FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12446, 1 September 1902, Page 7

FOOTBALL.

CANTERBURY v. OTAGO. A DRAWN GAME. (Pes "United Phess Association.) CKKISTCHURCH, August 30. The annual interprovincial match betweon representatives of Ota go and Canterbury was played at Lancaster Park to-day in splendid spring weather and on a perfect ground. The teams were very even as regavds weight, and subsequently it appeared that thoy were even in abilities. The first epell was camparativdy uninteresting, the Canterbury forwards evidently endeavouring to keep the ball' close; while the cure collaring of the backs kept Duncan's team from being very dangerous. Tame work on both sides characterised the earlier part of tho second spall also, and, indeed, it was not till the last 20 minutes of the game that the 3000 spectators were treated to anything like good football. The weather and ground both favoured free, open play, but for the most part passing among the hacks was nipped in tho bud, and footwork among the forwards was not often clever or even intelligent. Duncnn has given better exhibitions. in Chriatchurch, but ho is never anything but a clever, sound player. Bennet, at ■ centre, for Otago, played a pretty game, but the bulk of the praise in tho back division must fall to Snowies, behind the scrum, his passing, tackling, kicking, and picking up being invariably clean and smart. Roddick and Given were at the head of tho forwards, who, liko their opponents, played in a very desultory fashion. Among the Canterbury bucks Rioe, Harper, and Wood did their work well, and Harvey, at half, played smartly, but many opportunities were lost through the weakness and slowness of Ormandy. Tho forwards showed a tendency to overrun the ball, and their tackling was often weak, but Drake. Cooke, and Mahoney played hard all through. Roddick started tho ball, Otago playing •with the sun at their backs, and immediately smart play by Cooke forced Otago. A minute later Otago was again forced by an injudicious Canterbury kick, and 'neutral ploy commenced, when Harvey, tho Canterbury half, found the line at Otago'.s twentylive flag. Ormandy's slowness let Given away with the' ball at his toe, and the Otago forwards dashed down the field. An answering rush found Bennet safe in fielding and kicking, and even play followed, with some brilliant little flashes on both sides. Otago was getting the ball from the scrums, and at last Stalker got right away. Being surrounded, he punted for trie open, but Canterbury forced. The resulting play had no distinguishing features until the Otago forwards came away wifh a characteristic rush, half dribbling, half passing; Harvey picking tin and returning to the centre. The Canterbury backs had the sun in their eyes, and Duncan and Bennet troubled them considerably, but for 20 minutes play was very tame. Once, when Wood did get away, bad passing spoilt a chance, and Baxter was able to send the ball to the centre again. Immediately Duncan set his backs to work, Bennet and Baxter following and handling well, Baxter being grassed close to the Canterbury line. . M'Gregor ultimately relieved. Brief back rushes only served to prove the soundness of the tackling on both sides, until Bennet marked and punted into touch at tho Canterbury twenty-five: The Otago forwards carried the ball to the line, and Knowles threw it smartly out to Duncan. Harper saved the situation, however, and .play went back to mid-field. The character of the game may be judged from the fact that Rice, on the Canterbury wing, handled the ball for the first time for 30 minutes after the start. With scrums and short rushes Otago worked down to the line, Rice smartly collaring Stalker, and a minute later Canterbury forced. The kick out led to even play at the centre, until bad passing Jet Given and Baxter away, the rush ending in a scrum in front of the posts. For a spell Otago attacked strongly, Knowles getting the ball away sharply from the scrums, but when half-time arrived there was still no score.

The second spell opened with the usual interchange of kicks, but it wa9 soon evident that the gam© was to. bo made more vigorous. Rice dashed through the opposing forwards, and the ball wa« carried into Otago quarters, but Ormandy, who was playing bad!)', once more spoilt an opening, with the result that Stalker kicked hard down tho field. Stalker received the ball from a scrum, but was brought down, • and Harper lifted the siege. The play now become more interesting, though still close. Knowles let Duncan away, and an interchange of kicks left play in Canterbury quarters, a strong rush eventually forcing the looal men. They took advantage of the relief, Harper, Rice, and Wood making vigorous efforts to break through Otago's three-quarter line. Then Knowles gave his side a few openings, but this time the Canterbury three-quarters made no mistakes in tackling. However, Given and Fenwick got right away from the centre, and only a mull 011 the | part of Baxter spoilt what loolcod a certain score. After a spell for the benefit of Ormandy's head, Drake, Cooke, and Fanning had a little passing rush, Duncan, Munro, and Stalker responding in kind. Then Rice and Corbett went back to the centre, and the Otago backs had a bu?y mi*ute. At length Mitchell and Roddick came away, hustled Ormandy and Turtill, and reached .the line, Porteous picking up and scoring. Roddick made a poor attempt at goal. Almost immediately Given and Porteoiis descended in force, and a scrum was formed on the Canterbury line. Duncan was upset in passing, and Ries dashed back. Brunsdeu got the ball from the line-out, shot it to Wood, who beat a couple of men, and made an opening, of which Harper and M'Gregor made the best use, M'Gregor scoring. Harper's kick went wide. Strenuous play at the oentre followed, the Canterbury backs handling the ball very smartly, but ti'ere no further incident of moment, and tho game ended in a draw, each side having scored a try. During the last 20 minutes the game was very brisk.

