ASSOCIATION NOTES. RETURN OF THE OTAGO TEAM. HAWKE'S BAY v. POVERTY BAY OTAGO v. SOUTHLAND. OTAGO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION. NORTH v. SOUTH MATCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2631, 17 September 1902, Page 54

ASSOCIATION NOTES.

RETURN OF THE OTAGO TEAM.

HAWKE'S BAY v. POVERTY BAY

OTAGO v. SOUTHLAND.

OTAGO RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION.

NORTH v. SOUTH MATCH.

iced -» sound on©. Weighty and dashing tcrummers, equally .good in pack work, line out, and open, . are supported by epeedy, strong, aggressive backs, every man of whom can "bear his full share of the burden if called upon to act on the defensive. A Wellington criticism of the Otago-Wel-lington match : The chief merit of theOtago team was its solid forward phalatix, though the backs are a fair lot. Duncan proved himself to be resourceful as ever, end to be by no "means a back number y-t ; {but be is not the brilliant player he c .•was. On Wellington's side he was outshone 'by Wallace, wlm*- played up to his best form of two seasons ago. He should, however, try to run straighter than he does (wben playing five-eighth. That was the jweak point of his game on Saturday — notably when he once ran backwards for a few yards in an endeavour to run round a man. Knowles was in a class by himself sis compared with F. Roberts. The latter did fairly well in a go-ahead way, but he Hacked method and initiative. The other back players did from "fair to medium," as to defonce. G. Spencer and CJlaridge deserve to be complimented for jfine line-Jacking. In the forwai"ds, Mitphell, Roddick, and Porteous shone for JQtago, and J. Spencer, Gallagher, Dodd and "Joyce for Wellington. The Otago representatives had a "nartov %queak" to-day,- says the Hawke'fi Bay Correspondent to the-. New Zealand Times - after recent- -Otngo-Hawke's Bay match. £Tbe Bay team, benefiting by the Wxpejience gained in the Canterbury and Soutjblaud matches, played a rattling game, lespepially the forwards, who surprised the by their good solid work, and beat X)tago continually on the line, from which jjgood rushes werp started. When the game-was 9 points all. 20 minutes from time, r thero was great excitement. The Otago .anen were not playing up to their reputation, »nd it was only in the last 15 mjnutes that they woke up". It was the dodgy, flukey j 3>l*y of Duncan — a past master in the art of , making points — who managed to break through the Hawke's Bay forwards several .times towards the close, that won thp game •for Otago. The visitors' ecore of 15 points ,to the 9 of Hawke's Bay does not represent ' 'the closeness of the game. The experienced , iplayers from the south had more knowledge than the comparative juniors in this pro- j ,vince, and it was better knowledge of the ) 'igame. and not superior play either. amongst S the visiting backs or forwards, which serured victory for them. Otago was indebted to jfche veteran Duncan for winning the match '('for them. He rallied hie- men at times -when renewed vigour was required to win, And his efforts were successful. Hawke's 33ay got behind Otago's Hue three times and Otago scored io\ir tries. The penalty {goal kicked by Otago was the only .goal /placed during the play. On to-day's form i !end in view of Wellington's draw wiMi Southland, the Wellingtou men should make it very merry for the Otapro representatives at Wellington on- Saturday. — [There was anerriment. but it wa-s all co the Otago side. -^Fvix BackJ "The return match between thp Queenrtown tod Lumsden Clubs was played at Qneenstown on the 11th insh. when the liorne team .Won by 6 points <two tries scored by "Warren) to nil. -"TJie O.R-FiU charity sevon-asid" tournataent wiirjbft.held on the 20fch 'and 27tU inst. fl!here-" will' be junior-^and' -senior events, and [(entries close on .Monday next. ; IA. team of Lyttelion juniors defeated the Second Fifteen' of the Taranaki Star Club by 17 points to 3.

Bt Sockebist.

The following table chows the position pi the school teams up to the 10th mat : — '

