ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1226, 7 September 1911, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

RUGBY FOOTBALL. OTAGO DEFEATED BY AUCKLAND. d •t ° SPIRITED OPENING. THE REST OF THE PLAY TAME. ( '| IBs Telegraph.—Press Associations e Dunedin, September G. Tho Auckland-Otago football match was " played at the Caledonian Ground to-day s in perfect weather, before an attendance n of about 4000 people, and resulted in a win for the northerners by 9 points to 3. The game ilas a very hard one, the for- , wards on both sides being taxed, but it was not a very brilliant exposition. Tho t Otago backs did not play up to the ex--0 eelleni form of their forwards, who, in * tho first spell, secured the ball from the c scrums on nearly every occasion. When r the ball came out. to tho Blues' backs, y however, they generally made some misil take at the' critical 'moment, and tho s Auckland vanguard immediately swarmed if into tlio breach. The Auckland backs were also found wanting at times, but t the spectators were shown a splendid exi. hibitiori of line-kicking, especially by s O'Leary and Murray.' On the run of „ tile play, the scoro hardly indicates the e respective merits of the two sides, though tho visitors showed a slight superiority. ti Tlio Only "Purple Patch." h _ Tho game opened in sensational fashion. The Otago forwards at once rushed i- play to the Auckland line, and, from a n scrum, Sutherland, Black, Eckhold, and Norrie got on a. passing-rush, the Instil named being collnrcd by O'Brien, but f falling over the line. Otago, 3; Auckland, '- nil. )• Almost at once Auckland wiped this deficit out. From a line-out in Otago's d twenty-five, O'Leary showed tip with a good run, cutting out most of the opposid tion, and giving M'Gregor a clear run o in. Three all. This was a rather brila liant beginning, for the game was still d only two and a half minutes old. 0 Norrio now stopped n strong Auckland forward rush, and then, from a scrum y in the Blues' twenty-five, Otterson sent out to Murray, to M'Gregor, who badly beat M'Donnld and Williams, and then "hurdled" the full-back, Watson, and scored near tho corncr. Auckland, 0 points; Otago, 3 points. Tho forwards on both sides were now d playing very keenly. Norrio fumbled and i_ let Wolfgramm to the centre, but Watson t drove back a good rush, and, shortly t, after, Eckhold charged down a kick by t Murray, and cut through to the Auckj; land line. O'Brien, however, gained 20 yards by. a fine ,line-kick, but Auckland s were soon again busily defending. 'A y series of kicks between the backs ended in s Murray finding tho line just outside tlio' r Blues' twenty-five, and O'Learv then mado y a good attempt to pot. The Otago hacks now tried passing, but tho rush broke t down at Williams, who, however, carried t on tho effort with a nice dribble, O'Brien r forcing just in time. The Otago forwards .. now attacked strongly, but could not score, and Rosmusseri at this stage got B a kick oil the head and had to retire, j M'Guire taking his place. M'Gregor and s O'Leary gradually changed tho vonuo to tho Otago line, and O'Leary again potted j unsuccessfully. Give-and-take play followed, and then Norrio cut off a pass, g ran fifty yards, and, beat O'Brien, but j Murray raced round,' and collared him before ho could get across. j The Second Spell, 1 In the second spell tho Auckland ior--1 wards started off with a rattle, but pre--1 sently tho burly Patterson headed a re--1 lieving rush. For about twenty, minutes, 1 however. Otago had all tho worst of tlio duel. Hard kicking by tho Otago van- - guard- took play to the ccntre, and tho Ofago backs passing nicely, carricd play 3 to tho twenty-five, and then Paton just 1 missed placing a penalty, goal. Play i surged backwards and forwards, and fin- . ally Otago wero forced by a hard kick 3 By .M'Gregor. The game then swung s round, and loft Otago in a favourable - position. Norrio missed a pass, but i dribbled through past O'Brien, and, going i on, picked up and crossed tho line, but - ho had knocked on, and was called back. From a lino-out, tile Otago backs. tried 1 passing, but the effort broko down, and - Murray cut in and ran to tho Blues' s twenty-five. Hayward then headed an ir- . resistible combined forward rush which - swept away all opposition in front of 1 Auckland, and enabled them to put on the last try. Auckland, 9 points; Otago, 1 3. The bell sounded shortly afterwards. ! UNEXPECTED RESULT.' j ; TAR AN AKI BEATEN AT GREY- ' MOUTH. t • (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ' Greymouth, September G. I Much interest was evinced here in tho ? football match Taranaki v. West Coast. : The day was beautifully fine, and tho atI tendance was estimated at 2000. Tho , game was particularly interesting throughl out, tho Coast being tho victors by mno points (three tries) to eight (two tries, one converted). The locals showed splen- ' did combination, and gavo the best exhibition ever seen here. Tho average ' weight of the West C-oasters was list. ; 111b., and Taranaki averaged 12st. 71b. ! Tho visitors were tendered' n complimentary banquet bv the West Coast Rugby Union to-night. They leave for Christchurch to-moTrow morning. ; AUCKLAND TO BE STRENGTHENED. FOR WELLINGTON MATCH. (By Tclcernpli.—Press Association.) Auckland, September G. The Auckland team to meet Wellington at Wellington on Saturday will bo strengthened by tho inclusion of Cunningham and Sellars, who are leaving by to-morrow evening's Main Trunk train in order to take part in tiio match. These ■ players will considerably strengthen tlio Auckland pack. Cunningham is a master lock, whilo Sellers and Herring combino well. Tho pack will bo absolutely liie' best that Auckland can place in' tho field. CUT THE ENGLISH PAINTER, (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Dunedin, September fi. Speaking at tho dinner to the Otago and Auckland footballers this evening, Mr. F. H. Campbell (president of the Otago Union) expressed the opinion that tho only way to control the liugby gamo in New Zealand was to get away from the English Union. He had been satisfied for a long time that they could run their own gaiuo in New Zealand. WELLINGTON RUGBY UNION." A meeting of the Wellington Rugby Union was held last night. Mr. E. O. Hales presiding. The Oriental Club was granted permission for its fourth-class team to play the Palmorskm North third-class team on Saturday next at Palmerston North. The Horowhonua Rugby Union wrote to thank the Wellington Union for (lie "hospitality and courtesy" extended to their junior representatives during their recent visit to Wellington. Respecting a protest by the Tramway Club that the Permanent Force Football , 01 ub had played Saturday juniors in a , AYodnesday competition match, the Per- ' manrnt Force Club wrote that they had . received no written instructions regarding ; the playing of Saturday juniors, nor of j tho granting of permits for tiio.ni to play •, in the Wednesday competition. _ They , wero of the opinion that tho playing of j Saturdav juniors was Quito legal, and knew nothing of the granting of such permits. The explanation was accepted. It: was decided that Mr. Talbot should accompany the Wellington team to Marlborough as manager, and that .Air. Little should manage tho southern tour. The ehariiv match is to ho played on .Yu»nst 23. Challenges are to be invited. Tho Wellington Referees' Association j, asked for a donation towards the enter- j taining expenses of the Manawatu re- ij forces' visit. It was decided to reply ' that tho union regretted it could not j nuiko a donation. a A fifth-class 1 oiicke player named Gran ham was before the union for having dis- 0 puted a referee's decision. It was de- Cl cided to severely caution him. v