FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8596, 11 September 1889, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

AUCKLAND v. OTAGO, The principal football match of the seasonthat between teams representing Auckland and Otago—was played on the Carfebrook ground yesterday afternoon. Again were .the Otago Rugby tJuion favoured in respect of the weather, the day being most suitable for football) and the ground being in first rate Order. A great amount of interest was taken In the match, and a close contest was looked forward to as the Aucklanders were understood to be a formidable lotthe best team that has ever left Auckland, they were credited with being—and the Otago team have already this season proved their worth. The attendance under the circumstances was a very large one, though no larger than was expected. The teams Were constituted as follows i— AUCKLAND OTA.QO (White and Blue), (Blue), st lb st lb FULL BACK. PULL SACK. Lu»k ... ... 12 9 Thomas ... 12 13 TIIRKE-QVAKTEItS. 'rHREE-Qt/ARTKRS. Jervis... ~, 11 0 Lynch ... 13 5 VVarbricJt ... 12 2 Lang ... ... 10 1 Masefield ~. 11 6 Davie... ... 12 7 HALVES. - HALVES. Elliott ... 13 0 Keogh ... 12 0 BrauDd ... 10 0 liestieaux ... 12 0 Heea ... ... 10 10 forwards. Forwards. O'Connor ~. 13 10 D Torranoe „. 12 6 Wells... ... 13 2 iiuncan ... 12 0 Poland ... 12 8 Stephenaon ... 12 0 Heffernan ... 12 10 Tatteraall ... 12 7 M'Kenzie ... 12 6 Sonntag ... 14 12 Murray ... 11 4 M'Farlane ... 11 10 Hobaon ... II 3 Isaacs... ... 12 3 Maynard ... 13 0 Montgomery ... 14 0 .ltalliushaw ... 12 8 OFFICIALS. Umpires-Messrs F D Clayton (Auckland) and E 15 Harrison (Otago). lteferee-Mr J Martihbanks. The Auoklanders were captaine'l by Wells and the Utago team by Torrahce. 3.t0 latter were the first to enter the field and f J.re speedily followed by the visitors, vrho w<:> ■■•; ;ceived with loud cheersj to which they responded with three cheers and a " tiger." Torrance won the toss and decided to play for the first 6pell from the pavilion end. This gave hie team the sun at their backs, but allowed the visitors the advantage of a slight breeze. O'Connor kicked off, but some of the Auckland forwards being in front of the ball, a scrum in the centre was ordered The play for some time was slow and uninteresting, consisting in the main of scrummages, but finally Davle kicked the ball up to Lusk, who returned it into touch near the Auckland twenty-five flag. The Blues'passing lost them Borne ground, M'Kenzio being particularly prominentwilh his following np, and the piny went back- to the centre of the ground. The Blues broke through a BCrum, but Jervis recovered the lost ground with a dashing run,through the Otago ranks past the centre. Eiliott kicked the ball on to Davie, who replied with a high punt, which he followed up to such purpoee that Jervis was prevented from getting his return. After come more uninteresting play, a good piece of combined work by Montgomery, Sonntag, Restieaux. Lang, and Davie put the vißitorß on the defensive. Hobson passed recklessly to Masefield, who jeopardised hie side by kicking high in front of goal. The ball was not marked, however, and Braund with a smart kick to the centre cleared his lines. Bees showed up with a short daßh, and O'Connor carried the ball along tc the Otago twenty-five. Davie regained some ground with a kick into touch, and a further advantage was secured by Rallinshaw and Davie, who got within s few yards of the Colours' line. Hobson, however, by sterling play removed the danger, and the ball was carried into touch at the Otago twenty-five O'Connor and Elliott threatened the lines, which were eventually cleared by Thomaß from a free kick Warbrick and Masefield made dashing runs, and O'Connor, amid great excitement, dribbled over thf line, where Thomas Beoured the ball. O'Connoi suffered an injury at this time, and was in conEe quence prevented from figuring bo prominently ir the subsequent play. An exchange of compliment! between the baoks, after the kick out, left the ball ii neutral territory, but M'Kenzie was chiefly reapon slble for removing the play up to the Otago quarters awarded a free kick, and Warbrick dropped at goal without other result than a force down. Thoma again kicked out, a'td after an exchange o klokß betwi en Masefield, Lynch, and Warbrick, Davi failed to mark a ball—a fault whiehfwaa very notice able with him throughout theafternoon. TneColoui