INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL MATCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6409, 28 August 1882, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL MATCH.

CANTERBURY v. OTAGO.

The great eyeDt of the football season came off on Saturday last. - The weather was all that could be desired, and brought out an attendance of close On 2000.pedpie;'-, CrOakqts predicted that playing the match" at Mdsgiel would prevent anything like a gdodlymustat of spectators, but the result was rather disappointing to these birds df evil omen. A train of 18 carriagos.-left the Dunedin statidn shortly after 2 o'clock, and the inhabitants of the Plain turned out in full force; The road was patronised by many who preferred this method of travelling to the discqiufortsuof; a cloSelypacked railway train. Some enthusiastic members of a junior club went in for a little training for a future event, and- ran from: Dunedin to the ground. . - ■■ ' • ■•■..- The match played yesterday was the 'fifth interprovincial contest; In 1877 the Otago men did the grand tour of New Zealand; and that year the matches played, in Canterbury were against the Christchurch, Temuka, and Timaru Clubs, but since that time the contests have been strictly interprovincial, with the following results: — -..■« : - , : . 1878.—At Dunedin. Drawn, no score;.'..".

1879.— rAt Chris'church. Drawn, no'score. 1880.—At Dunedin. Drawn, one try pich.... 1881.—At Christchurch. Otago won by one goal and one try to nothing. 1883.—At Mosjfiel. Otago won by five goals and three tries to nothing. ■• '..■•' .-

