MATCH AGAINST ROXBURGH. ROXBURGH, September 7.

Otago Witness, Issue 2426, 12 September 1900, Page 51

MATCH AGAINST ROXBURGH. ROXBURGH, September 7.

After good treatment by Host Montgomery, a, fine drive in the coach, marred by a few showeis, brought the team lo Roxburgh. Mr Hugh Craig i^; piloting the team through, and was c-pccially good lo them. To-day was beautifully fine, and Roxburgh had a halfholiday for the match. The members of the team visited the claims all round, and arc gelling to be experts. There was a good attendance at the match to-day. Smith and Bennel stood out, Dey uiid Bond playing.

Eoxuup.fjK Team.— R. M'Nish, W. M'Msh, Toms, Tamblyn, Eooney, Harley, Tamblyn. Craig, Geoige, Cormack (2), Haughton, Toms (captain), Fyfe, Carroll.

Roxburgh won the to&s, and Olson kicked off with the puu in his eyes. The ball went into touch at the Roxburgh half. Otago got on a passing rush, which M'Nish spoilt, and kicked into touch. Craig then dislocated his shoulder stopping a rush, and Eady took his place. Olago attacked, but a good kick relieved. Rowlatt broke away from a scrum. the ball going into touch near the line. Bad passing and free kicks gave Roxburgh a spell, but passing by the town team brought the ball back. Roxburgh answered by a forward rush, which King stopped, and kicked into touch. A foiwaid rush by Otago brought the ball back), when a free kick to Roxburgh centred play; but a passing rus-h among the Blue backs saw Dey rushed out near the corner. Another free kick lo Roxburgh was marked by Olson, King failing. Harley, cutting off a pass, kicked past the halfway, but King brought vho ball back with a good kick. Another free kick to Roxburgh, and King made a good run down the field, Harley stopping him. Good parsing by Dey ought to have resulted in aVf-coie, but a pass was missad ; Hislop forced with a kick. Bad passing gave Roxburgh an opening, but Casey, picking- up, saved. Ca^ey then ran lo the line and Harris marked, but Olson failed with the kick. From a scrum the ball came lo Munro, who potted a good goal. After play had been resumed passing- by Hislop, Fordyce, and Sinclair allowed the latter to score a try, Okon making no mistake with the place kick. After the kick-off play was m Olago's territory, and Roxburgh, getting a free kick, R. M'Nish had a pot, -which failed. Hislop got away from touch, kicking down the field, and, R. M'Nish mulling, Dunne picked up and scored between the posts. Olson again converted. A gopd rush by Roxburgh then forced Otago. A little later a free kick lo Roxburgh saw the ball go out in the Olago's twenty-five. A loose rush carried the ball to Roxburgh's line, but Cormack took it back to the Otago line, King saving. Roxburgh, from a line out, carried the ball over, bul it was ruled held. Otago cleared with a rush, and half-time was called.

Cormack kicked off in the second spell, and after an exchange of kicks the ball went into touch. Hislop, Fordyca, and Sinclair, bj r good passing, attacked strongly; bul a free kick to Roxburgh relieved the pressure. Ot^go again attacked, Dey scoring on the blind side of the f-crum. Olson failed with the place kick. Fordyce kicked up the field, and in a loose scramble Hislop marked. Olson succeeded ill placing a goal. After the kick-off Roxburgh rushed down the field, getting a free kick in front of the goal, which Harley converted. From the kick-off fast following up prevented Casey returning; but another free kick was given to Roxburgh. A forward rush by Otago was nullified by a speculator, which went to Casey. An exchange of kicks followed, and Otago lost ground by bad passing. Dey, being too anxious to cut in, spoilt several passing rushes, and Munro spoilt a chance of a try by knocking on. Anothev free kick was awarded to Roxburgh, and Bond, mulling, the ball was carried to the Otago line. A succession of scrums followed, but Olson relieved. Munro, bsinii accidentally off-side, spoilt a good rush. Roxburgh replied, and Tamblyu kicked into touch near Otago's line. Scrums succeeded, and Harley, Estopping a rush, Tamblyn picked up and dashed over. Harley's kick failed. • Hislop kicked off, and the ball went out past the half-way flag. From the throw in the Otago forwards swept down to the lines, Willett scor-inar. Olson failed with the kick at goal. Immediately after good passing by Hislop. Dey, Munro, and King let the latter in, but Olf-on failed on this occasion. Dcv returned the kick-off, and spoilt Roxburgh's return ; but off-side play by Abbott gave Roxburgh relief. Bond marked and returned to M'Nish, who found the touch line. A free kick* lo Roxburgh for off-side play by Dunne brought play to the centre, where Dunne broke away from a scrum. But Roxburgh was not to be denied, and retaliated well, play being centred. A succession of xmms followed. Passing by Fordyce, Dey. Munro, and Hislop was answered by a rush by Roxburgh, which Casey stopped, kicking; into touch. Time was called immediately afterward*, the score being : Olago ... 27pomirf. Roxburgh . 6 points. Mr Hairis held the whistle, and Messrs A. Raphael and Bennel were line umpires The Otapo team were having an outing. C.isey and King wers tho only backs show-ing form. Dunne". Eowlatt, and Willetl (forwards) worked hard. Tlie Roxburgh team worked very hard. .The M'Nish brothers. Tamblyn, and Harlev were about- the pick of the backs; Toms, George, and Fyfe played, if anything, the best among the forwards. The Olago team are to be entertained at a smoke concert this evening, and leave tomorrow at 7 for Alexandra, where they have tho fouohest match of the tour. Popular opinion here gives preference to Alexandra.