were on him at once, but he kicked out of bounds a his own twenty-five. Isaacs broke away, but couli not get past Jervis. and the visitors attempted pajaiD tactics which were promptly smothered; ani th play again centred in neutral territory. Hobsou go splendidly away with the ball, but Lynch proved ai impassable barrier. Stephenaonjmade a dash toward the Auckland quarter, and Poland replied witl a brilliant piece ot dribbling, which Lang stoppe. in great style. After further kicking by thj back! Maaefield sent the ball ints touch uea the Blues' twenty-five. M'Farlane tried t< get away, but Jervis, who played a gram game, kicked back smartly into touch. Braum then secured the ball and whipped it out t Warbrick, who evoked loud cheering by dashinf through the Blues and going straight for the line When a few feet from the coveted spot he threw ou »n his right to Elliott, who was across in less tim< xhan it takes to write. The paas, however, was i forward one and the ball had to come back. Fo lome minutes the Blues had an anxious time in de fending their lines which Stephenson eventual!; cleared. Jervis secured a mark, and his kiel sent the ball back into touch near the Bluea twenty-five. The Auckland forwards got awaj with the ball but kicked too hard, and Lang dis tinguished himself by stopping their Drogressin fin< Btyle. Torrance, Stephenaon, and Eallinahaw ther carried the ball past the Auckland twenty-five flag where, after some tight icruma, Braund got possession and kicked finely into touch beyond the centre. Passing by Keogh and Lang gave Lynch a show which he utilised effectually, not being stopped till lie was within a few yards of the line, when Lusli jpiet him finely. The visitors replied with a iplendid rush back to the centre, and Wells, M'Kenzie, and Maynard were instrumental in carryng the ball up to the Bluea' full back. 'Thomas nuffed it, and Davie picked the ball up when it was lead. Prom an ensuing scrum Stephenson and KalInshaw got away in company and took the ball paßt he centre, and Isaacs, Montgomery, and Sonntag arried it on. Braund relieved [his line with a fine ;ick, and Elliott followed this up with a strong fendug run up to the Otago quarters. The play that foljwed was of a rather uninteresting description, and alf-time was called with the ball in the Otago teritory. During the customary interval some amusement ■a« afforded to the spectators by the efforts of the olice to keep small boys from running across the round, while the lionorarytrensurerofthe O.K.F.U. lowed that he retains the old cunning of foot and jnd, which gained for him a place in Mm repreaenitive team of six and seven years ago, by the anner in which he chased and grassed an active >uth who trespassed upon the field. Torrance sef. (he ball i» motion for the second ell, and Maeefiold returned It rather poorly into nch at his own twenty-five. The Blues' forwards, bose play during the first spell had been spiritless d disunited, were profiting by the words of monition addressed to them during the interval, t the Colours, by smothering the pasfslng, sue3ded in clearing their lines. A smart run by logh again put them on the defensive, but they Bn obtained a free kick for hand-balling on the rt of the Blues, and Brauud sent the ball high in 3 air towards Keogh. The famous half back was ight between two minds, aud Klliott securing the 1 started off ou a powerful fending run, in the irse of which he bowled over several opponents in c style, and was not stopped in his career until he 1 reached the Otago quarters. Stephenson, nch, and Keogh were largely instrumental clearing their lints, but Lusk returned i ball with a long drop. The play centred for no time in neutral territory, until Welle burst ough a scrummage with the'ball before him. and setteld seconded his efforts with a smart run, to ich Montgomery put ft stop. After an exchange kicks between Warbrick, Lynch, and Masefield, ich left the ball about the centre, Duncan got ir away and ran into the viaitors' quarters, where paesed to LRng, who had backed him up nicely, j latter took the ball very neatly, and making a uring drop at goal, sent the bill straight between posts. This was the signal for enthusiastic ering.ngaiu and again renewed, all round the und, and Lang received the warm congratulations :he Otago team. Score: Otago, 3 points; Aucki, nil. Lusk kicked, off, aud lliomas returnHd ball into touch