THE VISITING TEAM WINS

Otago Witness, Issue 2528, 27 August 1902, Page 53

THE VISITING TEAM WINS

The fact that only one interprovincial football match was arranged for Dunedin thia year made the Otago-Southland match unusually interesting to followers of the Rugby game, and it was not surprising that 7000 or 6000 people went out to tho Caledonian Ground en Saturday afternoon. At the start the ground was in capital order, and a breeze was blowing- from the northeast, but this died away in the first 15 minutes, and before long a light raim was falling, which to a large extent marred the enjoyment of those who had gone out to see the game. Both sides were fairly confident, »nd on paper fcr>e Blues were the heavier team. As the Southlanders took the field, however, there was reason to believe that instead of their forwards averaging some Sib or 61b less than Otago, they were quite •up to the weight of the local mcai. The teams were as follow: —

Otago (Blue).— Full back, E. Booth (11.6); three-quarters— R. Baxter (11.4), R. Bannot (10.7), J. Stalker (11.7); halves— J. Knowles (9.10), W. Munro 11.10), J. Duncan (12.6) ; forwards—J. Spiers (11.0), J. Ronald (12.4), J. Mitchell (14.7), A. Hobson (13.2), A. Fen wick (14.0), F. Given (13.0), C. Stewart (11.8), R. Ado.m6on (12.7).

Southland (Maroon). — Full back, J. Taylor (11.6); threa - quarters —P. Jacobs (11.8), H. W. Murphy (11.4). J. Christophers (12.0); halves — W. J. Stead (10.6), G. Burgess (11.12), P. Fraser (10.0); forwards— A. M'Nie (11.8), P. Hogan (12.6), ■W. Fraser U2.10), I. Jenkins (12.8), J. J. Taylor (12 8), C. Purdue (14.6), W. Whitaker (12.4), T. Whitaker (12.0). Referee— Mr Frank H. Campbell. Touch Judges — Messrs D. M. Munro (Otago) •nd R. Galbraith (Southland).

The Southlanders winning the toss, Jenkins decided to play from the harbour end. W. Whitaker returned Given*s kick-off, and m, minute after a free kick to the Maroons " let them into the Blues' twenty-five. The visitors got the best of the ■scrummaging ■which followed, and tho ball went out near -the corner. The Southland forwards beat the Blues on the line-out, and the leather being kicked over the line Otago took refuge in a force down. Passing between the Southland backs led up to another attack, but Baxter, cutting off a pass, made a good run and gained a lot of grouJid. The Maroon fonvards were now warmitug to their work and playing with a lot of dash. Duncan and Kno%vles, by good collaring, stopped a dangerous rush, and the veteran •with a smart kick 6ent the ball out near the corner. The Maroons again showed their superiority on the liaie-out, and were pushing their way out of danger when an infringement gave the Blues a penalty kick in an excellent position. Tho ball was placed for Bennet, and although the eagerness of the Maroons resulted i« tho referee ordering "No charge," his attempt was a feeble one, the ball falling short. Jacobs next showed up by a clever dodgy run through the Blues' forwards and started a passing rush which took the ball into the Otago twenty-five. Off -side play gave Southland a free kick, and Jacobs placed a splendid poarl. Southland 3, Otago 0. On resuming, good following up by Adamson end Duncan put the Maroons on the defensive, the ball going out at the corner. The Blues failed to break through, but got another chance from a free kick. Booth made a good but ineffectual attempt to equalise the bcores The Southland fonvards %vere getting all over the local pack, who %vere outclassed in the scrum and in the loose. Nothing of interest ocourred till a few minutes later, when Munro got away %vith the ball and passed nearly -everyone but the full back, But being unsupported he was pulled down by Taylor and a golden chance was lost. Stewart was the only man near him, and the remainder of the Blues' forwards were nowhere. A lucky mark by W. Whitaker brought further relief to the visitors, and shortly after Otago again forced. Rain began to fail 'steadily aud to nfrke the bull

difficult to handle. Give-and-take play followed, and towards the elojo of the spell a lively five minutes ensued in tho Southland twenty-five. Adamson, by good following up, started a dangerous rush. From a scramble which followed Stalker got the ball amd made a dash for the line, but was collared and lost the ball. Knowles smartly picked it up, but the Blues, who weie woefully slow in coming round, failed to prevent J. J. Taylor getting possession aud streaking clean away down the field. W. Munro cut across and iaid him low, while Booth also assisted in stemming the charge. The spell ended with the Blue 3on the defensive.

On changing ends, Purdue kicked off, and play^ centred till Given came to life and led a forward rush -into the Maroon twentyfive. Munro assistod with another serviceable kick, and the Southlanders were momentarily penned up in the corner. As usual, they got the best of the 6crummaging, and some fast play ensued, which eneded in the Blues' quarters. The Blues returned to the attack, and again the Southland foiwards by combined play cleared their lines. I'iom a throw-in about the centre the ball was pa=sed out to Christophers, and the wing made a brilliant run for the line beforo he was collared by Stalker. Tho Maroons, not te be denied, came away With a strong forward rush, which Booth was unequal to stopping, and Purdue and Taylor took the ball over th» line at the corner, "the latter scoring. Jacobs was entrusted with the ktick. but failed to improve the try. Southland 6 points, Otago nil. The Maroons continued aggressive, and soon Burgess was charging- down on the line, but he was laid low by Booth. Adamson led the way ou*-, and then Duncan initiated a pretty posing rush, the ball going to Bennet and finally to Stalker. Jncobs-'s tackling was fatal, and nothing resulted. Soon after this Taylor was penalised for lyinj oil the ball, anu Booth made another unsuccessful attempt to kick a goal. Offside play by Whirakei- gn\o Bennet a similar chancf, and his kick, falling short, was touched by an opponent. Another Southlander, who was offside, was about to start off with the ball, and th« referee awarded another free kick right in front of the goal. This time Bennet put the ball over. Southland 6 paints. Otago 3. It was now very close to t«e call of time, and the Southlanders had no difficulty m holding the Blues in check till the " bell rang, the game ending Southland ... 6 points. Otago . 3poinli».

