FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 6689, 25 September 1882, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

NEW SOUTH WALES v. OTAGO. THE OTAGO MEN VICTORIOUS. WHITED PBESS ASSOCIATION Dunedin, September 24. Saturday was not at all a football day. All the morning there was heavy wind, and once a smart shower occurred. In the afternoen the wind remained, but happily ; the rain kept off. The wind was strong, cold, and gusty, consequently football could only be played at a disadvantage. However, in spite of the unpleasant weatner, about 2500 spectators found their way by team to Mosgiel, on the Taieri Plain, about tea miles from Dunedin, where the match, New South Wales v. Otago, came off. Toe New South Walee team is now well enough known. The Otago team was thus composed ; Full-back Kose, ■ three quarterbacks Crawshaw and Murray ; half-backs W. Allan and Taiatoa ; forwards Jas. Allan (captain), Jas. Allan, Austin, Brown, Chapman, Fowler, Fox, Haines, Nicolls, and Wyiuks. Mr Lewin, of Christchurch, umpired for Sydney, Mr Robertson for Otago, and Mr Dixon acted as referee. The game was played in two spells of forty-five minutes each. The Dunedin Captain set the ball roiling, and for a time the game was veiy fast. Otago kept the ball right up to the Sydney goal, and presently it was. driven over, but a touch-down claimed was not allowed. Shortly after another touch-down was claimed with the same result, but after considerably strong opinions were expressed about the decision, play was proceeded with, never leaving the Sydney quarters. Bayliss eventually panted the ball well down to the centre of the ground, and after loose scrimmaging, in which the Otago forwards were always victorious, Flynn got it away, and made a couple of good runs, the latter of which looked dangerous, but Crawshaw collared him beautifully. For some time tbeu the play was pretty even, Raper doing some excellent work in the loose fights, an 1 Graham besides being particularly noticeable ; but the Otago forwards soon rallied, and carried the leather right down to the opposite goal Crawshaw got it acr es, amidst loud cheering. The kick was a difficult one, right in the teeth of the wind. Taiaroa tried it, bnt failed, and only a try (2 points) was scored to Otago. Subsequently Sydney had to force down, and, directly after, time was calle 1 ; the first spell thus ended with a score of one try to nil in favor of Otago. The second spell gave Otago the benefit of the wind to some extent. After the kick-off, for a few minutes there was little advance either way, but the Otago forwards were not long in asserting themselves, Chapman nearly getting the ball across, and Taiaroa actually

doing go, only in he Ktter cue a ditpute hid arisen on the ground tint a Sydney player had taken the ball out of the scrimmage by hand, and the umpire bad called to stop the game. Sydney had all the worst of it, and had to force down again. From this stage the game was very u isa'isfac’ory, the umpires' ruling was a-keii for time after" time, and the spectators b-came very impatient. Some good play was shovn in tne endeavor to work the hall cowards the Sjdmygoal posts, and, in one throw io, Fowler, of Otago, secured the ball, and ran clear in between the posts, and Nic >IU quickly converted the t’y into a coal. After the b .11 getting once more on Sydney’s line, resulting in anoth-r force-down, Tuiaroa mide a triumphant rush and touched down close on the b mndary. Bring a long kick from an awkward angle, he him-elt was entrusted with it, and ma ic a grand attempt, which failed, the ball striking the post a foot below the bsr. The Otago score now stood, one goal and a try to nil f»r Sydney. Nothing worthy of note occurred in the pUy till time was called, and Otato thus won by nine points to nothing. The' play was altoge h r in favor of Otago, their forwards t iking the ball in the fie di time after time in a way delightful to see. The Sydney backs, who.se p*sung has been so highly spoken of, lost ground almost always where they h d rtc mr-e to it, as the opposing forwards were ou them at ono j . The wind spoilt the play greatly Very little kicking could be indulged in by either side, and it was extremely difficult, almost impossible, to keep the ball iu a line with the goal posts. Had the day been calm Otago would have certainly placed another goal or two to her credit, as it was, in <m« goal and two try* at goal, and two ■ 1 dm* for toneb- iowo, she won a most convincit g vict iry. In the evening the visiting team was entertained at dinner. Mr Haper, the Sydney captain, expressed a strong desire to see a New Zealand team in Now South Wales next season, and a hope that, in such case, a more ■ satisfactory game might re-u't than the one on Saturday, A ball is intended to bo got op for the entertainment of the visitors on Tuesday, ami to-mor o» they will ho driven about the vicinity. They go North on Wed.eiday.