SOUTHLAND v. OTAGO

Otago Witness, Issue 2170, 26 September 1895, Page 33

SOUTHLAND v. OTAGO

The eleventh meeting of Otago and Southland representative Rugby football teams took place on the 18th inst. at Invercargill before a very large attendance. The weather was all that could be desired, and the ground was in splendid order. The Otsgo team averaged 12st lib and Southland list 7^lb. Duncan captained Otago (blue), aud Bain Southland (marooa). For the third time this season Southland lost tho tcs«, and had to play against what little wind thure was and with the gun m their faces. Jenkins kicked off, and Cunningham returned well down the fi«ld. Scrums followed, in which P/iest was prominent for his off-side play, and Southland waß awarded a free kick. Pollock kicked into touch from the line out, and some good kicking was put in by both Bides, tho Blues haviug the beet of it. Mannon then got- away, but, passing wildly to S. Hirst, Stephenson picked up the ball cleanly,' and gob over near the corner. Eiquilaut took the kick, and converted from a difficult angle. Otago 5, Southland 0. Jenkins kicked off, and an exchange of kicks left the ball in touch in Otago'a twenty-five, from which the Maroon backs by a good ruah took it on to the line. A free kick saved Otago, and more kicking between Bain and Torrance brought the leather down to the centre, where Pollock got a mark, but through a forward being in front of the mark all the ground gained was lost). From tho

scrum the Maroons were given another fre« kiok for off-side. Bain gob in some good kicking, and Anderson and M'Rcbio took the ball on to Obago's line by a good rush. Here ft lot of scrum work was done Mil the Blues were forced. Duncan kicked out and Bain returned into touch, and then some pretty play was seen amongtt tho Maroon three quarters a» they took the ball to Ofcago's territory, where Iho Blues were giveu a free kick fur off side play, which took the ball to tho centre. Mackenzie herd mulled a good pass from Duncan, but fchs Blue backs, kicking ha-d, forced Southland down again. Mauson and Pollock then relieved their side by judicious kicking, till Pollock kicked the baU to Cunningham, who kicked into touch inside the Maroon twenty* fivo. Sbephensou and Bent then exchanged kick->, which took the ball back to centre. Erquilant and Torrance now started a rush and took tho ball on to Southland's Hue, nnd from tight play Davis got away and looked like BcoriiiK till brought down by Manoou. From a ecrum in tbe Maroon twenty-five tbe Blues were again awaidcd a freo hick for off -side ploy, and Priest kicked a good goal from a difficult angle. Otngo 8, Southland 0. Jenkins kicked off and play w»s about the centre till Jenkins start-d a good rush, which wan spoilt by Man^on paising forward. Poll ck got a raaik iff Duncau in a line out, but D Hucst^waa I unsuccessful with a 3hot at goal. Sfcephensoa ' returned, and play was iv the centre till M'Farlane from a mark kicked into touch inside the Maroon twwity-flve. Bain by high kicking wotktd the ball back again to Ot&go's twenty-five, when a good rush among the Blue forwards was Btopped by Best at centre. A long exchange of puutiug by tho halves resulted in tho Maroons being forced down. Play was thon confined to the homa team's tweuty-ftve till 8. Hirst, Bull man, and Jenkins took the toll to the Otugo t*t>uty-five. Hfre Davin marked S. Hirst's kick, and S. Hirst *gaiu returned, and Pollock aud Mauson following up quickly took the ball or. to the Blues' goal line at the corner, when time was called. Otngo 8 points, Southland 0. Tho slight breeze increased somewhat as ths home team t- ok up their position at the northern end for the sccoud spell. M'Farlaue kicked off, and the ball bounced out incule tho Maroons' twenty-five. From the line out loose play, in whioh Duncan, Mackenzie, Best, and M'Robio were conspicuous, cook the ball to the Blues' lino, where tbe visitors were given a free kick for off - side play. Given kicked high, and the Blue forwards rushed the ball to the centre, where Anderson stopped it. S. Hirst here made a good lun, but could nob pass Duucan, and passing wildly lo^t all the ground gained. More free kicks for off-side to both sides aud hard kicking resulted in Otago being forced down. From the kick out the Southland backs wera ! attacking splendidly, aud Bain and Pollock kept the visitors b isy. From a scrum in front of the Blues' goal Pollock made a long pass to S. Hirst, who potted a splendid goal. Otago, 8 ; Southland, 4. Ross's kick went into touch at the Maroons' twenty-five. From the lino onto the Blues' thtee-quarters did roma very fail' pr.saiug. From a free kick Priest failed tc place an apparently easy goal. Southland failed to mark the kick, and pretty p»nsing by Davis, Duncan, Cunningham, nud Stephouson rr suited in tho latter getfiug over the line. E-iquilant failed to convert. Otogo, 11; Southland, 4. Mansou kicked out inta touch at tho centre, where, after a ecrum, % hard kick went down to Ross, who failed to get his kick in, and play waa trans« f erred to Olago'o tweaty-uve. A free kick to the Maroons weut behiud, but Mackenzie brought the ball out by a good run and kicked into touch. Southland hero gob another free kick for off fride, and foicad Otago dowa. Robs kicked out, and an exchange or kicks took th 6 ball to the centre, where from a scruna Jenkins and S. Hiist took the ball to Cunningham, who stopped them in good style, and, heading a ru-h, took the ball to the home team's twenty five, where Baiu relieved his side by using the touch line. Mackenzie got a mark from tha line out, but the kick vretit straight into touch. More loose play, aud Southland was awarded two free kicks in quick succession, aud Otago was forced. Long punting and a judicious use of touch on the part of the Southlaud backs brought the bull back again to the Bluea' line, where Southland was given another free kick, and D. Hurst misstd an easy shot at goal. After the return to the "kick-out Duncan and Cunningham tcok the ball to the centre, and the Blue forwards took it on to the Maroon line, whore a scrum was formed, and one of the Otago forwards, lifting his foot in the scrum, gave Southland a free kick, and Bain kicked into touch. Duncan marked from the line out, and Prieet had a shot at goal, but failed, and Southland was forced. Man«on kicked out and Mackenzie returned * into touch inside the Maroon tweuty-Hve, when time wr.s called, leaving Ofcag'o victors, tho scores being : Otago ... 11 points Southland ... 4 points At certain times the Ot»go forwards wera working the scrums, but on the whole the home forwards were the better. The buck division in the home team was not quite bo good as the visitors, bub the general opinion is that Bain was the best three-quarter oil the ground. The game was played in the' besfc of spirit, and no player was hurt. Mr M'Robie controlled the g»ms and gave general satinfaction, while Messrs Hobson and Cameron were linp umpires.