Football.

Southland Times, Issue 14146, 5 September 1898, Page 3

Football.

OTAGO v. CANTERBURY. (By Telegraph.) Christchurch, Aug. 3. The day was fine and the ground in capital condition f>r the annual foot bill match Otago v. Can'er bury. The attendance numbered 5000. Canterbury (reds) won the toss and Otago (blues) kicked off against a light brer zs. From a free kick at centre Fincham bad a shot and the ball landed under the bar. Otago forced ; a feat repeated immediatily after. A series of fine passing rushes followed by Price, ] Forbes, Balch and the wings, and Otago | was again forced. The Canterbury passing | was persistent but erratic, and Otago was busy defending. Hobbs, O’Shea and Munro then rushed right down the field and Hobbs scored near the comer for the Blues but McKenzie failed with the kick. Pascoe followed the kick out and smothered . Stephenson and Otago was again defending. I Forbes made a good run and penned the ; Blues, but O’Shea chared the line with a • kick to centre. The 'game was now very . fast, Forbes in particular playing cleverly. ' Orchard made a good pot which forced the visitors. Even play followed -till the Blue forwards got on a passing rush to the R ds’ line, Bush clearing the line with a dribble. Play was of a give and take nature, mostly in Otago’s territoiy, for a considerable time, until Sinclair, Duncan and M ison made a passing rush down the fi 11. Fincham, by good touchlino kicks, and Pascoe and Cowper, by consistent following up,kept the Blues back ti 1 half time. With the wind Otago at once b"gan an attack and Canterbury was forced. The game was not so fast and the Reds were penned. Finally Duncan got the ball from Mason and scored at tbe corner, and O’Shea kicked a well-judged goal. Canterbury now rallied and the play was even at the centre, Pascoe and Cowper smothering the Blue halves. Then came the first real bit of passing by the Blues. Given shot the ball out to Duncan, who passed to O’Shea, who got a splendid opening and scored, but failed with the kick. Otago maintained a strong attack, and fine passing by Duncan, O’Shea, and Armit resulted in the last-named scoring behind the posts: Mason converted. Balch recovered the ball after a mistake by Orchard, who was playing a poor game, and made a fine dash through the Blue forwards. Orchard made a good run and kicked hard, and Balch got the ball in the middle of the forwards, making another splendid dash. Forbes here injured his shoulder and went off the field. Orchard went up to five-eighths

and at once made a god dash. Canterbury was getting the ball, but their passing was wild. Balch again made a fine run through the forwards, being tackled by O’Shea, Duncan and Stephenson ; he, however, ran back to centre. Revell made a dash to Otago’s line, but McKenzie saved wel. Foil .wing this Murpby was nearly in and the whistle sounded—Otago 16, Canterbury 0. The Reds’ baoks p'ajed without combination though Foibes was the best back on the ground. The Otago backs all played well and of a fine lot of forwards Given and Smith were the best. The local forwards played well in the first spell. Mr A. McRobie was impartial as referee.