about the centre. Tlie Colours, ■king well together, gradually forced Otago into Ir territory, but Keogh, Lang, and Davie carried bull back witl) a passing rush, M'Farlane took it j further, and Keogh made a tricky ruu whiuh ?itened to produce n score, but llees proved the ation of his side. The visitors worked their *ay ] < to the centre of the ground, encouraged by the .its of their supporters, but Davie returned the i with a run and kick. Uestieaux then kicked tha , to Lusk, who ran across the field at a it pace, but delayed his kick too long, i the result that Davie smitherid it. son got well away with the ball, but ( w away an excellent chance by passing wildly ~ on the wrong side. The play now became very ■

e*citlng Re tiifl ball fiW about from one quarierdistance flag to tlie other, long dropß by the backs being alternated hf sharp dashes by the forwards while ;tbc tackling all round was excellent. Mdßfc' field made a line ran into the Otago quarters, but was ur.able to get through, and then Stepheuaon and Duncan broke clean away from the scrum with a dricblhig rußh. but a splendid chance of scoring wbb thrown away, v?h*n Lfisk was I he only man between them and life Hue, by Stephenabn attempting ttf Lick up the fall and knocking iDOn in the endeavour: 'I'he fifty CBttttf-'d Inmidlield Mr a few (nlnnteß. bar/ then Lusk r'or a second ttffie hrtd a JiicH charged down, and a smart run by Lang put the Colours (ft! the defensive. Ljnch and Torrance tried hard to get through, but 'the visitors collared superbly, A splendid piece of pissing, however, in which Lang, Keogl), Lyiieh, and again Keogh, wtre the participantSi nonplußßed them; the lasMflentiotted player* carrying, the ball up to the lino. StepbenßOtt tell over with it. but was mauled and rolled ,out. LusK secured the ball and kicked to Lynfch, who dropped at goal with hi) left foot. The ball fell tinder the' bar, but this did not matter, as it had previously struck one of the Colours. The visitors forced down, nnd Lusk kicked out with a splendid drop; l)avie Jnulled the ball, and it went into touch. Heffernah took it on for n fewyardß ( ao4 Jervis assisted with a kieli, whifch wotfld have ikttt more serviceable had it beeu.MrecteSintb totich. &c It wbs, Thomas secured the ball and returned it witHi i long punt into touch. Braund cleverly intercepted a i>as« thnt was meant by Keogh for, Lsvrjg, and ths Blues' goal was placed, in .danger., Stephenßpn took advantage of an opfiniug end.cleared his lines with, a dribble, nnd Tatteriall, backing iip Sell, preveniM Warbrick from getting Ills return. The Colours thfS buckled together and set up a determined attafife upon the Blues' lines. O'Connor started a loose rush from about the centre, and Elliott followed this up with a strong run. The ball next came into the possession of Masencld, who endeavoured to run round the Otago backs, and looked like scoring, but Thomas and Lynch threw him a nasty cropper at the corner. Hag. The Colour's' paseliii; was closely watched, and by smart following up the Blues gained sorrio breathing room. Isaacß and Uuncan dribbled the ball further away, and Davie kicked it up to Luskj who returned it nicely, and then the Colours made' an irresistible rush from about the centre over the | Blues line. Nearly all the members of the team had a hand (or foot) iv this rush, but Hobson, Pollard, and Maynard initiated it, and after a loose scramble behlcd the line M'Kenzie scored The Colours' " barraekers" cheered till they were well nigh hoarse, and the cheering wbb renewed when Jervia, for whom the ball was placed, equalised the score with a well-judged kick, by which a. fair goal was registered. Score: Otago, 3 points) Auckland, 3 points. Torrance kicked off, and from Maaefield's return Keogh forced the Colours down with a long punt. After an interchange of compliments among the backs, the play Centred in neutral terrltory-« J^W1 Jllolied hfßa <® Warbriek, who " muffed tile Ball. M'Karlaue was one of th,e firßt to be on him, and he carried the ball into dangerous proximity to the Colours' line. A loose piece of passing by Montgomery enabled O'Connor to save his side, and Itotie mx then obtained a mark. Tor' ranee had the ball placed for him, and wa» the object ot general attention an he took his hlok, It being felt, that this would be the last chance of scoring afforded to the Blues. The.attempt was a splendid one, but the