FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLX, Issue 8168, 20 August 1887, Page 5

FOOTBALL.

NELSON t. OTAGO. (united press association.) Nelson, August 19. The interprovincial football match, Otago ’versus Nelson, was played in Nelson this ■•afternoon with lovely weather, the sky being •cloudless and a gentle breeze blowing, but not sufficient to interfere with the play. before 3 o’clock the Otago men were ■driven to the ground, and were received with -cheers by the local team and the general public, who numbered some 2000. Mr Simplon (Otago) and Mr Jackson (Nelson) were -chosen umpires, and Mr Clarke referee. The .game was played in two spells of 45 minutes ■each. Hunter won the toss, and chose the western goal, leaving Wither (the Nelson ■captain) to kick off from the _ eastern end .against the wind and sun in his eyes. The •main feature in the first spell was the fine tday of Wilson (wing) and the forwards, which was effectively replied to by the smart .and well-directed punting of the Otago backs, 'The Otago forwards looked much the heavier mid sturdier team, but 1 yet Nelson had the best of nine scrimmages out of ten. They ■played looser and dribbled better than their opponents, and had a splendid lead in their ■wings. Otago played without wings, and their half-play, except that of Thomson, was almost completely cooked by the opposing wing’s and halves. Thomson, who was the light behind the scram, ran and ipunted grandly, bat his long passes to Keogh ■were all well looked after by the Nelson three-quarters. Lipscombe kicked off high •to Bee, who returned the ball to Nesbitt. The latter player failed to reply, and a sornm was formed on the Otago side of the centre •flag. The ball must have been blown high, for mulls and fumbles on both ’.sides were notoriously common. The Blues ■.-(Otago) made a rush into the enemy’s twenty>five, and the ball being fumbled, the ■Crimsons (Nelson) were at once on the defensive. The Blues were soon in head* dong retreat, for the full-backs, standing all too close to the scrum, muffed the ball, and Jot Lipscombe and Sherwood away with a ■run. A fine apart from Millar, who did isome very good work in this way all through the spell, Drought the game back to the •centre. The Blues renewed the charge, but the Crimsons dribbled back again until con* •fronted by Keogh, who recovered the lost .ground in a dashing style. A fine punt •down the field was terribly fumbled by .Morton, and the Crimson and the Blues ■-rushed over the goal lino together. The kick -out did not bring relief, and the struggle again raged in the Crimsons’ territory; ■the forwards, however, came to the rescue, with one of their irresistibles, and cleared -both halves and three-quarters amid loud cheers. Keogh came again to the front with ,a fine rnn. Thomson was the only Blue back that was passing decently; that of the •ethers was very poor indeed, neither smart nor direct. When half-time was called neither side had scored. In the second spell Nelson bad all the advantage, the Blues being on the -defensive mostly all the time. They worked bard, but the Crimsons had the wind and sun in their favor, and took advantage of it. From a mark near the Blues’ goal-line Wither (Nelson captain) took a place-kick at goal, the ball just falling under the bar. After the kick out the Blues worked the ball np to the Crimsons’ goal, which was in danger for a short time, when the ball was returned to the centre, and after strenuous efforts the same ended with the ball in the centre of the beld, the result being a draw. The Otago team were entertained at a smoke coucert this evening, and left for Auckland at 9 o’clock.

A match will be played at Newtown Park this' afternoon between mixed teams representing the Poneke and Athletic Clubs. The following aro the teams; —Poneke team— Aatill, Gr. Beck, Bennett, Bishpp, Blaoklook, Clark, Dixon, Storey, Merlet, Mountier, Muir, Nicholls, Taiaroa, F, and J. Young; emergencies—Bridson, Maloney, Burke (forwards), Sullivan (back). Athletic team—Watson, Cooper, Fraser, Severne, Lnckie, Kylanco, Brown, Barnes, Bias, Kennedy, J. Atkinson, Boss, Easton, Wales, Simpson, Kedward and Gibbons. i