FOOTBALL.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume 1, Issue VIII, 21 June 1905, Page 2

FOOTBALL.

OREPUKI V OTAUTAU. The match between the above teams was decided at Otautau on Wednesday 14th inst, and resulted m a draw, neither side scoring. This match had been looked forward to with a vary great- deal of interest, as both teams were known to be strong and neither had been beaten m any games played throughout the season. It was expected that this match wou d determine the premiorship for the Western District for the present year. The visitors arrived by the morning train and to permit of their returning the sama day, the match was started at 1 o'clock, and plnyed m two 35-minute'spells, Weather conditions were perfect, and although the ground was a bit greasy and heavy, the gams was fast from start to finish. The following comprise- the teams— Otautau (red and white) : Fullback, E. Mitb^son ; three quarters, K>rk and Jopp ; five-eighths, Moj^Lbbie and Baes'half, J. Tuppor ; forwHrd*3>'. M. Lynch (captain), T. Lynch, J. Scatter, A. Swban, M. Flynn, M^Gonley; M. Coulter, A. Ferguson,, E. Hamer. Orsguki (red and black) : Fullback, D. Herbert ; three-quarterg, Charlton and Whelan; five-eighths, G. and L. Printz; half, D. Forbes ; for*^rda, C. Wilson (captain), E. McPherson, F; Herbert, W. Printz, J. Mclntyre, D Smith, C. Bennett. H. Printz, E. Purdue. .. Orepuki kicked off against the wind, which was, however very light. During the first quar er of an hoar. Otautau had the best ot it and forced Orepuki down twice, after which the game livened up, both sides working hard. -Orepuki had the heavier team and were ahead of their opponents m combination and passing, and got m some very good work. Ot mtau, however, made up m activity and fo lowing up. For ten minutes, m the middle of the spell, the forwards had tho bulk of the wdrk, scrum following scrum m quick succession, the line umpire having a particularly lively time, and Orepuki usually I getthj-f" Jhe best - :i of it m the line out, as •' • thtjy had 'Vseyeral very tall players! good at takrqgjtbe \)§\\, and as a oonse- ' quence k work watcinostly ia tl;o Qt<n*.ta"u 25. For.' offside play 4o{ Orepuki Qtautau \yas award?d a fro'e ; ki(i*k and. Mcßobie made the most of it, bringing play back to contre, and during arush Scatter got a nasty kick, which looked liked stopping his play for tbe day, but he sobh /recovered and from then till finish' he never "was far away from the ball, grafbing like a Tiojan throughout. The. ball was kept going pretty much from side to side without much adva j tage to either side till Orepuki obtained'' a mark, and a good kick put Otautau on the defensive. Tapper, Seitter, Lynch aiid Mcßobio wore well to tbo fore here and. sabn had the hather m the country^ round Drepuki's territory, when Charlton, Whelan, the Printz's and Forbes shook things qp and had Otautau m a tight place, dangerously gear thelatter's line. The irrepressib c Mel^ohie.. lpweyeFi was about and shifted things to a safer spot and. ffoin this, on to end of first spell no advantage J arose to either side, the whittle sounding with honours. easy. ', :From the kick off m the second spell' il was evident that both' sides J were bent on making the game go, and the play was fast and furious. After pushing Orepdki down oq their 25, tho ball was se? cured by'Cha'-ltou^ who made a splendid run and carried pUy -into Otauiau 25, and things looked anythingjbiit cjmfortable for the white and reds for a T tirm, when Jopp, with a sprint and a prize' kick, put the ball m the centre, where Orepuki 4 with splendid combination carried the game m frpnfc of them- and Otautau was forcod down. A good many scrums followed with see savjr advantage, mostly m favOiir of Otautau, play, however, Si.on being shifted > again to Otautau 25 and what looked like a certain sco c for 0 epuki, was squished by a smart piece of play by j Kirk, whose effort, however, was nullified by some looseness oh Otautau's part and their goal was again m danger, when Printz, on getting the bill. lpsitnted just a moment and Orepuki lo3t the chance, Otautau forcing di\ya. On pay ijesuming Lynch Urn*, and Seattev made soma* splendid effjrts for Otautau, but found WhoUn a) ways about, and about this time W was tha uj<»t pro{atQ9o6

man m the Coast team. Mcßobie here, with a good dive and a kick, took play close to Urepuki line where, however, a breach of roles gave Orepuki a free kick and play was centred. As the spell was wearing on every man was doing bis utmost. Otautau, encouraged'by the veteran Jules, w rked like a machine and looked all over scoring, but Orepuki backers, who .-were on the ground m good force, particularly cheered their side, who responded and carried the game to their opponents' quarter, where Jopp, with one of bis sprints and safe kicks, sent it oack to neutral ground, where Archie Fe-guson. g§tting tbe ball, pushed play into Orepuki, but as quick as lightning, it was back m Otautau's ground, when Mathieson, by a good kick across the field, saved a score against Otautau and from some "scrum play, Kirk, shortly after, with a goo J kick, brought play into centre, when the umpire's whistle sounded, without score on either side. The match was probably the best contested one that has been played on the Otautau ground. Matheson for Otautau and Herbert, Orepuki, played safe football as fullbacks. In the back division, .'Whelan, Forbes apd Charlton were probably thepick"of Orepuki, while Mcßobie, Jopp; and Kirk were always where wanted fpr Otautau. In the forwards, Lynch Bros., Scatter and Ferguson were the most prominent, and? for Orepuki, Wilson, Mclntyre, Printz Bros and Purdue were usually on the spot. There was a good muster of the public on the grounds, and individual pay of merit was impartially cheered irrespective of side. The team for Orjpuki were given three hearty cheers from the crowd on the platform aa the train moved off.

A match was playecl b9tw en te%ms from the Otautau and Riverton public schools, ut Otautiu on Saturday. The Riverton team arrived m one of Pankhurst's drags sharp on time and 'the .match, commonccd at three o'clock Robortson captained Riverton and Cameron, Otautau. A good game resulted m Otautau cominc off victorious by three points to nil, Ford. scoring a try for Otautau. which was the only score of the day. i»ll .fie boys played well and the teams wer*. very evenly matched.