TO-DAY'S MATCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8100, 27 August 1904, Page 5

TO-DAY'S MATCH.

The las. representative football match in Christohurch was .played three weeks ago at Lancaster Park, with the playingfield under water, and the rest of the ground under snow, but for to-day's match between Otago and Canterbury, the ground is clean and firm, and the weather could ba no kinder even though Canterbury is playing its most important match of the season. The Olago — Canterbury game is of all representative fixtures in Canterbury the ono most eagerly looked for, and though the. visit of the. British team has rather exhausted interest in football matters, there has been a revival for to-day's game, and the keenest speculation has characterised ths football talk of recent days. Both teams have earned good reputations by their play in previous matcli-es, . and whereas the visitors are lighter in the forward division than the local team, their backs aro .aid to b- very brilliant. They have had the misfortune to lose the services of their centre three-quarter, Bennett, owing to his having been injured in the match against Southland, and to a team of attacking backs such a loss means a great deal. The lock-forward, Mitchell, also met with an accident in the southern game, and has been compelled to take a rest. The Canterbury team has been fortunate in that only one "of the recognised members has withdrawn, namely, Harvey, who^ has hitherto captained tho red and black side with conspicuous success. Since the inauguration of the Otago— Canterbury match in 1878, tho representatives of the -provinces havo met . twenty -five times, and though tho struggle for supremacy has been a keen one, the score-sheet favours the Southerners considerably. Otago has won fourteen games, Canterbury five, and six have been drawn. THE TEAMS. The teams took the field in the following order : — * CANTERBURY. OTAGa Full-backs- _ „, tt lb et * A. E. Love -ai4 J- Kindley •n 3 Three-quarters. P. Msn-ies . 12 6 R- Baxter . 11 - E. T. Hanper .12 3 E. Booth . .11 » J. Lwrery (oapt.) 12 T C. Gilxay • 12 ° E-lv.s. R. G- Deans .14 -J- King • '}} 1 H. H. Byrne .108 W. Munro •11 j» P. Byn4 . .20 10 C. Hislop •10 10 Forwards. I/. Corbett . 12 . B. Spiers •11 * W. Stas-ao-i .12 J S. Casey -11 « B. Panning .13 10 A. M Donald .13 » F. Nowton .148 D. ©tuart .M •< C. Pearce .IS 4 R. Abbott . 12 3 A. Bruißden .155 6 C. Stewart .13 0 O. Deniham ,12 OW. Johnston .l» » J. "Roddick .12 4 H. Fox-ecus (<«.?»•) I 3 c