Xinion Street r Counted out of competition iMacandrew Road/ • A portion of this week's illustrated^pages 0* "th* Witness should prove of interest to Association footballerE. Incidents in connection with the recent Wellington-Otago patch played ' in Dunedin are reproduced, while groups of the Wellington and Roelyn jSlevens also appear. - Next Saturday will see the close of the Rocker seasch, and with it the" most successful one in the history of the game in. thinediu. With the amount of work which pas been involved, Mr J. D. Clark, the hon. Secretary of the 0.F.A., is deserving of no fend of credit for the way he has acquitted himself. Secretaries of his calibre are wanted for years to com© if the game is to )nak» those strides which has marked it for leaison 1902. "More grounds!" is the cry heard on all tides. Two more junior teams are mooted. [Their formation is already a foregone conclusion,, and if grounds are available they "Should be among the contestants next season. F. Smallbono, ex-Roslyn and Otago goalkeeper, is doing a spell iv Dunedin just now, after being on the West Coast for the past six months. ' W. Morrison returned to Wellington last Saturday to pack up his portmanteau and return to Dunedin. Having made suitable business arrangements here, it is reasonable ito suppo«e that he will be playing for Northern again when the season comes round. The Association match between ex-Rangers und Rangers, played on Saturday, furnished An interesting contest. The ex-Rangers comprised three ex-representative players — O'Connor, M'Laclilan, and Sligo, — and Asb'"ton. a this year's representative. The Rangere (juniors) surprised them»elves last Saturday, when they defeated the " has beens " to the tune of 8 goals to 5. At one btage of the game the exißangers seemed to have had the result at Ifcheir mercy, when *hey wort- leading by fno to 2. However, that "tired feeling" made itself manifest, and consequently the form of tli© juniors told at the finish. A ■wish has been exjwessed that this fixture be an annual one. Our old friends of H.M.S. Ringarooma are once again amongst us, and are anxious to play a game with one of the local elevens next Saturday. While in Auckland the Ring&rooma Eleven defeated the premiere.

G-rafton. I would suggest that the representative team which met Wellington on the 6th be pitted against them if a match can be arranged. If the local association do not feel disposed to arrange this fixture, one of the strongest teams should take the field, and no doubt fhey will find that the "boys in blue" will, take a deal of beating. Their captain, C. P. O. Collier, is being communicated with, and as there are no other fixtures of importance next Saturday, there should be no difficulty in arranging a match.

I i A goodly number of football enthusiasts assembled at the railway station last even-

ing to witness the home-coming of the Otago football team from their victorious tour in

the north, amongst those present being several officials of the O.R.F.U. After the •members of the team had received the congratulations of their friends they were escorted to a drag, and, cheers having been exchanged, they were driven to the Criterion Hotel, where they were officially welcomed. Mr J. Hutchison (president of the Rugby Union), in welcoming the team home, congratulated them upon their meritorious performance, and remarked that of all the representative teams that had gone on tour this year, Otago was the only one that had not sustained a defeat — 'tin's, considering the

.disadvantages under which a visiting team always played, being highly creditable. He would also hare liked to congratulate Mr Roddick, had that gentleman been present, on a performance which had "been _un•equalled in Ot-ago representative football for the pact .two years — viz., kicking * goal from a try. ilr Hutchiaon concluded by . asking these present to drink to the h-ealth of the team, coupled with the names of ! 'Messrs Macassey and Wilkinson (managers) ' and Duncan (captain). The toast having ! been honoured, the three gentlemen named i briefly. I The members of the team speak in terms .; of high praise of the treatment accorded them in the north, and state that nothing was left undone to make their trip enjoyable wherever they went. The weather, too, was all that could be desired, rftin having been conspicuous by its entire absence. ; Four members of the team — Booth, Porteous, Fenwick, and Roddick — remained isi j Wellington to take part in the inteiMsland , match on Saturday next.

GISBORNE, September 13. The annual -football match, Hawke's Bay v. Poverty Bay, played at Gi«borne to-day, was won by Poverty Bay by 11 points to 4. The game throughout was fact and exciting, the local -men maintaining the advantage throughout. In the first spell Newton scored a try for the home team, and Balfour kicked a fine goal from a- mark for the visitors. Hatae and Johnston scored tries for PovertyBay in the second spell, one of which Williams converted, the game ending 11 points to 4 points. Rain set in after the ccmD!^ncem«.nt of tlio second spell, rendering the ground and ball greasy. Considering the ooncHtvoae, .the display was of a, high order, the excitement of spectators being kept at concert pitch. The attendance was over JDOO. The visitors were entertained at dinner at. night.

The following team was selected on Saturday night to represent TDtago against Southland on Wednesday, at Invercargill : — Full back, Casey ; three-quarters, Gilray, Ariains. and Teesdale ; halves, Knowles, Munro, and Booth ; forwards — Roddick, Porteoug, Foster, Phillips, Hobson, Fenwick, Mitchell, and Stewart.

The weekly meeting of committee, held on Monday, was attended by Mesns Kutchieon (president), Chifcholm, Mucdonald, Harris, M'Laren. Duncan. Priest, Wilkinson, Maca3sey, Munro, and Smith.

The treasurer was authorised to pay the proceeds of the Adam Benefit Fund, amounting to £101 17e, to Mrs Adam.

