AUCKLAND v. OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 1866, 26 August 1887, Page 22

AUCKLAND v. OTAGO.

Auckland, August 24. The interprovinoial match Otago v. Auckland took place to-day at Potter's paddock, Epsom. The weather was threatening, and showers fell during the morning. As a. consequence the attendance was much smaller than at the Canterbury match. About 4000, however, .were preseqtj ! T,be n^w .^ethpd/of, BQori»g wjw

adopted. Of the Otago. team, R. Fraser, hurt in the Nelson match, did not play, and Millar and Hunter were left out by the Selection Committee. Drabble captained the ' visitors, Arneil filling a similar position on the Auckland side. The play was hard fought most of the time, and during the first quarter of an hour Oiago kept the ball well about Auckland's twenty-five, their forwards working strongly and combined. From this time to the conclusion of the match, however, it was evident Auckland had the best of it. -Their running and fending was far superior to that of their opponents, whose collaring was extremely weak. Of the visitors, Thomson, Simpson, Beck, Treseder, and Diamond played best ; whilst Elliott, O'Connor, Braund, Conway, Madigan, Twiname, and Arneil played well for Auckland. Auckland won the toss, and chose to defend the northern goal. Drabble kicked off for Otago, having the advantage of what wind there was, and Whiteside returned into touch. Scrums resulted, the ball being worked to and fro between the centre and Auckland's territory. A short rush of the Auckland men was neutralised by Downes making a clever screw into touch. Arneil had a short dribble up the line, and he passed to Whiteside, but the latter could not get away. By a good punt by Thomson the leather was brought to within 10 yards of the Auckland line. Loose play followed, a force down for Auckland resulting. A good deal of scrumming work took place, and from loose play Braund punted, and from the line up got a mark from a knock on, sending the ball well up to the centre flag. Further loose play followed, the game being remarkable for the number of scrums which had taken place so far ; O'Connor, Whiteside, and Elliott, for Auckland, and Thomson, Morris, Keogh, and Simpson for Otago working well. O'Connor got away with a fine run, but was called back after .carrying the ball to Otago's goal line. Wooller then made a dribble, and Simpson was obliged to punt straight out about the centre. A mulled pass between Elliott and Madigan gave a chance, which Treseder took, running and passing well to 'Thomson, who took it to about 10yds of Auckland's 25 flag, and loose play followed. Elliot picked up and passed to Whiteside, who slipped just at Otago's 25 flag. After a scrum Elliott again tried, but did not get very far. A scrum followed his collaring, and Braund passed neatly to Conway, who made a dodgy run, eluding the Blue backs, and touching down, secured the first try for Auckland amid much applause, Lusk kicked an undeniable goal at a good angle. Drabble kicked off, and Conway returned with high punt, which Elliott followed up and carried the ball to the centre flag. Morris got away with a dribble from the throw in, which Whiteside stopped, after which half-time was called.

In the second spell the change of ends gave Auckland a slight advantage, as the wind freshened a little. From the kick-off a good rush of Stripes took the ball well into Otago'H 25, but Beck came back with a good rush and dribble. ' Further packing work ensued in the middle of the field, where several scrums were formed, , Auckland .working the leather towards their opponents' quarters by stout rushes, which Simpson stopped cleverly. Good punting work was done on both sides, and shortly after Whiteside made a strong run, which was neutralised by a good rush by Treseder and Diamond. From a scrum, Arneil and Stone came through with the ball in front of them, but Downes stopped their efforts by a punt into touch. Otago then gained some ground, Isaacs, Drabble, and Macfarlane showing up prominently, but Lecky, Arneil, and O'Connor did good work in turn, assisted by Braund and Elliott. 1 O'Connor again made a fine dribble' to within (10( 10 yards off Otago's line, where a pack followed, from which Braund passed to Conway, and he to Whiteside, who failed to reach it, but dribbled, it and fell on it;, but it was found to be in play, and- a hardfought, scrum followed, both sides making strenuous efforts. Otago by good combined play gained 'a few yards, and Bee getting a pass from Brauud carried the ball out of his quarters, staving off what seemed a sure score for Auckland, Some loose work followed, and Brauud getting the oval passed to Elliott, who by a splendid rnn dodged' and passed all the Blues' backs and got right behind the goal, where he touched down amidst great cheering. Whiteside took the ball to bring out, but the kick at goal was disallowed. Bee kicked out into touch about the halfway post, and some scrummaging work ensued in neutral territory. Conway and Madigan again did some good running and passing. The Stripes' forwards were making repeated rushes, which Thomson replied to by a punt to Lusk, who ran up and made an attempt at a pot, but it was not successful, and Otago forced down, Thomson kicked out, and from the line out O'Connor burst through the Blue forwards, and shun ting off their backs in succession took the ball behind the goal poets and touched down, only to be called back by the whistle for some breach of the rules. Isaacs got a mark but did not gain much ground. From a scrum in the middle of the ground Elliott and Wooller did some good passing to Arneil, who ran in and fell on the oval. Lusk again took a shot at the bar, but the ball fell short. Elliott again. made a slashing run and passed all the opposing backs, touching down amidst great cheering, but the umpire ruled that he had gone out, and the try was disallowed. Loose play followed and Otago was forced down. Time WBS called shortly after, the match thus terminating in a victory for Auckland by 5 points to nil. The teams were entertained at dinner in the evening.

Our Auckland correspondent telegraphed that at the banquet to the Otago football team hearty expressions of goodwill were reciprocated between the Auckland and Otago footballers. The, latter expressed themselves satisfied that the best team had won, and frankly admitted that the Auckland backs were too good for them. They are pleased with the hospitality and courtesy extended to them. They leave op, Thursday for Napier. Fraser expects to be fit Jbr play in the Napier match. The Auckland team expect tb visit Otago next season, as "there are ample funds in hand for the purpose. MASTERTON- v.'CANTERBURY. Mastekton, August 24. Canterbury won by a try, gained by Moir, to nothing.