SOUTHLAND DEFEATS OTAGO. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Volume 23, Issue 2684, 23 August 1905, Page 57

SOUTHLAND DEFEATS OTAGO. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

INVERCARGILL, August 15. The twenty ninth football contest between Otago and Southland .was played to-day under almost ideal weather conditions, and provided a keenly-fought game, the issue being in doubt to the finish. The home team averaged about a stone more than the visitors in the forwards, but Otago matched Southland in the line work and scrum hooking, and at times showed well in the loose. The Otago backs proved faster and more reliable than Southland's, Bennet being specially brilliant,] with Eokhold and Kindley above the average.. Burgess, of Southland, was out of his place at fiveeighths, which considerably affected his play, though he was prominent, as. was Fraser ; while Bain, at centre three-quarter, played brilliantly. Southland,, with the sun in their faces, attacked stvongly,. as usual, but Kindlev proved equal, to all occasions, while Eckhold and Collie put in strong defensive work. The latter pa-ir were responsible for reversing the attack, but the Maroon pack came back strongly, giving a chance to their backs that shord-cl have produced a score. From a. scrum, the ball went t<> Fraser, to Burgess. Bain, and Blackham, who was blocked on the line, and Eckhold, with a lucky speculator, found the line. Bennet marked from the throw-in, and further -reliex--edj but a Maroon, passing

rush let Reid away. A wild pass in, however, enabled Macpherson to cut off and kick to the Maroon full back, who ran well up the field and potted at goal ineffectually. The Maroons kept up the attack, but the passing was inaccurate. Porteous cut off a pass and initiated a rush. Fra&er in turn intercepting", and with Bain's assistance took the play to the Blues' quarters, where the pack rushed the ball to the line. A scrum ensued, and Fraser securing possession dived over, scoring between the posts. Reid kicked a goal. The Maroons kept up the attack, Macpherson. Collie, and Kindley being prominent in defence. The Blue forwards then opened out with fine 100-.c rushes that gained stretches of ground. Sheehan got away well from the line, Adamson, "Benner, and Collie increasing the gain by good kicking, forcing the Maroon full back to mark. He centred, and Adams took the ball, initiating a passing rush that took the play lo Southland's line. The Maroons worked back to the centre, where ColHe got possession and passed to Adams, who handed the leather on to Macpherson, who beat his man and streaked for the line, being thrown into touch-in-gcal. A poor kick-out went to Adamson, who kicked high, and the Blue pack, following up, stopped the return and rushed the ball in great style to the line, where a forward with ready judgment centred along the ground, allowing Thomson to snap up the leather and pass to Sheehan, who scored at the corner. Adams's kick went wide. Sweeping, solid rushes By the heavy Maroon pack "took play to Otago quarters, where Bennet put in a sensational run, beating several men. He outpaced all but Bain, who, on the line, threw his arms round him, . both falling across. It seem a try, but the referee (Mr Gcddes) ruled a force. The next few minutes saw a rush and counter rush, with the advantage against Otago. A dangerous inroad by tho Maroon pack was stopped by Macpherson, who cut across from the wing, fiekled cleverly, and kicked past the halfway. Porteous broke from the side of the seium, dribbling lo the Southland quarterflag, whence the pack rushed the ball to the line. From a scramble Eckhold snapped \jp the leather and passed to Adams to Bennet, who beat his man but hung to the ball till grassed, while Macpherson was working alongside with a clear run and only 20 yards to go. The forwards scrambled desperately round Bennet till Collie got away with the ball at his feet, and, backed up by the pack, carried the ball and the full baok over the line. In the ensuing scrum the Maroons were penalised for offside, but Adams's kick fell short, and Southland cleared to the quarterflag. Spiers broke from the line, and Otago indulged in a good passing bout, Bennet throwing away a chanoe by repeating his former mistake. Half-time brought relief to Southland.

On the resumption of play the Maroons attacked strongly until Porteous, Fitzpatrick, and Adamson broke away to Southland's quarter-flag. Matson, the Southland full back, successfully stopped successive passing bouts by Eckhold, Bennet. and Dobson. Eckhold broke from a ruck, made a fine opening, and spoiled it by selfishness, allowing Fraser to relieve by speculating. From a Maroon forward rush Collie nipped up the ball smartly, kicked high, and got to it again, Reid only saving in the nick of time by throwing the ball out of touch. Blue loose rushes gave Southland a lively time, and a clever mark by Eckhold allowed Adams to kick at goal, but the ball went a few inches wide. Superior , weight now told its tale, and tho Maroon pack, led by Jenkins. C. Purdue, and Lang, made a sustained attack, reaching the Blues' line, despite the fine defensive tactics of Adams. Sheehan, Adamson, and Kindley. Here the greatest fight of the day took place, a pvolonged series of scrums putting Olago's defence and staying powers to a crucial tost, which they withstood, Dobson eventually finding the line at his own quarterflag. M'lntyre, Dobson, Bennet. and Macpherson broke away, but Bain fielded beautifully, punting to Otago's ground, and the Maroons, by dribbling and passing, almost got over, a bad pass from Bain saving the situation for Otago. Olfeide iilay by Eckhold gave Reid a chance at goal. The ball struck the upright and rebounded into play; and Adams punted to the halfway. The Maroon forwards continued to overrun the Otago pack, hub Bennel, by good l kicking and speedy, jinking runs* kept them at bay till Burgess obtained possession and passed to Grace, who cut in very prettily and dived over between the posts. An Otago baok, however, had got to him, and the ball was ruled held. Dobson relieved by a good kick, and Otago momentarily invaded Southland's quarters, where a sv-eeuilator sent the leather to Kindley, who potted at goal, the ball almost grazing the upright. After the kick-out Eckhold again marked in a good position, but Adams's kick failed. Southland again attacked, and were on the offensive till the call of time, but could not score. An unsuccessful kick at goal by C. Purdue from a mark by Bain Mas the nearest they could get. Scores : Southland ...s points. Otago ... 3 points.