WELLINGTON v. SOUTHLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2687, 13 September 1905, Page 57

WELLINGTON v. SOUTHLAND.

> INVJ3RCARGILL, September 6. ' 'The Wellington v. Southland football - mafch was played to-day in glorious weather, •with' a light" breeze blowing across the field, favouring neither side, and on a dry ground. -The, spectators were treated to a fairly attractive contest, though it could not be 6aid i that 'either side gave a good exhibition "of «he game in ail -departments. It was fast, . but this was due not to brilliant and sound play but to the multiplicity' of mistakes made on troth sides, •which brought the attacking team for the time being swooping down on the unfortunate wi£tit TObi- h-a-d 'ailed to support his men. There was really little good combined back play. If there was any advantage in rearguard work, Wellington probablj 'a* t 3~ it, af they could at least field the ball' safely and get their kick in. They ■were deficient, however, in stopping rushes, and this was Jatal to them, as Southland's scores were indirectly brought about by forward rushes. The Red backs had no particular • combination, and it was fortunate for them that they had pillars of strength in !Fraser. Grace, Ba. r. and Burgess. The Wellington forwards played a fine,' dashing ■ game, ' shone in the loose and on the line, and their rushes were deadly. If they Lad been adequately supported it is quite possible the result would have been very different.' The Southland forwards played a solid' game, with occasional flasfies of brilliancy- and dash. In the second spell -they performed most creditably against faster* men. Southland was fortunate in making the 'game a draw, as -the final' score was secured -on the call of time. But from another point of view they 1 should have won_' : handsomely: At least two goals should ." have 'been- added" v tp the list/" aiid much xegret was' expressed' by "the" spectators when -M'Nie-v'-was not ■*" (riven a final chance to improve on the ."total. The cheering which? greeted t.the" concluding- score wag 'only equalled by -the expressions' of' disappointment .when- Bktckliam "failed to pilot the 'leather over the. bar from an easy position and so convert a draw into a victory.' The average weight of 'the teams was- about equa.l, x.nd although* evervfihmsr conduced to a good exhibition of back play and passing that attractive feature of Rugby was rarely ■ in evidence, and the only reason that can be ascribed for the deficiency of good back play was that important links in the combination chains of both teame were weak. In addition, each side had a couple of wingers told off tf spoiling. The match, which resulted ir> W aw, wa3 full of exciting incident from !>«.; uning to end. From the kick-off the visitors played an aggressive forward game for the first 3Q minutes; during which Collerton scored a *rv n.-*rl ,T S' a penalty goal. Southland looked dangerous on two or three occasions, but their nearest approach to n r<M>uc<'on ~£ rVfaat was a kick by C. Purdue from a mark in front of Wellington's goal, the ball going outside of the posts. * —- When Wellington turned their back to the sun in was any odds in their favour that they would win, but the Southland forwards played a great game,' and. principally owing to the fine work of the local vanguard, Hughes scored right at the -very beginning, and Grace did likewise just on the call of time, Blackham in the latter case mining a shot at" goal. The game ended — Wellington, 6~points (a try and a penalty gcal)>; Southland, 6 points (two tries).