FOOTBALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18340, 2 September 1921, Page 6

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY. MOASCAR CUP. SOUTH ISLAND FINAL. CANTERBURY v. OTAGO. WIN FOR THE HOME TEAM. (Pe« United yunan Association.) ) CHRISTCHURCH, September 2. • The final of the South island inter-High Schools’ tournament was played to-day before a large attendance.- Special interest was centred in the game, as both the Christchurch and Otago High School teams

were .Vl oascar. Cup competitors, and the match was to decide which school was to represent the South Island in the final for the cup, to be played here next Wednesday. Christchurch won comfortably by 19 points to ml, though Otago made the game a hard one all through. However, the form shown by the Christchurch boys was nor such as to make their supporters go into raptures, and they will have to improve n they hope to win tne final against tfie North island representatives. Timaru High School beat Southland High School by 8 points to 6.

OTAGO NOT DISGRACED. (FhOil UUK UWK OOKAti-.si-uniJjiNT.) CHRIS'!CHURCH, September 1

Tlhougn. neatcii uy a substantial margin, Otago were by no moans oisgracea, ana they put up quite the uest ngut that tne reaouutaole U'nristehurcii team has hud to lacc this year. Though they uiu not score, they wore within an ace oi doing so several times, and had tne handling and coimnnatiou ot tneir ducks been a littio better me discrepancy won .cl hot nave been nearly so great. -they had tne hardest ot Kick in losing the services ot uicKenson hun-way through tne first spell, tne ulago snipper nad oeea playing a great game, and uau oeen a morn in the side oi me jocai boys all through, but owing to an .miury received m lips match against Tunaru on ivionuay ue was nursing a weak anKle, and, as bad luck would have it, he hurt it severely twice in quick succession. After hts first knock he went to tub back, where he piayed a very sate game, uiougn his loss *m me five-eignuis' line was keetny lelt. it was not long, however, heiora, in getting hts side out cl a very tight corner, no was scnidiy taoKleu, and put out ol commission for tne rest oi tne game. He was earned on tne field, and removed in an ambulance to tne hospital. Hts departure completely upset the combination ot tne Utago backs, ire was rep.aced by Irvine, who played at centre, Auneit again going to lull back, and dolly moving up to live-eighth, 'ifio match was remarkable lor the number oi injuries to visiting players, of whom five werq laid out insiae id minutes. Dickenson was hurt twice, and Ross, bouthgate, and 1. Jolly all suifered minor injuries in the first spell, Ross and Bwift also being knocked out in the second spell. Had they had a better set ot backs, Otago might have gone very close to winning, lor their forwards played a splendid game. Five times out of six they beat (Jhnstchurch for the ball in the scrums, even though they _ were somewhat overweighted, but their inside men were very slow in getting the bail away, and when it did go out a fumble promptly stopped the movoVnent. The forwards also showed up well in the loose, Southgate being the blight particular star —in fact, he was about the best forward on the field. Of the backs, Aitkcn was fairly safe at full back, while Irvine played a sound game vjhen he replaced Dickenson. Wise was much the better of the wings, for Raw! bison's handling, as in the match against Christ’s College, was poor, and spoiled more than one possible scoring dhanoe. Taking them, on the whole, the backs could hardly be described as up to Moascar Cup form jn attack, but the tackling of both backs and forwards was very solid. Indeed, though they were up against it, the Dunedin boys did not play a tight game. On the contrary, they played a sporting game, and kept the ball infield as much as possible, though playing the line ■would probably have been more to their advantage. They kept going well right to the final whistle, and showed excellent judgment in using the strong breeze in the second half, and with a little bit of luck would have scored more than once. The showing of the Christchurch _ boys was rather disappointing, and indicated that they will have to play better'if they hope to win the Moascar Cup next Wednesday.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT. (Special to Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 1. The game was chiefly noticeable lor fine forward work on the part of the Otago forwards and strong work by the Christchurch backs. Werron, the Christchurch wing three-quarter, scored after a fine passing rush by the backs. Then Low, the other wing three-quarter, scored, and converted his own try with a good kick. Shortly afterwards Otago mode a foolish kick in front of their own goal and Hay marked, kicking an easy goal. Then Otago attacked, and good passing by Dickenson, Jolly, and Rawlinson saw the last-named nearly over. Dickenson got hurt, and went to full back, but after saving finely on two occasions he had to retire for good owing to an old injury. Play had teen in progress for 30 minutes. Just before this Southgate nearly scored, but he was pushed into touch near the goal line. The first spell ended: Christchurch, 11; Otago, nil. The second spell opened with a fine attack by Christchurch. Swift saved, and play went to Christchurch territory, where Otago lost a chance by weak passing by the backs. The Christchurch backs attacked strongly, and Low scored after 15 minutes’ play. Five minutes later Low scored again in a good position and converted. Christchurch, 19; Otago, nil. Otago attacked spiritedly, and Aitken had a pot at goal from a good position, and just missed. Keeping up the pressure Rawlinson might have scored, but missed a pass. Then Wise was nearly over at.tho opposite corner. Otago battled hard right to the finish, the forwards doing splendid work. The score does not represent the difference between the two teams. The Christchurch backs kicked splendidly and made frequent attacks, and only great tackling by Otago prevented a bigger score. The Otago forwards beat their opponent* in the scrum and in ihe loose, but Christchurch were sperior in line-out play and in line kicking. Kemp and Page, the ChristcKurcli hacks, played a fine game, and Burrows was the home team’s best forward. Swift and Ross, the Otago backs, played well, as als9 did Dickenson until he was injured. Ennis, Nimmo, and Rivers were perhaps the pick of a fine set of forwards. Mr L. Guiney was referee and gave satisfaction in his rulings. He was, however, inclined to wait too long in his desire to apply the advantage rule.