NOTES ON THE GAME. Br Full Back.

CHRISTCHUECH, August 30. The ground was in excellent condition for a fast and open game, but expectations on that score were not realised until the last 20 minutes of the second spell, when Canterbury ; opened out with their backs. After tho kick-off play settled down into' a series of. scrums anU ,line-Out play, the referee keeping tho men well lip to the mark. The Otago forwards fairly excelled themselves, and played a dashing game from the kick-off until the whistle blew for time. The line play ori both sides wa? by no means firstclass, and was conspicuous for the amount of hand-balling that took place, scrum after scrum being given as a penalty. The Blues' forwards were almost unrecognisable from the same pack which played against Southland. In the scrums they more than held their own, and beat the Reds for the ball on nearly every occasion. Every man was doing his share of work in a gaino that was liard-fought from kick-off to call of time. The Canterbury forwards took matters rather easily in the early stages of the game, and the Blurs frequently caught them napping, breaking through with fast forward rushes •which took a good deal of stopping. The fast Canterbury three-quarter backs were handicapped by the forwards failing , to hook the ball, and did not get 'the opportunities they should have had, even wiicn it did eome out, owing to it being too closely confined to the half back division. When it did come out to the three-quarters it was frequently knocked ori or passed forward, and a serum resulted. This was more or less the character of tlio game throughout, and as a result it was far from interesting. The forwards took charge of the play and made the game open or close at will. Otago had one or two opportunities to wore with their backs, but they were not. equal to it. Casey played a safe game at full back, but wa> too slow in getting the ball away. The three-quarter barks played splendidly, Bonnet and Stalker especially so. Knowle.s was in great form, and put in l-.o end of good work. Mnn.o

