while Duncan was again able to score. Priest's kick did not improve matters. Shortly afterwards half time was called. Canterbury was forced down in a few minutes after the kick off and then their forwards swept into the Blues' territory with a fine loose rush only to be forced back. The Blue backs again got in some machine-like passing runs, and Fell got over at tho corner, but the referee decided the pass to him was forward. This gave no relief to Canterbury, for no sooner was play started than Masou, picking up smartly, passed to Fell who was over at the same place. Priest was again unsuccessful with the kick. After the kick out tho Canterbury forwards again swept into the Blues' territory, and in some loose play Glennie, picking up smartly, sent the ball on to Menzies, who was brought down by Fell within two or three yards of the line. This was hard lines for Canterbury, for Menzies was little more than barely touched. Canterbury now put Johnstone as an extra half-back, and for some minutes their backs were very aggres sivc. With some pretty ploy the Blues gained some ground, but the Red forwards rushed the ball back, and in some fast open play Menzies marked a kick by Mason in front of the Otago goal, but it appeared there had been some off-side play before that. Fitzgerald took the kick and safely piloted the ball between the posts. The next piece of play was a fine run by Mason, Duncan and Woods, which O'Brien put a stop to in fine style, but the Reds were still in difficulties, and from another passing run Armit scored after a brilliant run. Just after this Fitzgerald was hurt, but resumed play, and Canterbury got on a good forward rush, and were pressing for some time, but more passing by the backs gained a lot of ground for the Blues, and eventually Fell made a run in which he walked away from the Canterbury backs, and running round touched down near the posts, Mason kicking an easy goal—Otago 20 points (one goal from a try and five tries) to 6 points (one penalty goal and one try). Nothing of note occurred in the few minutes' play which followed before the call of time. The Canterbury players were heartily cheered on leaving the field of play, and another wae given by the crowd for the Referee. The Canterbury forwards had the best of the open play, though occasionally their combination was at fault, but they were beaten in the scrum, and when they did get the ball in the first spell they were afraid to let it out. Frost and Fitzgerald were the most prominent, closely followed by Ebert and Evans. O'Brien did a lot of saving work among ths backs, and Menxiea was good, while Price and Glennie were fair. Lorimer and Middleton were a weakness in the back division. Of the Otago forwards, Priest and Given were the most prominent. Of a brilliant lot of backs Fell w s the pick, and tie is probably the be3t attacking three-quarter in the colony. Hia weakness is defence, and this kept him out of the matches against Southland and Wellington. McAra, Wood and Mason played well, and Duncan did a lot of work. Armifc was erratic. Ross, as full back, had little to do. The game was a most pleasant one to watch, and was very much faster than the one against Wellington of the previous week. From the demeanour of toe crowd it is safe to say that a Canterbury win would hava been very popular.