ball flew outside the posts, and a force down was tue reaiijt.a After the kick! out; the first feature of note In the play was a rush by Duncan, which Lusk stopped cleverly. Lang, Jeivis, Masefield, and Thomas put in some effective kicking; and then Heffernan Btarted a dribbling ruth, which Keogh stopped nicely. Shortly afterwards the referee's whistle sounded for the completion of an evenls'coutested matoh, of which neither side claimed the advantage—the score being 3 points oachi The teams were splendidly matched, and a drawunsatisfactory termination f hough a draw is in most caaeß-may (airly be eaid on this occasion to ba a natural result of the game. The Colours had distinctly the advantage in the first spell,- during part, at least, of whioh the Otago forwards played shockingly-but the Blues had as distinctly the advantage iv theßecond half. The luck, frequently a not unimportaut element in the game, was about equally divided. The visiting forwards plajed a well-concerted game from the start, and most of them did Dot relax their efforts in the slightest degree during the match. One or two diaplajed an inclination at times to hang on the outaide of the scrum, but a word from the knot of Auckland supporters usually had the desired effect of sending them into the pack. The backs all played a serviceable game, although mistakes were made by them more than once. Their tackling, as well ai that of the Otago backs, was hardly capable of improvement, and was, indeed, the finest feature of a match which furnished a splendid exposition of the game. The Otago forwards played miserably at times during the first spell (when the old-faßhloned game waa occasionally resorted to), but redeemed their reputation soicewbat in the second spell, although the absence of such sterling performera as Arthur Morris and Arthur Gibson was »till obviously felt. The backs, one and all, did good service.' a word or two remainß to be said about the individual p!ay. On the side of the visitors, Jervis stands out most prominently of the backsj His all-round display wa» excellent, and he hardly made a mistake in a game, in which his services were repeatedly invoked. Elliott played a rattling good game and gained loads of ground for his 6idp, while Kees was invaluable In the. defensive game and gave Keogh very little chance of getting away; Braund kicked excellently and passed smartly and accurately; Warbrick's running was admirable, but his kiokiog was decidedly " off "; and Lußk, who is also a splendid runner, made the mistake of not taking iiis hick soon enough. Of the forwards Hobson, Heffernan, M'Kenzie, and Poland appealed to be the pick, although O'Connor at the beginning of the name was second to none of them. The heavy weight, hnwever, waa inclined to take things easy as tin: inach progressed, and Wells seemed not indisposed to Hep him company. Among the Blueß' backs, Laug and Lynch divide first honours. The former, for a young fellow playing his first important match, did wonderfully well. He both passed and kicked in fine style, and, above all, kept a clear head, which enabled him on various occasions to pull his side out of a difficulty. His potted goal waa one of the neatest things thai has been accomplished on the field, and altogether he amply justified his selection. Lynch played a fine game in every way, and Davie waa useful but not so reliable as usual, his mulling of the ball being too frequent to be pleasant. Keogh was closely watched in the first spell, but treated the visitors to a taste of his quality in the second; and Eestieaux assisted him capably. Thomas kicked splendidly, and in other respects performed well. Of the forwards Duncan was the moat prominent, but M'Fal-lane, Isaacs, Tattersall, and Torrance all did good service. Stephenson's play was showy and dashing, but he was too much off side, and he never assisted to the extent of an ounce in the scrums. It only remains to be Baid that the match was played in the beat possible spirit, and that the officials decisions were received without demur. The following are the results of the matches «,at have been played between Auckland and Ot..jjo :— 1875, at Dunedin: Otago won by t(J points to i point. 1877, at Auckland: Drawn game; no score. 1883, at Dunedin: Drawn game; no score. 1887, at Auckland: Auckland won by a goal and two tries (5 points) to nil. 1889, at Durjedin: Drawn game; one goal (3 points) each.