INTERPROVINCIAL ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2010, 1 September 1892, Page 30

INTERPROVINCIAL ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT.

AUCKLAND v. OTAGO. The Interurovincial Association match, Auckland v. Otago, was played at Lancaster Park, Christchurch, last Friday,

in the presence of a fair number of spectators. As the teams Entered the field it was at once seen that Auckland had the advantage in weight. G. M'Millan having won the toss, elected to defend the northern goal, thus having the advantage of a slight wind. Brown kicked off for Auckland, whose forwards by good play were not long in obtaining a corner kick, but D. M'Millan and M'Lachlan soon relieved their side by good combined play, rushing the ball into Auckland territory. Here two corner kicks were obtained in quick succession, but the strenuous efforts to score failed. Otago, however, for a time continued their onslaught on their opponents' goal, and Salmond, getting the ball and dribbling well down the field, nearly succeeded in putting it through, the ball just going a few inches wide. After the kick out the Auckland forwards by a splendid dribbling rush, in which Dacre and Brown wore very prominent, took the play into Otago territory, where they obtained a corner kick, but failed to score, and M'Lachlan by a splendid dribble, finishing up by a long kick, relieved Otago. By the good' following up of the latter's forwards they invaded Auckland's goal, and for a short time Auckland had to play on the defensive ; but by some good kicking, however, on the part of the latter's backs and some good play on the part of their forwards, they again dribbled the ball into Otago territory and obtained a corner kick, but nothing resulted. Shortly afterwards Ofcago, by obtaining a foul, managed to clear their lines for a while, until the Aucklanders again, by some good passing, invaded Otago'B goal. But G. M'Millan, by a long kick, relieved his side. Owing to an infringement on the part of Otago the Auckland players obtained two fouls in rapid succession, but some excellent play on the part of Walker and D. M'MUlan cleared the Otago lines. The Auckland forwards, howover, not to be denied, again by some good play took the ball into their opponents' territory, whore one of their forwards had a shot at goal, which was well saved by Garden. The Otago forwards then made an effort to clear their goal, and by a splendid, piece of play on the part of D. M'Millan and Scott they managed to dribble the ball into Auckland's territory, where Salmond, by an excellent kick, almost scored. Half time was called shortly afterwards. Immediately after the kick-off in the second spell, owing to an infringement, Otago obtained a foul, which enabled them to take the ball well into Auckland's territory, where they obtained a corner kick, but M'Lcod kicked the ball out of play. The Otago men for some time .pressed their opponents very hard, but some good play on the part'of Dacre and Brown relieved, and they dribbled the ball well up the field. Campbell, by a good kick, relieved his side in turn, and by a capital piece of play on the part of D. M'Millan and Scott they again managed to take the ball into Auckland territory, where D. M'Millan, by a splendid kick, scored for Otago amidst cheering. From this until the call of time the ball was principally in Auckland territory, the Otago forwards having several shots at goal, but failing to enhance the score. The game ended in a win for Otago by one goal to nil. The play throughout was very fast. The Aucklanders had slightly the best of it in the first spell, but the staying powers of the Otago forwards proved too much for them in the second. The whole of the Otago team played well, the passing of their forwards and taskling of their half backs being much admired. For Auckland, Dacre, Brown, Ramsay, and Chamberlain were most prominent.

WELLINGTON v. CANTERBURY. ' In the match between Wellington and Canterbury, also played on Friday at Lancaster Park, the former won by nine goals to two. The home team, suffering considerably from want of practice and condition, were also out-manoeuvred at all the fine points of the game. The play was even for a while, until Ferguson beat the Canterbury goal keeper with a quick shojb, and after some give-and-take play Hailwood, who was playing splendidly, scored again, and was soon rivalled by Phillpotts. Then Canterbury got well away, and a good centre by Palmer let Gray score for the home team, and at halftime 3to 1 was the score. In the second, spell Wellington made matters very warm- f and scored six more goals to Canterbury's! one;, 9 to 2 being the ultimate Bcore. Hailwood kicked three more goals, and Stewart, Phillpotts, and Ferguson one each, whilst Rutherford was Canterbury's scorer.