NORTH OTAGO v. SOUTH OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 57

NORTH OTAGO v. SOUTH OTAGO.

The match between chosen representatives of North and South Otago took place on tlio Caledonian Ground on Saturday in almost perfect weather. The attendance at the outset was not iarge. but towards the end of the play increased greatly. A breeze which swept the ground from the harbour end favoured tho Northerners, who won tho toss, and elected to be aided by Boreas. Albeit the standard of play did not rise to very great heights, the match was by no means uninteresting, and there were at times glimpses of really good football. The backs of the Northerners were superior to those of the South, buc rhe Southern forwards exhibited greater dash and played with better combination than the vanguard of the North. The footwork of both teams left a great deal to be desired, the tendency throughout the game being to kick too hard, " with tlio result rhafc the attacking- side lost complete control of the ball. Up to a certain stage the passing was good. JThe ball came out smartly from the scrum half to the fivceighths, but at this division it invariably hung fire, and the subsequent passes to the three-quarter line lacked accuracy and precision. The only real difference between the teams oil the day's play was the little cxti'a knowledge of the Northern backs. For the winning team. Onglcy, Toohoy, Uttley, Cm-ran, and Sutherland (back?), and Falconer, Forsyth, and Minty (forwards) stood out for good work : while on the side of the vanquished, Hislop, Marshall, Caldcr, and "To bin (backs), and Thow, Brady, Oharlton, and Duff (forwards) were conspicuous throughout tho gam&. The match was contested in a very . friendly spirit, so that Mr M'Farlane's duties as referee wero performed under very pleasant circumstances. The teams were constituted as follow : — «. Not?th Otago.— Full back, Taylcr; threequarters—Ongloy, Sutherland, and Ourran, halves— Toohey, Uttley, and M'Crre£or; for-wards-"Porsytli, Taylor, liear, .Breed, Minty, Crawskaw, Somerville^ Falconer. SptrTH .Otago. — Full back, Adam;, threequaxters — Tobin, King, and Reed; halves — flislop, Marshall, and Gaidar; forwards— M'Kenzie, Christie, Ciiarlton, Thow, Sayeis, Moir, Buff, and Brady. North Otago won the toss, and played from tho harbour end, with the wind in their favour. The game settled down into Southern quarters shortly after kick-off. For some time play was confined to the forwards. Tho first incident of note was a kick at goal from about half-way by Ongley, but the bali fell outside The Northerners continued to be aggressive, and pressed the attack. Ilislop («,crum half-back for South Otagc) was at this stago doing good defensive work, clearing the line- time and again by kicking into touch. South Otago found" it prelty stiff work battling: up against the breeze, but they played solidly, contesting every inch of ground. The Northern backs now started to pass the ball about, and from ono of these rushes Sutherland (the centre three-quarter) put in a feinting run and scored. Uttley's kick at goal was successful. North Otago 5. South Otago nil. Immediately after the resumption of play Calder (the South Otapo fivo-cighths) cut oft a pass and bore 'through to North Otago territory. Continuing the attack, Hislop, Marshall, and King were confpicuous for good work The Southerners were unable to press home the attack, and the Northern backs, assisted by the wind, cleared their line by kicking. North £gain a! tacked hot on" the Southern line, but tho defence was -sound. Towards tho end of the spell a rush of Southern forwards, headed by 13r'ady, Charlton, and Mcir, rolled North back on defence, but the atiack was not sustained, the Northern backs clearing again by hard kicking. Just before half-time Marshall broke away into the Northern twenty-five, but he was unsupported, and the ottack fizzled out and play was returned to the Southern side of half-way. Without' stopping for a spell the teams changed ends. South Otago now had tho advantage of tho breeze. Brady broke aAvay with tho ball at his toe into the Northern twenty-fire, but North replied with a return charge. Minty being conspicuous 'in shifting play to Southern quarters, where Uttley had an ineffectual shot at goal and Curran and unsuccessful pet. Immediately after the dropout Southern rolled the Northern men back on defence. From a scrum in front of the Northern goal the ball was parsed out to the Southern backs, but an excellent cl.aneo of scoring was thrown away by erratic passing. Again the ball came out, Hislop, beating a man, handed the ball on to Tobin, who dashed over at tho corner. Adam failed with tho kick. North Otago 5 points, South Otago 3 points. The drop-out was marked by Calder, whoso return found its way o\cr the Northern line, and a force down only resulted. Play being resumed, the Northern forwards followed up the dropout, and a good ru&h, headed by Taylor, Minty. and Breed, placed South Otago temporarily on tho defensive. Ilislop (the South Otago scrum half) was instrumental in removing the danger, and South again attacked. From a scrum Ilislop passed out to the Southern backs, the ball" finding its way to Tobin (on the wing), who made a good run down tho line, eventuallypassing in field to Calder. who was tackled by Ongley. South Otago again

cyme at (ho North, who had an anxious lime staving off the repeated attacks of Calclcr and Tobin, the latter getting in several dashing runs which but for the excellent defence of Onglcy would have been dangerous. Give-and-take play followed, the ball travelling- up and down (he field at a great rate. From a mark by Brady in midneld Hisiop endeavoured to place a goal, but the ball fell short. An interchange of high kicks followed the droa-out, Curran (the Northern wing threequarter) finding the lino at tho half-way flag. South now renewed their efforts to get on terms with their opponents, Hisiop, Marshall, Calclcr, and Tobin being conspicuous in passing rushes, which Ongley and Uttley broke in upon and scattered before becoming dangerous. The next incident of a sensational character was a fino run by Uttley into South Otago twenty-firp, whore ho passed to Falconer, ihal player running strongly until pushed into touch by Hisiop a few yards from the Southern hue. Brady (the Southern vring forward) cleared with a good kick down field, sotting North on the defensive. A counter rush of Northerners, in which the ball was handled by M'Grcgor, who passed to C'rawshaw, who in turn transferred to Falconer saw Lho Southern line again in danger. Fi'om a scrum in fiont of tho Heutliern goal For&yth dropped over and scored. Onglcy failed with tho kick, and the crame ended:--North Otago 3 pts. South Otago 3 pts.