The team picked for Dtraedin for 1882 caused some dissatisfaction, m a matter of' course; but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. The Otago men played, both individually and as a team, the most brilliant game of football ever seeu in New Zealand. The; Canterbury team this year was certainly the weakest ever put forward, for .': that .Province. The. forwards are indubitably 'good. They played a man lesa in the scrummage than Otago, and -held their own well, / The play of the Canterbury backs, .with the exception of Hamerton, was barely second-rate, their kicking being the only noteworthy point. Canterbury was rather unlucky in that_ they were unable to play the backs they originally intended to. Hall, who is sa'icl to beafirßtrate full-back, loft Christchurch about a week since; and Lee, who last year proved himself a good all-round back, was unable to get away. But to get to the match. The teams were as follow:—Canterbury (red and; blacky': Fullbacks, Beswick and E. Cotterill; three-quar-tor-backs, Chapman and Anderion; -halfbacks, Helmore and Hamerton; forwards, Lane, Milton (captain), Winslow, Hyman, W. Potts, Spragge, Parson, Waehsmann, sod H. Farr." Otago (blue): Full-back, Gajbraith (Invercargill); three-quarterrbacks, W. Crawehaw and H. Farr; half-backs', W. Allan andJ. Taiaroa; forwards, Jimej Allen (captain), James Allan (Taieri), B. Brown, J. H. Chapman, W. Fowler, W. Fox, H. Hamer, P. Nicol, G.; S.■■; Robertson,.and T.'. Austin. Austin was unwell, and J. R. Murray took hia place, and proved a most efficient'substitute. Mr Lewin* umpired for the visitors'•; Mr Rose for the home team. 'Mr Wyinks acted.a* timekeeper. It was agreed to play the game in four spells of 25 minutes each.;' Milton, the Canterbury captain, having won the tow, decided to kick off, and the game began at 3.20. Galbraith, the Dunedin full-back, returned the ball from the kick-off, and a tight scrummage was formed in the centre of the ground. This Canterbury took through, and worked the ball into the Blue 25. Taiaroa got hold of it, and after a sharp run passed it; to .Farr, who dropped it neatly into touch. \On its being thrown out the Reds again carried it through the scrummage, and Helmore made a nice dribble. W. Allan stopped • him, and sent the ball well down > the ' ground., Cotterill returned it to Crawshaw, . who' dropped it back again, and'Anderson obtained a mark. Milton took a''place-kick at goal, but without success. W. Allan kicked out, and Anderson made a dash, bat was tackled by Robertson. He, however, passed to Hamerton, who made a good run. A tight scrummage was the next event. Parson : brought the. baU' through well and dribbled down to Galbraith, who stopped him. Shortly after this Hamerton made another dash, and after some passing Taiaroa got the ball and carried it well up the ground. Hamerton soon brought it back, and passing to Potts, the latter nearly scored a try, but losing the ball it was kicked by Chapman into, the Blue touch: in , goal; Taiaroa kicked out, and, Helmqre returned it: well into touch. Up ioabbut this time Canterbury certainly looked like winning, but after this Otago had its own' way completely.. In a loose scrummage near the Red 26" Murray picked up the ball, ran through the Red forwards, and got behind the goal-line without meeting any of the backs. His success was greeted with tremendous cheering,: as great - dissatisfaction had been expressed at his absence . from the intended team. His play on Saturday certainly justified the generally • expressed opinion as to his football capabilities. Nicol took the kick, and" placed a very neat goal. S»on after MUlton kicked off Potts-got knocked. out of time, but soon revived and took his place.again. In the next tight, scrummage the. Blue forward* showed their mettle for the first time, and carried the ball through.' On the ball coming out, W. Allan got well away with it, and, after a slashing run, passed to his brother, who threw back to Robertson, who in turn passed to Farr. Farr then passed to Chapman, who handed again to Robertson. Robertson got up to the goal-line, and passed to Crawshaw, who managed to get over near touch in goal. Taiaroa took the place, which was within a yard of the touch-line,' and, to the surprise and admiration of everybody, kicked an unmistakable goal with his left foot. This ended the firat spell, and .with, the first spell ended the hope of Canterbury. In the second spell the ball was kept well up on the Red goal-lino, Taiaroa showing up with a fins run. Farr now got a chance for a pot, but bis attempt was very feeble. Cotterill brought the ball out with an excellent kick. Galbraith fumbled it, and Farr took it up the ground. Hamerton, who had all through been doing good service, again relieved his side by one of his brilliant dashes, The ball was then worked into the Blues' 25, where it went into touch. On lining out Murray, Robertson, Fox, and Jas. Allen rushed the ball right down to tho Reds' goal, where Beswick "speculated," and Farr got a mark just in front of goal. His drop, however, was not a success. When the ball came out again MiUton made a pretty dribble, but was stopped by, Galbraith. Soon after this the Blue forwards made a wellorganised rush, and Potts, now completely recovered, picked tho ball up very neatly, and made some ground. Nicol then distinguished himself by a run, and shortly after this James Allan got in. The try was again entrusted to Nicol, who was again successful. .. Half-time was now called, and the game stood three- goals to nil-. In the third spell the ball was chiefly in the Red territory.. .Cotterill picked it up and kicked it against Chapman, off whom it rebounded behind the Red goal-line, where Hamer, who was following up_ well, promptly secured it. This time Nicol failed to convert the try into a goal. Helmore and Hamerton now showed up for Canterbury, taking, advantage of the rather wild passing of tho Blues. A very pretty dribble by Allen and. J. Allan was stopped by Anderson. Robertson soon after made a long run up and across the ground, but was hunted into touch near the Rod goal-line. Farr shortly after this got in. Nicol kicked a poster from this try. In the fourth spell Taiaroa took the ball right up to the Red goal-line, where he fell, W. Allan, however, secured the ball, and a try resulted, which Farr managed to convert into a goal, thanks to a timely gust of wind. Millton kicked off with a grand kick, sending the ball down to the Otago goal line.' Galbraith promptly returned it. Again the scene of strife was located on the Canterbury goal-line, where Farr made a spurt and got across, but was tackled by Chapman, who managed to roll his adversary and the ball back into the field of play. A scrummage- was formed near the line, then Farr, who was not to be denied, got in again. W. AUan took tho place, without any result. Hamerton now showed the energy of despair, but it was of no avail. W. Allan again got tho ball, and passing unselfishly to Farr, tho latter made a successful pot at goal. Play was resumed for two minutes, -but nothing more took place, and no side was called. . The game throughout was played in the

