SOUTHLAND v. OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 1959, 10 September 1891, Page 28

SOUTHLAND v. OTAGO.

OTAGO WINS EASILY. The fifth annual match between football teams representative of Southland and Otago was played on the Carisbrook ground on Saturday afternoon. The weather was beautiful, and there was a large gathering of spectators, about 4000 persons being present. The visiting team were confident of victory and a close contest was anticipated by nearly every person who visited the ground, but in the end, though the Southland forwards more than held their own, the Otago team achieved an easy victory, which was due chiefly to the very marked superiority : displayed by their backs, together with some exceedingly commendable place kicking by Laurenson, who converted all of the five tries in respect of which he was entrusted with the kick at goal. The teams were constituted as follows : — SOUTHLAKD. OTAGO. (Maroon). (Blue). FI/iL BACKS. at lb • B t lb Thomas ... 13 0 Grenfell „. 12 0 THEKK-QUABTKBS. DeJoux „. 10 0 LaDg ... ,„ 10 7 Donaldson ... 12 2 Downes ... 11 4 Bain ... ... 11 3 Laurenson „, 11 2 HALVES. Cuff ... ... 10 12 Orawfurd ... 10 12 Tapper ... 9 9 Cran ... ... n a FOBWABDS. Treseder (capt) ... 12 0 Montgomery (capt) 14 7 Bkensteia ... 12 9 Torrance ... 12 6 M'Bobie ... 12 6 Drabble ... 11 0 } Murphy ... 12 2 Matheson ... 12 0 Hanna ...5§12 8 Harming ... 11 3 Jenkins ... 11 7 M'Oleary ... 12 5 Martin ... 12 6 Johnston ... 11 3 Todd ... ... 11 10 Isaacs... ... 12 3 Hughes ... 11 12 Beadle ... 12 2 Messrs E. B. M'Kay and W. J. MacLaughlin acted as line umpires for Southland and Otago respectively, and Mr E. R. Bowler was a very efficient referee.

Montgomery, having won the toss, elected to play for the first spell frcra the pavilion end, thus giving his team the advantage of a light breeze besides giving them the sun at their backs — the latter being, as it proved, a very appreciable advantage. Treseder kicked off and the return from Downes' foot sent the ball high to Donaldson, who could not, on account of the sun, see it, but, after fumbling it, ha kicked into

