INTERPROVINCIAL ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12767, 14 September 1903, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT.

WELLINGTON WINS THE SHIELD. (Br OOR SPECUII HEronTEE.) WELLINGTON, September 12. In the Association tournament the final between Wellington and Otago was favoured by ideal weather. The match was played on Athlotio Park. About 2000 spectators were 'present, including Lord Ranfurly ami Sir .1. G. Ward. Wellington placed a splendid team in the field. Otago substituted Clark for J. M'Millan.

Otago played with a slight breeze behind them, and soon tested Fitzgerald in goal. Tho Otago forwards forced six corners in tho first quarter of an hour, beautifully placed by Riley. Nothing resulted, however. Smart forward play enabled Wellington to attack strongly, and Sparrow and Smallbone saved brilliantly in turn. Clark was penalised within tho penalty aroa, but Smallbone saved splendidly. Otago showed fino play, and kept up a lively attack again, but again Fitzgerald saved, if. Renai was eventually penalised within tho line, and G. M'Millan scored from the penalty kick. Tremendous excitement followed, and play was terribly fast. Another spell of fine corner kicking by Riley passed poiutlera. Otago continued to press strongly, biifc Amies and Roberts played a strong defensive game, though Middlemass narrowly missed scoring. Then Wellington took up tho running, and Smallbone paved several difficult shots. Half time was called, with Otago 1 goal, Wellington nil. Favoured with tho wind Wellington pressed strongly at the beginning of tho sceond spell. Patmon and Sparrow ticked very effectively. Otago arranged the team to bo purely defensivo. Wellington demonstrated pretty football all over, but Sparrow and Smalbonc were proof against all attacks. Play was fast and exciting and really good. Eventually Otago gained a jorner, but Amies cleared smartly. Play was soon in Otago territory, and from a corner kick Mount equalised the score. A splendid struggle ensued amid wild excitement. Time and again Smailbono distinguished himself with first-class goal keeping. Time sounded with Otago around Fitzgerald, the result being 1 goal each. The teams turned round, and started tho extra timo of 15 minutes each way. Otago desperately fought to gain a lead, and Amies and Fitzgerald cleared several dangerous rushes. Tho players were showing signs of fatigue, and half time arrived with no change in the scoro. On resuming Otago again strongly pressed, but failed to score. Intenso excitement lion* prevailed, and both teams were fully extended in their efforts to score. From a break away 011 tho left Mawson forced a corner, and Mount headed the ball into the net. Otago made a memorable struggle to draw level, and Smallbone was slightly injured in saving splendidly. The end carne with Otago pressing. Result:— Wellington ... 2 goals. Otago ... 1 goal. Though beaten the Otago players distinguished themselves, and provided the keenest struggle ever witnessed in representative matches in Wellington. All played a splendid gamo, especially Smallbone and Sparrow. Lord Ranfurly presented the shield to Wellington at the close of the game. Tho Otago team will arrive on Monday night.

THAMES v. TVANGANUI. (Per United Press Association.) WANGANUf, September 13. The Thames- AYaugamii football match was played on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large crowd. The game resulted in a win for Wanganui by 11 points to 5. Tho teams looked fairly oven, Thames having an advantago if anything in weight. The play throughout was of a brilliant nature-, bejh sides putting in some splendid passing work. Times out of number what looked liko certain scores for the Thames wore prevented by the splendid defensive work of the local team. It was undoubtedly the finest exposition of football witnessed here this season. POVERTY BAY v. rLAAYKE'S BAY. A Napier telegram states that the football match Poverty Bay v. Hawko's Bay, played at Napier on Saturday, resulted in a win for Hawke's Bay by 11 points (three tries, one converted) to 6 points (two tries). The match Bank of New Zealand v. Lawyers was played at tho Asylum Ground, and resulted in a win for the Lawyers by two points. The score was 9 to 7— the Lawyers scouring three tries, tho Bankcre potting a goal, and scoring a well-merited try. The Bankers had hard luck in not winning. Their forwards—a fino set, —headed by Clowes, made continual onslaughts on the enemy's territory, and it was only by their most strenuous efforts that the Lawyers were able to avert continual scores. In the last 15 minutes the superior form of the Bankers mado itself felt, and they fairly romped over tho Lawyers, who hailed with undisguised relief and satisfaction the whistle announcing the close of the game. The match was played in the best of spirit, and was witnessed by a large number of-spectator*!. It would bo invidious to mention names where all played well, but- for tho winners Morgan, Gallaway, and the M'Donalds were specially prominent: and for the losers Clowes, Denniston, Grant, and Snow. Tho Mornington met Koslyn foi the second timo this year at Mornington in the Second Grade Association competition, and had an easy win over them by 11 goals to nil. The ground was in splendid order, and a fast game resulted. Goals wero scored for Mornington by Nelson (3), Notman (3), Gardner (2), Paterson (2), and Henderson (1). Grey, Young, Sparrow, Grcnfell (2 1 , and Dickey played well for Mornington, as did Caldow, Smith, Angell, and YVadie for Roslyn. Mr Litolff made an efficient referee. Sawyers' Bay Association Club met and defeated Unity at Port Chalmers by 2 goals to 1. The game was very fast, but owing to the ground being hard and dry it was very severe on the feet. Mr W.Baughan gave general satisfaction as referee.