most friendly spirit, and the umpires, for once anyhow, could fairly assert that an umpire's lot was a happy one. To take the visitors first, we would give the palm to Million, Parson, and Potta in loose scrummages; while Wiuslow, Lane, and Spragge. were invaluable in the "serum." Helmoro, Anderson, and Hamerton, ospepially the last-named, did all they knew. The Canterbury, forwards must bo oomplimentod qn the plflck and persistence they displayed in what must have beon to them a most discouraging game. ;. Of oiir toam we .cannot mention nnyonojjb particular. They all played grandly, and each catne out.in his.own special line. They represented their province, and proved themselves worfchy of the trust. And the Selection Committee must bd congratulated on the result of their unenviable and difficult task. They have brought.a, lot. of new blood to the fore, and may it evermore bo thus.. i. ~..., THE DINNER. ■ , In the evening the visiting team were entertamed at ft dinner- at the Criterion Hotel. Besides .those comprising the two team 3, there ■Were several gentlemen present who take an interest in football, and an excellent spread was provided. , , .■jMr J. P. Maitland (president of the Dunedin Football Club) occupied the chair, and Dr Batcholor (vice-president of the Union Club) the yice*chair. The Chaibjianproposed " The Health of the Canterbury Team," and the toast was received with loud chaering. The associations! in connection with past interprovincial contests^ he said, were of the very pleasantest description, and the most cordial and friiadly relations between the teams had been established. The Canterbury men had always, been, sturdy opponents in the field; and fought to the finish »f a game with pluck and endurance.. They nevertheless had been $he, MBt of friends with the Otago men, and this, no doubt, was owing to the way in JKhich the game had been carried out. He waß stire there was,.not. one who had taken part in any of these contests who- would not look back .with pleasiireand pride to the fact of his having done so as long as he lived. Tlie personnel of the team had necessarily changed from time to time, and the; presence of many nev» faces was fconsequehtlly noticeable, whilo many old friends were missed. The absence of these old friends ■ was regretted, but still it must be acknovrfedged that their places had been well and worthily filled. He had no doubt the old friendly footing would always be maintained. The tendencies of the game of football were all for good. The training and the necessary control which had to be exercised over one's temper during the progress of the game had a very beneficial effect, and a man's football days formed a very pleasant retrospect. The qualities of pluck, endurance, and discipline engendered by a well-played game of football were qualities which would place a man in good. stead v no matter into what situation he was placed during the sterner battles of life. The. games that day had been played tinder favourable circumstances, and the meeting had passed off most pleasantly. Success had crowned the efforts of Duhedin, but ho hoped Canterbury would be fortunate next time. —(Hear.) Hehopedthatinterprovincialmatches might long continue, for it would be an evidence of a miserable falling away, a miserable decadence, of their manliness, when these contests fell through.- He was Mot af.raid of this, however, and wan glad to say that the love of athletic games was firmly established amongst themj and that the interest taken in them was (In the increase. ' They might be stimulated by the success of the Australian cricketers to send a New Zealand football team to England, and he hoped that this would be accomplished ere long. He would ask those present to drink the healths of their old friends the Canterbury team.

Mr W. V. Milmon (captain of the Canterbury team) responded. His men had mot with a crushing defeat, but he thought that they had at least shown they could take it.— —(Applause.) They did their best, but were met at every point. . He agreed as to the kindly feeling which had been generated by these annual^ contests. He himself had made more friends in consequence of the part he had taken in these matches than in any other way. Mr Million proposed "The Otago Team," saying it was the best that had ever played for the province.—(Applause.) In every department, of the match the Canterbury team were thoroughly over-matched. The Otago backs played splendidly, their running, keeping, and. collaring being perfect. The play of Messrs Farr, Taiaroa, and Allan would be impossible to beat—at any rate in this part of the world. He had played in all the interprovincial matches, and had never seen a betterplayedgame than the one of that day. The kick of Mr Taiaroa when he landed a goal from touch was a most difficult feat—(applause)—and the way in which Mr Farr dropped the last goal, With a Canterbury man on top of him, was as neat a thing, as anyone could possibly wish to see.—(Applause.) In forward play Otago had superseded Canterbury, the latter sticking to the old scrummage game. It had been conclusively proved that day that the style of Otago was the best. There was a great display of dribbling, and it could be readily seen that it was more scientific and interesting than the mode calling for the execution of mere brute strength. He hoped that both provinces would continue to improve until all talk about the Victorian rules being preferable was completely silenced. ■

Mr James Aixisn (captain of the Dunedin team),-m responding, said he thought it to be his duty to- say as little as possible, as he represented the victors in the day's proceedings. There had been some grumbling with regard to the Otago, team.—(No.) There had been some dissatisfaction.with the selection of the Match Committee. He was exceedingly sorry that any old.member, should have been excluded, but these old members must remember that if they, do not endeavour to improve themselves their places must be taken by rising players.' The team were nearly all beginners, and it. augured well for the success of the. Otago Kiigby Union that so many new men were coming forward. He had been rather doubtful as,, to the result of the game, but seeing how: it had turned out he thought the Match Committee were to be congratulated on the choice they had made. The goodfeeling which existed waß.one of the best features of the game.' The VICB-OHAiKMANproposed "The Ladies," and called upon Messrs E. Cottrill and S. .Russell to respond; ,• Mr HpsklNG, in proposing "The Press," commented upon tire, support lent by the Dunedra papers to athletic sports generally, and the fact that a comprehensive and faithful report of the.day's match was obtainable in the Star directly;the contest waa over, Mr Hamebton proposed "The Umpires," coupled with the names of Messrs H. Rose and Leuwin, and these gantlemen in replying, said that their task at (she match had been a very agreeable one, as the few decisions they were called upon for were received without any demur whatever.. ,

Mr J. Aixbn proposed "Kindred Sports," and Mr Ccwdell, secretary of the Canterbury Cricket Association, responded. Mr Dison proposed !'The Canterbury and Otago Rugby Unions," and the toast was coupled with the names of Messrs.Leuwin and Robertson.

Proceedings, were drawn to a close about midnight.