LATE FOOTBALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2323, 8 September 1898, Page 35

LATE FOOTBALL.

An old Otago representative who saw last week's matches at Jnvereargill and Christchurch writes: — "Taking the two matches, I have -wvlnGssed, the forwards this year are, in all-round play, the best we have had for many years. GJven's exhibition in Canterbury was the best display of all-round forward work I have seen for yearri." F. Given had a very narrow escape from missing his passage to Wellington by the Botomahana last Saturday night from Lyttelton. He was in that port with a friend, who informed him that the boat would not leave until tne arrival of the 11 o'clock train, and on hearing the last whistle blow, he made a rush for it, but the Itotomahana had cast loose, and was about 9tfc or 10ft from the wharf. Given, however, made a splendid jump, and landed safely right in among his comrades. The Lyttelton Times in its report of the Canterbury-Otago match last Saturday says : Canterbury supporters, calculating from the raccesses of the province's representatives in the northern tour, and from the strengthening of the team since its return by the addition of a number of heavier backs, were confident of victory, whilst the Otagans were none the less sanguine from the fact that the southern province is said to be represented this season by the best set of forwards that has ever been at its disposal. The anticipations of the friends of the southern men were justified, as the visiting forwards showed a great superiority from the outset, and, by beating the opposing forwards, were able to prevent the Canterbury backs from ever becoming really dangerous. . . . With the advantage of the wind in the second spell, the visitors quickly changed from a defensive to an aggresive attitude, and their forwards playing a magnificent game, had the local forwards beaten after less than a quarter of an hour's play. This enabled their backs to operate freely, and a substantial score was soon reached.