A letter was received from several returned troopers asking that a, match be arranged betweem a team chosen from members of the various contingents and «ome other team. The secretary wae authorised to arrange for a match to be played between the above-mentioned team and a team from H.M.S. Ringarooma, it being understood that the latter could raise a team and were agreeable to p]ay; tho match to take place next Saturday.

It was -decided that one-half of the proceeds of tli© miaitdh.es on tlie 20th and 27fch inst. be given to the Fallen Soldiers' Memorial Fund, the other half to be devoted to charities. ' Mr Ross was appointed manager of the team travelling to Southland.

A WIN FOR THE SOUTH ISLAND. - WELLINGTON, September 13. The match between North Island and South Island teams attracted an attendance of between 5000 and 60C0. Heavy rail fell an hour before the stait of tbe game, otherwise the crowd would ha\o been larger Fortunately, it cleared off before play started, and the sun shone out during the afternoon. Despite the recent rains, Athletic Park was in surprisingly good condition. The spectators were treated to an excellent exposition of football and a most exciting contest for the supremacy, the Southerners winning by 20 points to 14. The first spell was all in favour of the North Island men, of whom the Auckland contingent were bright particular stars ; but when ends were changed the Southerners swept all before them, the Cemtertmry section standing out in marked prominence. The North Island backs had a good innings m the first spell, as their forwards kept the play loose and fed the back division, but in the latter half of the game the Red forwards oarried all before them, and, their backs showing great improvement, th© Southern combination was enabled to pile up 14 points, while their opponents could not increase the total to tbeir credit at half time. On the whole, it was one of the most exciting games ever witnessed in Wellington, and at times the spectators were aroused to a high pitch of excitement. Among tho-e present were Lord Ranfurly, Sir J. G.Ward. and the Hon. Mr Mills, and each received an enthusiastic reception on taking his seat. The teams, wore as follows: —

North Island (Blues). — Full back, E. M'Kenzie (Wairarapa) ; three-quarter B — Asher (Auckland), W Wallace (Wellington), E. N. Tregear (Wanganui) ; five-eighth, R. M'Gregor (Auckland) ; half back. H. Kieruan, .

wings— J. Lang (Auckland), L. Armstrong ("Wairarapa); forwards — E. Dodd ("Wellington), E. "Wylhe (Manawatu), W. Cunningham, P. Lone. R. M'Duff, G. Nicholson (Auckland), A. Gadweller (Wairarttpß). Average weight 01 the team, 12st 101b. South Island ( Reds).— Full back. E. E. Booth (Otago); three-quarters— W. Smith (Nelson), E. T. Harper (Canterbury), D. M'Gregor (Canterbury); five-e.ghth, 11. E. Wood (Canterbury); half back, P. Harvey (Canterbury); wings— H. G. Porteous (Otago), a. Brunsden (Canterbury); forwards— W. Dusgan, B. Fanmr.g, R. Cooke, T. Cros3 (Canterbury), A. M'A'ie (Southland), A. G. Fenwick, J Roddick (Otago) Average weight, 12st 7lb.