touch on bis own side of the half-way flag. The Blues speedily assumed the aggressive as, headed by Isaacs, they rushed the ball to right under the Southland po3ts. Lang passed the ball for- ' ward in attempting to throw it to Downes in the centre, and the Maroon forwards, working closely, managed to get the play removed from their twenty-five, but a smart kick by Lang, which Thomas marked, sent it back again. Thomas' kick returned the ball to Lang who replied with a high punt and, De Joux failiDg to take the ball, it fell from him over the line, a force down resulting. Thom&B kicked well out, but a pa: sing run, in which Montgomery, Cran, Downes, and Laurenson had a share, had the ball immediately back in the Southland quarters. Cuff tried hard bub ineffectually to relieve the pressure, and then Cran, kicking too hard, forced the Maroons down again. Laurenson marked the ball from the kick out, and Harming prevented a return to bis kick, but the Southland forwards returned the compliment immediately afterwards by bearing down on Downes and preventing him from getting his kick. Jenkins smartly cub off a pass from Crawfurd and, with Murphy, was instrumental in shifting the play to the Otago quarters, where Grenfell was tackled before he could get his kick. The Maroons worked hard for a score, and the supporters of Otago had an anxious few minutes of it. De Joux had a capital chance to pass out to tho other three-quarter backs, but hung to the ball, and as he continued to do so when he was tackled a free kick was awarded to the Blues, which enabled them to clear their lines. A powerful rush of Southland forwards was well stopped by Lang, and then followed a pretty piece of play by the Blues' backs. Crawfnrd secured tho ball from a scrum about the centre of the ground, and slipping round jinked the opposing halves and ran to the quarter back?, where he passed to Downes. The latter carried the ball as far as the full back and then transferred to Laurenson, who had just got over the line at the corner when Thomas pulled him down, smashing the corner post as he did so. Montgomery made an indifferent attempt to convert the try. Ekensteen kicked out, and Crawfurd replied with a high punt, which produced a force down, Do Joux allowing the ball to roll over the lino. Thomas kicked out, and Lang's return sent the ball back to Thomas. Ff om the Southland full back's reply the ball was obtained by Johnston, who passed to Cran. The latter missed the ball but kicked it on, and Thomas bad to kick it as it rolled into touch near the goal line. After a few scrums, another force down was registered against Southland. Thomas again kicked out, and after Downes had returned tho ball the Maroon forwards carried it with a good rush up the field. Grenfell was well tackled by Tapper, and the visitors swept inside the Blues' twenty-five and menaced the line. Cuff got smartly away from behind a scrum and tried to cross the line when he should have passed, the result being that he was grassed in the nick of time. As on the previous occasion when their goal line was in jeopardy, a free kick enabled the Blues to remove the danger. Ekensteen returned the kick well, but through the instrumentality of Crawfurd and Cran the play was taken to the quarter-distance. Martin was prominent in another Southland rush which was promptly stopped, and then Isaacs broke through a scrum and dribbled the ball for half the length of the field, when it came into the hands of Thomas who muffed it and had hurriedly to kick it into touch. Treseder worked hard to shift the play, back, but in vain ; and then Crawfurd whipped the ball out to Cran, and the latter sent it on to Lang, who very smartly crossed the line at the corner, and running round scored behind the posts, The kick was entrusted to Laurenson, who registered a goal, amid loud cheering. The ball, having been set in motion again by Treseder, was returned by Cran to B.ain who fumbled it, but put it into touch. Isaacs came nicely through a scrum, but the Maroons were awarded a free kick on account of Drabble playing the ball, when off side, and this being tsken by Ekensteen had the effect of shifting the play to the Blues' twenty-five. Downes lost some ground through running back and then kicking straight outi nto touch, The Maroons then set up a desperate onslaught on the Otago line, and it wss some time before goal was out of peril. Cuff and Tapper, at this stage, worked very hard behind the scrum, and the former actually appeared to be over the line on one occasion while the latter crossed it, but was tackled and not permitted to ground the ball. Frustrated in this way, the Maroons had resort to passing, but their efforts in this direction were lamentably weak, and the upshot was that Lang succeeded in removing the play outside the Otago quarters. Back charged Treseder and Tapper through to the full back, who was tackled before he could kick, but the Blues were again assisted by the poor passing of their opponents and somewhat relieved the pressure. M'Robio and Murphy returned to the attack, but their efforts were nullified by smart play by Laurenson, supplemented by good work by Torrance, who was instrumental in shifting the play well into neutral territory. De Joux showed up with a smart run, and the Maroons lost another good chance by slowness in passing, M'Cleary being enabled to cut in and take the play outside the Blues' quarters; while Isaacs and Harming carried it on to the centre. Jenkins was in the van of another rush of Southland forwards, which took the play into Otaso territory, but through the exertions of Matheson and 'Crawfurd the ball was quickly back at the centre, and Laurenson assisted with a good kick. The Maroon forwards, who were playing with great heart, were headed by Ekensteen in a powerful rusb, and Hughes gained a good deal of ground by breaking away from the line. The Blues then carried a few scrums, and Harming, Matheson, and Isaacs took the play past the centre, where Downes secured the ball and kicked to Thomas, who was not only prevented from getting his return but who stuck to the ball so that a free kick was given to Ofcago. The ball was placed about the quarter distance for Laurenson, who sent it outside the posts. Ekensteen kicked, and a rash of Otago forwards from the centre followed. Isaacs started the rush and passed to Montgomery, who made a good run almost to the line, when he passed. The ball was not taken, but was kicked over the line, and there was a general scramble in which Montgomery scored. Laurenson successfully took the kick at goal. Downes nicely returned the kick-off, and Matheson executed an effective piece of dribbling, Lang, Tapper, and Crawfurd were conspicuous in some play in neutral territory, after wh'ch Cuff was instrumental in taking the play into the Blues' quarters, where it remained for a few moments till a smart kick by Cran Bent the bell well past the centre. Torrance was in the van of a rush of Otago forwards, which resulted in the ball being taken over the line, a force down being recorded. The tick out was followed by some scrums, and then a pass from Cran gave a show to Lang who wap, however, finely grassed by Tapper. The ball was taken w sll up to the line by Matheson, and, after Johnston had almost got across, Torrance carried the ball over and scored near the posts. Laurenson, being entrusted with the kick, placed his third goal, and half time was the called, the score standing:— Otago, 10 points; Southland, nil.

