SYDENHAM v. DUNEDIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2612, 6 April 1904, Page 52

SYDENHAM v. DUNEDIN.

The annual interelub football match be- ' tw«en Sydenham and Buncdin was played ' on the Caledonian Ground on Saturday afternoon in the presence of about 700 spectators. The weather was very warm — in fact, the day was more suitable for eriok-ct than for football, — but nevertheless both ( teams showed fairly good form at tim.e-3, ""' settling down to their work very well, considering that the season has yet scarcely commenced. The result of the game — a win for Sydenham by 5 points to 3 points — was , fairly indicative of tike merits of" the teams, and there is no doubt the visitors deserved ' their win. The forwards were fairly evenly , matched, but the visitors were more successful in getting the ball from the ccrum ' than the Dun-edin men were, and their backs therefore had better opportunities. The kicking of the Sydenham backs was pretty ■ good, enabling their side to gain a good ! deal of ground at times. At such an early ] stage of the eeason it could not be expected , that there^would be any brilliant play, but ■ the display given by Reid, wing- three- | quarter for Dunedin, was decidedly good. That player showed plenty of dash, and put j in a lot of solid work, and he should prove • a ve-ry serviceable man for his club this season. Stalker, who played five-eighths, j gave, a most disappointing exhibition, his play being exceptionally poor throughout. The Dunedin team have elightly changed thedr uniform since- last season, havrag adopted a gold band for the tops of their ' stockings with the object of giving variety ! to the blue. The change is an improvement ' on the previous colours, but it was notice- 1 able that one. player appeared on Saturday ! in all blue, thereby presenting a contrast to the other members of the team. Afternoon, tea was kindly dispensed by tho lady friends of the Dunedin Club, and was great-ly enjoyed b3' all who partook of it. Mr A. ' Dowries controlled the game to the satis- ' faction of players and spectators alike. | Sydeaham won the toss, and took advantage of a light wind that was blowing from tho harbour end, but played dtiring the first , spell with the sun in their eyes. Dunedin \ kicked off from tho Kensington end, and within two minutes after th-o start of the game they had placed three- points to their credit, Reid (wing- thiee-quarter, who formerly belonged to the Milton Club) scoring near the corner. Paton took the kick, but the ball went nude. After the kick-out the ■visitors held thoir own better, and for some time play was in neutral territory. Svcten- „

ham thru worked then- way down the field, arid from a rcium npar i':o Dunediii hue the ball went to Austin, v, ho scored between tho posts attcr a pretty mn. Austin was entrusted with tho kick at goal, and converted easily, giving the visitors a lead of two points. Towards the end of the spell Syden'bam played better than Dunedin tiid, but only on one occasion did they become dangerous, and the homo team m turn invaded their opponents' territory just before half-tmie, but without result. On changing ends Dunedin took the ball very clcso to lbs Sydcnham line, but tho advantage was of short duration, and the visitors soon romdved the ecc-ne of operations to midfield. For the next -20 minutes tho .play was of a give-and-take nature, the gocd kicking by the Sydenham back 3 beiug, of material service in keeping the homo toam in check. During this time Dun-edin had a gocd chance of ocoring, but ths opportunity was lost through Stalker failing to take an easy pass. About halfway through, tho sne-ll Sydenham pressed strongly, but the homo team was saved by the ball going into touch-in-goal. Sydenham had the upper hand for some time, but about five minutes before th>a finish of thf' game Dunedin be'Canie dangerous, Sydenham saving by a timely forcedown. Nothing further of moment occurred, and when the gam© concluded, the scores were : Sydsnham 5 pointe. Dunedin . . 3 points.