did not play up to his form, but Duncan was everywh&re, and was doing the lion's share throughout a hard game. His defence was splendid, and he was the first on to the ball in a follow-up. Every man in tho Blues' forward division did great work, their following up being a feature of their play. Roddick, Porteous, and Given deserve to bo singled out for special mention. Canterbury acknowledge that they met a team of forwards more tha:i their match, and give Otago every credit for the game they played. Turtill was not a great success at full back, his defence being unsound. The three-quar-ters did not get many opportunities, but there was no mistake about their play when they did get the ball, and M'Gregor's try was the Tesnlt of fine passing initiated by Wood. In the half back division Harvey played a rare defensive game, and was ably assisted by Wood. No forward worked harder for the Reds than the ex-Ota'go player Cross. Of the others Drake, Fanning, and Cooke were conspicuous. Both teams dined together-in t-hfc evening. The Otago team left for Wellington by the Rotomahana at 10 o'clock, the 'members of the Canterbury team assembling at the station and giving them three cheers as they left to join the steamer. The following is the record of matches" between Otago and Canterbury tc date: — 1878.—At Dunedin—Drawn, no score. 1870.—At Christchurch—Drawn, r.o score. ' 1880.—At Dunedin—Drawn, 1 try each. 1881.—At Christchurch—Otago won by 1 goal and 1 try to nil. 1882.—At Mosgiel—Otago won by 5 goals and 3 tries to nil. 1833.—At Christchurch—Otago Avon by 1 goal and 3 tries to nil. , , 16-34.—At Dunedin—Canterbury won by 1 goal to 1 try. 1885.—At Christchurch—.Canterbury won by ! 1 goal and 2 tries (9 points)-to nil. ISBG.—At Dunedin—Drawn, no score. , 1887.—At Christchurch—Drawn, 1 goal ,each. 1888. —At Dunedin—Otago won by 1 goal and 4 tries to nil. , "1839.—At Christchurch—Otago won by 3 goals (9 points) to 1 try. 1890.—At Dunedin—Otago won by 2 goals ! and 3 tries (9 points) to 1 goal and 1 try (4 points). 1891.—At Christchurch—Otago won. by 3 goals (8 points) to 1 goal (3 points). 1892.—At Dunedin—Canterbury won by 1 goal and 2 tries (7 points) to 1 goal (4 points). 1893.—At. Christchurch—Canterbury won by 1 goal (5 points) to 1 try (2 points). 1895.—At Dunedin—Otago won by 2 goals and 1 try (13 points) to 2 goals and 1 try (11 points). 1895.—At Christchurch—Otago won by 1 goal and 1 try (8 points) to 2 tries (6 points). 1897.—At Diinedin—Otago won by 1 goal and 5 tries (20 points) to 1 penalty goal and 1 try (G points). 1898. —At Christchurch—Otago won by 2 goals and 2 tries (16 points) to nil. 1899. —At Dunedin—Otago won by 4 tries (12 points) to 2 trie-5 (6 points). 1900.—At Christchurch—Otago won by 1 goal and 1 try (G points) to nil. 1901.—-At Dunedin—Canterbury won by 1 try (3 points) to nil. 1902.—At Christchurch—Drawn, 1 try (3 points) each. THE JUNIOR INTERPROVINCIAL i MATCH. ; A WIN FOR THE CANTERBURY TEAM. { • I Although the weather was perfect on j Saturday afternoon, there was a limited attendance at the Caledonian Ground, and apparently, the junior interprovincial match with Canterbury failed to arouse a great . deal of interest. There could not have been more than 2000 present, and we think that tho O.R.F.U. made a mistake in. not making the price of admission sixpenoe. - It cannot be contended that the game was as well worth paying one shilling for as a senior fixture, and although the promotion of junior interprovincial matches may have a beneficial influence on Rugby football generally, the average follower of the game likes to. get value for his money when ho goes out to. encourage the sport by his presence at a match. Tho following were the teams:-— Otago (Blue). —Full back, J. Smeaton; three-quarters—M. Little, J. Stuart, J.' MW ; doch; halves —H. Choo Quee, C. Saunders, J. Anderson; forwards—C. M'Donald, A. M'Cul-' loch, D. Patterson, A. Low (captain), E. Sayers, S. Abrim, D. Stuart, F. Fraser. . Cantertsitry (Red-and-black).—Fuli back, A. ' Ollivcr; three-quarters—J. Green, F. Haworth, A. Koskella; halves—D. Fraser, W. Sykea; forwards— G. Rich, H. Watson, G. Cornes, L. ■ Davis, W. Watson, C. Eraus, L. Atkinson, V. Drake, W. ICoakeila. Referee: Mr A. Downes. Touch judges: Messrs H. Voyce and. W. Smith. Davis set the ball in motion for the Canterbury team, the Blues having won the toss and chosen to play from the southern end. The Reds were penalised immediately after starting, and the free kick lot tho home team into their twenty-five. Rich' slipped away from a scrum by a clever bit of play, J and started a dribbling rush down the field. Supported by Frascr, tho Reds' opened tho attack, when one of the Blues' backs secured tho ball and reversed the positions by a longkick. The Canterbury full back mulled the ball, and the. Blues' forwards charging down would have had a chance, but somebody was offside, and a scrum enstipcl. After pome give-and-take play, Rich was instrumental in sending the leather into touch within a few yard® of the Otago line. From tho throw-in , the ball was badly handled by the Reds' : h'.c-ks, and J. Stuart broke through and shifted the play to safer ground. Good following up by the Reds' forwards brought , the play back into the Otago twenty-five. ' ■The Blues' backs, defending fairly well kept tho invaders in check, and then. some fast open p'ay ensued for some minute? Un and dc-.vn the ground, the visiting forwards "being > conspicuous for their dash and the. local men J for their want of combination. Cornes ;■ showed up in a forward rush, ;iiul then the Reds' backs put in two passing rushes in succession, in which the hall travelled across the ground and back again without any material advantage to the visitors, D. Fraser muile a rim, and kicked out in the Otago twenty-five. From the toruin following the throw-in Sykes got the hall away very smartly, slid, dodging ifiirdoch, passed to A. Koskelhi, who was almost on 'the line before Ohoo Quee could bring him down. Tho Reds again punned the Blues up on their lines, bul a free kick brought tho defenders relief. The Canterbury backs- Were now handling the hn 11 with much more Accuracy, and Sykcs. passing out to Frascr, (ho latter gave A. Koskella another chunee, which the speedy whig utilised by d.ashing over tho line. Sinoutoit made a goad attempt to avert the scor>r, but his tackling was .ineffectual. The hall was placed for Olliver. but file try remained unimproved. Canterbury 3, Otago nil. Even play followed till Haworth and Rich, by a passing rush, once more put the Blues on the defensive. The Reds' forwards, with "W. Watson, Davis, and Corner in the van, going .for all they were worth, tool; the ball down to the Otago lines, and W. Watr-ou secured a try out of (Uo scramble. D. Frascr made an ir.effocr.ua) attempt to convert the try. Canterbury 6. Otago nil. Friiser, Sykes, jlnworth, and put in another passing rush, which ended in the hal! going out at the corner. I'nesneeted relief came to the in liie shape, of a free kick, and the K?ds lost another chance a little later on by glaring oft'sido in front of the Bines' gorti. Not to be denied, they it'turned to the attack. and before half-time the hall again cumo out to Koskella, who dashed, over the

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