For the second spell Montgomery set the ball in motion, and picking it ap passed to lorrance,

who transferred it to Banning, and about 20yds had been gamed when the latter passed forward The Maroons obtained a free kick shortly afterwards, but were pub on the defensive by good play by Laurenson. From a line out M'Robie got away, but Cran stopped a dangerous lookiDg rush, and then a ruu by Bain transferred the play to the centre. Harming broke away with a dribble, but kicked too hard, and Thomas securing the ball punted into touch- at the quarter distance. A dodgy run by Crs.wford took the play in close proximity to the Maroons' line, and the same payer again- securing the ball succeeded in cleverly crossing the line. Laurenson, exhibiting unexpected ability as a place kick, again improved the score. Treseder kicked off, and an exchange of kicks between Downes and Bain left the ball at the Oiago quarter distanco. The Blues' forwards shifted the play to the centre, and then, by the instrumentality of Johnston (who charged down a kick by Bain), Harming and Matheeon it was removed to the Maroons' quarters. Tapper and Treseder came to the rescue of their side, the latter being collared by Laurenson, and, after good play by Lang, the Blues were put on the defensive by &msrt work by Cuff. Isaacs and Cran, Isaacs and Crawfurd, and Montgomery were the actors m separate dashes which .took the play past the centre, whence a fine passing rush, in which Crawfurd, Cran, Downes, and Laurenson handled the ball, imperilled the Maroonb' lines. Treseder relieved with a good run, and Cuff and and Jenkins shifted the play to the Otago quarters, which wero cleared by a free kick. Isaacs and Torrance transferred tho operations past the centre, and Crawfurd and Isaacs followed this up by removing the play into the Maroons' quarters. Ihe visitors, with Martin at the head of affairs, worked the ball back to the> centre where Downes sharply marked. Hi* kick was returned by Ekensteen to Grenfell, who kicked nicely into touch in neutral ground. Torrance and Treseder were conspicuous by their exertions, and Downes "and Crawfurd invaded the Maroons' quarters. Treseder replied with a good run, but Harming and Montgomery speedily had the play back in thevisitora' territory. Treseder, this time assisted by De Joux, cleared his quarters again, Lang cleverly stopping his progresp, and Tapper with a gopd kick sent the ball to Grsnfell, who kicked ib well down the field. Montgomery getting away from the lino put the Maroons on the defensive, and Cran and Crawfurd successively were nearly over the line. Tho visitors escaped, however, with a f orcedown. Not so immediately afterwards, for the kick out having left the play at the quarter distance, Crawfurd snapped the ball at the back of a scrum, and, eluding the grasp of the Southland half-backs, got away on a fine run, taking the ball up to Thomas, when he passed to Johnston* who crossed the line at the corner. Montgomery's kick at goal fell a long way short. Downes rather feebly replied to the kick off» and the Southland forwards swept down tho field well inside the Blue's quarter?, where Grenfell picked up neatly and ran into touch. Cran was chiefly instrumental in shifting the play back to the twenty-five fl ig, bat the Maroon* kept up a determined attack, and one of the forwards was nearly over. Through the agency of M'Cleary, the play was shifted outside the Otago quarters, but Treseder headed a charge back. The Maroons, by bad passiDg, sacrificed a good chance, but the play continued near the Otago lines till Montgomery shifted it away, and Thomas*, playing too close up, was tackled before he could get his kick. A good kick by Crawfurd was responded to by Thomas, who returned the ball to the Otago's twenty-five, and Martin and Todd dribbled it on to a few yards from the line. From a punt by Crawfurd a mark was obtained by De Joux, who placed the ball, within fair kicking distance, for Treseder, but the attempt was a failure, the Southland captain kioking the turf with bis foot. Immediately afterwards the Maroons obtained a free kick, and Hanna had the ball placed for him. A force down resulted from the kick. The return to the kick out left the ball at the Blues' twenty-five, but as Bain failed to take the ball when kicked to him by Grenfell, M'Cleary charged op to the centre. Lang, Cran, De Joux, and Murphy were prominent in the play which followed, and which was mostly in the Blues' territory. M'Cleary, Drabble, and Laurenson removed the play past the centre, and Crawfurd, Cran, and Laurenson by a passing run shifted into the Maroon's twenty-five, where Crawfurd again secured possession and passed to Johnston, who transferred to Oran, the latter dropping across the line. The kick was not at an easy angle, but Laurenson registered his fifth goal. The kick-off was returced by Grenfell, and Cuff kicked to the Blues' twenty, five, whero the ball was left after an interchange of compliments between Downes, Bain, and Grenfell. "No side" was then called, Otago winning by 17 points to nil.

The following shows tho result of the matches that have been played between Southland and Otago:—

1887, at Dunedin— Otago won by 1 goal 3 trie* (6 points) to nil. 1888, at Invercargill— Drawn, no icore 18S9, at Dunedin— Otago won by 4 goals and 3 tries (15 points) to 1 try. 1890, at laveroargill— Southland won by 1 goal and 1 t»y (4 pointi) to nil.

1891, at Dunedin— Otago won by 5 gaols and 2 tries (17 points) to nil.