Football.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 63, 12 September 1887, Page 4

Football.

« CANTEEBUEY v. OTAGO. A DRAWN GAME. FBt Txlbobafh.] [tjnitid pei6B association.! Ohbistchdrch, 10th Septembor. The intorprovinoial football match between Canterbury and Otago was played this afternoon at Lancaster Park. The weather had been showery for the proceeding 84 honrs, but olearod up jnst before the match, and waa very favourable for a good game. Tho ground was the least bit soft, but was neither slippory nor heavy. A light breeze blew from the eastern goal at tho beginning of tho play, and freshened after ends were changed, which was a slight advantago to Canterbury. Holmore, Allardyoo, Moir, and Sutherland were nnable to play, bo that Canterbury, played hardly its strongest fifteen. Tresodor captained Otago and Beswiek Canterbury and Hunter and Helmore umpired for tho respective towns, with the Rev. J. Hoatson as referee. Canterbury kicked off toward the eastern goal. Aftor punts had been exchanged, Downes got the ball and made a good punt into touch. Some oloso work followed the throw in, and from a sorimmago Thomson got away with a good run, passing to Downes, who made a reckless and unprofitable shot at goal, foroing Canterbury down. Millar returned tho kick from the 25's to Homer, who dribbled it to the centre before Keogh intercepted it, he in turn being collared by Roborts, who was charged into touch. Canterbury then decisively carried several scrimmages, and took the play close up to the Otago line, bnt Millar with a clever a an a H2. dr °P sent tne ball past the centre flag. The game for 10 minutes after this became most exciting. Presently the oppoaineforwards invaded tho Red's (Canterbury's) tfrenty-fives, but Francis cleared his lines and exchanges of long punts ended withscrums in noutral ground. Roborts got a mark in the centre, but Thomson returned his drop so well that Canterbury were again placed on the defensive. Downes W d Millar and Francis and Hobbs did some fine kicking, and from a throw in at the Canterbury tweng.fives Millar had an absolutely clear field to run in, but wasted his opportunity in a bad drop at goal foroing^anterbnry down. A too hard kick by Fraser immechately afterward lost Otago another chance Canterbury foromg down again. More bie punting placod the Canterbury line once «oxe m danger, till Donnelly got away with

a grand run. Blanchard advanced still further, but tho Otago forwards rushed the hall back to noutral ground. Hobbn was soon in Otago qnnrtcvß aguin with a daHhinif rnn, and when Millar stopped him Donnelly took up the running and pn<i<=c<l to Francis, who was foiled in his drop, but forced Otago down for tho fir=t time. A little later Homer, with a wonderful rush, drove the ball ovor the Otago line, but, kicking too hard, lost it in touch-in-goal. Donnelly and Kobeitn kept up tho attack on the Otago goal aftor this, and tho latter got a good mark, but a place-kick by Francis failed. The Otago forwards carried the ball out of danger, and a very threatening rush, in which Martin was prominent, was stopped by Roberts at a critical moment. Out of this scrimmage Morris dribbled right up to the Canterbury goal, bnt Roberts again naved bis side with a punt into touch beyond the twonty-fivoa. Millar again lost a good chance to scoro by fumbling the ball, but a rush by tho Otago forwards took the ball up to tho Canterbury goalline, whoro a sorimmago took placo. The ball was kicked through sharply, and Millar, taking it cleverly this tiino, dropped a grand goal amidst cheers. The ball was near the Canterbury line when half-titno was called noon after. Canterbury opened the second spell with a resolute attack headed by Homer, Mountfort, and Blanchard, and after a scrimmage in Otago's twenty-fives, Roberts got over the line, but was collared, and D. Frasor secured tho ball after a short maul in goal with Bonn. Downos followed up the kick-off well, and being well supported passed all but the Canterbury full-back. Prosontly Hobbs mailo a long kick from tho Canterbury twenty-fives, and tho freshening wind carried the ball over tho Otago lino. Frasor, coining out, instead of forcing down, made a moss of his kick, and from a scrimmago on the goal-line Beswiok passed to Homer and Homer. to Roberts, who got safely in botween the posts. Francis placed an easy goal. The play after this was fast and exciting, and each sido was forced down. The Otagomen wero kept on the defensive. No further soore was made, and Millar and Diamond wero in possession of the ball of the Canterbury's lino when time was called. The match thus ended in a draw, each side scoring three points.