The Southerners won the toss and defended the southern goal, having a verylight southerly breeze behind them. Cunningham kicked off, and during the first few minutes the backs om both sides mulled the ball a good deal. The Northerners' backs soon settled down to work, and play was centred in the Reds' territory. Then M'Kenzie (the North Island full back) failed to take a long kick from Harper, and the ball travelled by itself to the goal line. Smith and Asher raced for it. The latter had the best of the struggle, and kicked into the fence. Shortly afterwaidb M'Gregor (Canterbury) obtained the ball from a broken-up scrum, 'but made a nxiskiok into touch. Th© North Island elected to take a' scrum, and Porteous, getting the ball, cleverly dodged round and scored. Harper failed at goal. South Island 3, North Island 0. After a spell of uninteresting play near the centre, the Blues got on a passing rush, in which Lang, M'Gregor, "Wallace. Tregear, and Long were prominent, and rhe last-named cfDssed the line near the ' .corner flag. M'Kenzie could not improve I the score. South Island 3, North Island 3. The Northern forwards continued to keep ' the forward work open, giving their backs every chance, and a few minutes afterwards Asher received a pass from Kierna/n, and the former mulled it, but Kiernan, who waa close up to him, grabbed the ball about the twenty-five flag. Smith fell as he was about to tackle, and Kiernan had a clear I ran across the line. No goal resulted. North Island 6, South Island 3. Almost immediately on resuming the North Island was awarded a free kick in a splendid position, but Cunningham failed at goal. The Blues continued to have all the best of the game, the Southern backs being very ragged in their play. On one occasion, however, the Reds" forwards got on a great rush down the ground, ' and, a free kick being awarded to them, Harper only missed the goal by a few inches. At .this stage play was stopped for 10 minutes on account of an injury to Harvey, who sprained his snkle. He had to retire, and Fred Roberts (Wellington) took his place aa half-back. On resuming, the Blue books were again to the fore, and as tho result of some splendid passing between M'Gregor and Wallace Asher obtained tho ball. Hia pace stood him in good stead, and he scored a meritorious try. Wallace landed a beautiful goal. North Island 11, South Island 3 Soon afterwards Roberts kicked the ball as it ccnae from the scrum jtear the South Island line. It rebounded from Armstrong's head, s>nd Wyllie securing it scored. "Wallace failed at -goal. North Island 14, South Island 3. Just on tho call of half time the Southerners were given a penalty kick for i off-side play, and Harper put the ball over t,he bar. North Is-lamd 14, South Island 6. Prom the kick-off in the second half the Southern forwards swept down the field. Wallace stopped the Tush and passed to Kaeraau. but D. M'G-regor intercepted and streaked for the- line. He eluded all opposition and scored behind the posts, Cooke landing an ea3y goal. North Island 14 points, South Island 11 points. The Red [ forwards continued aggressive taotie3, and I Harper narrowly miesed a goal from a free kick. A&her here put in some good defen- ! eive work. Eventually the Southern backs #ot on a- pass Lag rush in which Wood, ! Harper, and D. M'Gregor were prominent, the result being that the Canterbury man ran across, and equalised tho scores, the kick at goal being a failure. North Island 14 points. South Island 14 points. For a few mimit°s the North Island were on a vigorous attack in Southern territory, Asher being collared by Smith when ho looked dangeroua, and Kiernan just missing a goal from a mark. The Reds' defence prove too strong, j D. M'Gregor made a long kick from hi« own tw«nty-five, and Aeber, in attempting to take the ball was beaten by Smith, who had i followed up smartly. Smith passed to Cross, who in turn sent the ball to Wood. The j | latter made a brilliant run, dodged all hi 3 j i oppnwpnls, and Beared under th-e posts. It \ l should have been an easy goal, but Cooke ' was unequal to the occasion. So,uth Island j 17 points, North Island 14 points. Within a few minutee Brunsden picked up the bell after a scrum and cent ifc on to Wood. The latter, after a short run, passed to Harper, who whon collared transferred to M'Gregor. j Harper followed up closely, got the ball again from. M'Gregor when he was in trouble and ran across at the corner flag. Harper did not increase the Ecore. Time was oalled shortly afterwards with play in neutral territory. South Island 20 points, I I North Island 14. i For the winners Harper, M'Gregor, and i j Wood were in great form. Smith, who made J several mistakes in the first spell, redeemed | hiniself in the second half. The forwards all played a hard game. For the Northern Tregear shone out most prominently among the baoks, and K_iernan also played a particularly good ganre; Cunningham, Long, and Dorld were the pick of the forwards. The full backs of both teams were wftak j The Rev. C. Coleridg» Harp-er, of Palmerston North, made an excellent referee. ] During half-time the Governor presented ' the Ranfurly Challenge Shield to Mr G F. Dixon, who received it on behalf of the Auckland Union. THE TEAMS ENTERTAINED. WELLINGTON, September 14. The South Island and North Island teams, together with a number of prominent citizens, were entertained a,l dinner last night by the New Zealand Rugby Union. Sir Joseph Ward, ill responding to the toast of " The Parliament of New Zealand," spoke of the keen enjoyment he Kad derived from the afternoon s contest. Sir J. G. Ward also proposed the toast of "The New Zealand Rugby Union," and paid a tribute to the governing body for its efficient con- ! trol of the game throughout the colony. He ■ expressed the hope that the negotiations for the visit of the New Zealand team to the , Old Country would have a successful issue, i Mr A. C. Norris (secretary of the union), in responding, stated that the North v. South match would be an agnual fixture, amd would be played in all the principal ,' centres in turn. Every effort would be made by the union to aend a team Home, j and he indicated that there was a probability I of. South Africa being jpnhi'dfld ia £h* tour.

The Rev. Mr Harper (referee) congratulated both teams upon the. excellent spirit that had prevailed throughout the match.

Team. Normal . . Kaikorai {Green Island . .. .. fWakari . . Kensington {N.E. Valley pEligh Street tMornington Christian Bros. (Albany Street . George Street •« iForbury Boad 1 S Ah .. 12 .. 12 .. 12 .. 11 .. 12 .. 11 .. 12 . 12 a* H .. 11 .! 12 .: 12 1 6 o &• 10 10 9 7 6 7 7 6 -4 4 2 3 1 1 1 0 1 2 3 3 6 5 6 5 9 as Q 1 1 3 3 4 1 2 1 2 2 5 0 i o CU 21 21 21 17 16 15 16 11 10 10 9 6