The disappointing feature of the match from the local btandpoint was the display given by the Otago forwards. Although on the cards they were set down as the heavier team, their formidable opponents pushed them about as they liked in the eerunis, which they also tcrewed with advantage to themselves. The chief fault of the- Otago vanguard wan their apparent reluctance at followiug up. and in me first spell they seemed content to leave this to Duncan, who was only supported by Adamson and occasionally by Fenwick. 0n the other hand, Purdue and J. J. Taylor led the Maroons' forwards up the field with unfailing regularity, and never lost a chance and charging down on the particular member of tho Blues' back division who happened to be receiving the -ball. In tho second spell the Blue* infused a little more dash into their play, and Given showed something of hia old form. On the hne-out the superiority of the South - landers was very marked, and on their Saturday's form should give a good account of themselves in the north. Tlie Otago backs, of course, did not get the ihances that the Southland rearguard did, and the halves showed up better than the threequarters. Duncan played a magnificent game, and his play was a complete answer to some of tho^e who are ready to suggest that the veteran is not the man ho used to be. One could only regret that he had not a better team to lead into the field to support him. Knowles and Munro both jimti fied their inclusion in the team, but this could not be said with the same degree of confidence in regard to Bennet and Stalker. Baxter did the little he had to do well, and Booth at full back played a good, though far from perfect, game. In the Southland back di\ ision the honours wer* shared by Stead, Burgess, and Jacobs. J. Taylor at full back was a very hard man to pass, and he also kicked with great judgment. P. Fraser, the serum half, was very quick, but his success was not a little due to the unfailing regularity with which his forwards secured th* ball. Mr F. H. Campbell controlled the game with strict impaitiality. and hih decisions gave K atiffaetion to both sides, although the crowd eeemed to think at times that he was rather strict. We are inclined to think that if he erred at all it was on the right side, as there was a. tendency amongst both teams to Indulge in a lob of offside play. The game was contested in the best of spirit. Owing to the dark blue uniform It was not generally noticeable that the Otago leprc6entativoa were wearing a black band on their left arm out of respect to the late e\presideut of the 0.R.F.U.. Mr J. P. Maitland. The following is the record of match' 1 * played between Otago and Southlanu to date : — 18S7, at Dunedin —Otago won by 1 £o^l and 3 tnes (6 points! to ml. 1838, at Invercargill. — Drawn, no scrue 1959, at Dunedin.— Otago won by i goals and 3 tries (15 points) to 1 try. 1890, at Inveicurgill. — Southland won by 1 goal and 1 try (4 points) to l.il. 1891, at Dunedui —Otago won by o goads and 2 tries (17 points) to nil. 1892, at Invercargill.— Otago won by 2 goals and 3 tries (12 points) to nil. 1893, at Dunedin. — Otago won by 1 goal and 2 tries (9 points) to 2 tries (4 points). 1891 (September 12), at Inveicargiil. — Southland won by 1 try (3 points) to nil.

1894 'September 22), at Dunedin.— Ofago won by 1 goal and 1 try (8 points) to 1 try (3 points). 1895 (August 17), at Dunediu.— Otago won by 1 try (3 points) to nil. 1895 (September 18), at Inveicargiil.— Otago won by 2 goals and 1 tiy (11 points) to 1 g' •! (4 points). 1896 (August 8), at Duuedin. — Otago won by 1 try (3 points) to nil. 1896 (September 23), at Invercargill. — Southland won by 1 goal and 2 tries (11 points) to ml.

1837 (August 24\ at Inverrargill. — Southland won by 1 try (8 points) to nil. 1897 (September 4), at Dunodin. — Southland won by 1 Dotted goal (4 points) to nil. 1898 (August 31), at Invercargill.— Southland won by I try (3 points) to nil. 1808 (September 17), at Dunedin —Southland won by 3 tries (9 points) to nil. 1899 (August 19), at Dunedin. — Otapo won by 4 triea (12 points) to 1 goal (5 points). 1899 -(September 6), at Invercargdl. — Drawn, no score.

1900 (August 22), at Invercargill. — Otago won by 1 goal and 1 try (7 points) to nil. 1900 (September 15), at Dunedin.— Otago v^m hx. 1 aoal and 4 txies (17 points), to siU

1901 (August 3), at Dunedin. — Drawn, no score.

1901 (September 4), at Invercargill. — Southland won by 2 goals and 1 try (11 points) to 1 try i 3 points). 1902 (August 23), at Dunedin. — Southland won by 1 penalty goal and 1 try (6 points) to 1 penalty goal \i points).