FOOTBALL.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10130, 1 September 1898, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

OTAGO V SOUTHLAND. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) INVERCARGILL, August 31. The football match Otago v Southland ended in a win for Southland by a try to nil. Two thousand persons; were present. Heavy rain fell in the morning, bnt the weather cleared up at noon, and during the game it was fairly fine. The ground was somewhat heavy. The Otago forwards generally had the advantage in the scrums and the line up, but their backs missed some good opportunities, and their passing was inferior to that of the local men, especially amongst the five-eigh' hs, Duncan and Sinclair suffering by comparison with Ward and Stead. The letter's splendid defensive work was undoubtedly responsible for the victory. Mason was the most prominent of Otago's backs,- Armit and Stephenson rarely getting the ball. It was generally admitted that the best side did not win. The visitors were aggressive almost the whole of the second spell. Southland's score was obtained ten minutes before the call of time, and was the outcome of a long kick by Bain, Murphy following up and pouncing on the ball near the corner flag. Towards the finish Otago made great, but unavailing, efforts to score.