Football.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 440, 1 September 1904, Page 5

Football.

Vincent County V. Otago.

The much-talked-of match between

the above teams was played on the

Alexandra Recreation Giound on Sat" urday afternoon last, the Otago representatives having arrived by special coaches on the previous evening, being driven by Mr H Craig and Mr J Sutherland. The weather on Saturday was perfect, the ground was in excellent condition. About 500 spectators were presen f , a great many coming from distant parts of the the county to witness the match. Although the visiting team came with a big reputation, it was generally expected that the local team would at least hold their own, and the supporters of the Greens were more than satisfied with the result of the match, which ended in a decided win for the local boys. About three o'clock the teams lined out as follows:—

Vincent County,—Green—M'Neish, Campbell, Oahill, Cameron, King, Burnside (cap);'Partridge/Riley, Campbell, Thomas, Morgan, Davidson, Crawford and Crabbe.

Otago.—Blue— Wyinks, Armit, Don, BenneS,~Coulter, B Watsonj J Watson, Hariey, Wilson, Moir, Fenwick, Hobson (capt), Paton, Rowlatt, Whelan. ft ~u

Otago won the toss; and decided to play with the sun at their backs, and after the visitors.had givfn their warcry, Burnside kick>d off, Armit returning to green's 25. A free-kick to Vincent resulted in "Otago forcing. A rush by Crawford, Morgan and Riley was stopped by clever kicking by Coulter. The blues were soon in trouble again, and the ball was rushed into touch -in-goal by the greens. An exchange of kicks left the ball in midfield, till Morgan got away with a nice dribble, and some good passing between Cameron and Burnside let the latter near the line, but the blues saved by forcing. An exchange of kicks between the opposing backs, was followed by another onslaught on the Blues line, and King marked cleverly in a good position, Burnside placing a neat goal, Vincent 4, Otago 0. Crawford broke away with a fine dribble, but Coulter saved. The Greens still kept up the attack, and had the Blues defending, Riley nearly scoring near the corner. Good work by the Blues backs saved the situation, and a good passing run between Don, Harley, and Armit took play to the Green's 25. Crawford, Cameron, and King were chiefly instrumental in taking play to neutrai ground. A kick by Armit was returned just in time by M'Neish, and more good passing by the Otago backs was spoiled by deadly tackling by the home team. 1 Play was centred for some time, till a free kick to Otago caused Vincent to force. Some very exciting play took place on Otago's line, and the ball was taken over the visitors line by Crawford. The referee gave it as held-rball, and a scrum five yards out resulted, and more fast play followed, and the whistle went for half-time without any addition being made to the score.

The second spell saw the visitors again defending their line, and were shortly after the start compelled to force down twice in succession, Riley, Ciabbe, and Morgan headed a rush to the visitors' quarters, and J Campbell and Varcoe put in good runs, but were stopped in the nick of time. A passing run by Burnside, Cameron, Varcoe, and Campbell nearly let the latter over, and some tight play took place at Otago's corner flag, the pressure being relieved by Coulter. Burnside just missed a goal from a free kick to Vincent in a good position. Watson and Harley were prominent in a rush by Otago, but the tackling of She home backs nullified the efforts of the Blues, After some tight play near the centre, Oahill broke away with the ball with no one in front of him, but was chased by Harley, but the former reached the line just in time and scored near the corner, M*Neish failed to convert. A little later the ball was rushed over Otago's line, but the visitors saved by kicking over the dead-ball line. Paton made a splendid effort at goal from a free kick, the ball going : under the bar},and a little later the ) same player potted from half-way and again just missed the coveted' goal. Vigorous play .loHowed till the call of time, Otago being forced dowft < 'once again. Time was called with t the ball jn Qtago's 25„ the game ending- • ''"' V^ncenl—C .....':' -.■'■" dtago^-rO.' On the day's play it was universally conceded that the better,team won, and a feature of the game was the fast following up and deadly tackling of the local team. For the home team Crawford played a shining game, and Eiley, Morgan, and Thomas were also conspicuous; but it must be said that all the forwards did exoellent work. Every one of the backs played splendidly, and it is difficult to pick out any for special mentien, The line kicking was especially brilliant.

For the visitors, Coulter did a lot of saving work, but the three-quarter line did not get many chances Hobson, Fenwick, Paton and Watson were about the best of an even lot of forwards.

Mr McDonald, of Dunedin, gave every satisfaction asjreferee, Mr G Smith accompanied txe team as manager.

In the evening the visitors were entertained at dinner and smoke concert, and a few hours were passed pleasantly. The team left next day, en route for Ophir, and St. Bathans, and Naseby.

Ophir V. Otago, The match arranged between Ophir and Otago took place on Monday, The weather was perfeet and the attendance only moderate. Paton kicked off for Otago, and the backs took play into Ophir's twentyfive. After give-and-take play in which both sides figured, good passing

by Coulton, Hariey, Bon and Amu took the ball to the Ophir line, but th local team relieved by good work in their backs. Otago getting the ball in the scrum, and Coulter getting possession, passed out, Patou, after.a good tun, scored behind the posts. Don converted, and half-time being called with Otago 5, Ophir nil. Starting the second spell, Ophir kicked well up the field, and good pas* sing between .'Watson, Do , and Armit took pi y buck, ainl tie forwards dribbling to the line, Hobson scored, but was not converted. Good line-kicking by Opbir gained ground, until a throw out when the Otago forwards got away and passed out to Armit, who scored a try which Don converted. The Ophir forwards then got on some footwork, and were dangerous, Wyinks saving uicely. 0 tago again hooking well in the scrum let Coulter away, and after a neat run potted a goal, Soon after, Fenwick and Watson led a rush up the field, the latter scoring. Ophir then became aggressive, and just in front of the post they .were awarded a free kick, from which Thomas dropped - a goal. Time was then called, leaving the Otago team winners by 20 points I to 3. I

The Otago representatives defeated Hawke's Bay on Tuesday by 6 points to 3.

The match between the Otago team and a combined team (representing St. Bathans, Cambrian, Matakanwi, and Ophir), played at St. Bathana on Tuesday resulted in a win for Otago by 8 points to nil.

The Otago team plays a combined team at Naseby this afternoon, The ball used in the British-New Zealand match at Wellington waß presented to Mr G 0 Faohe, one of the selectors, as a memento of the first match played between teams representative of Britain and New Zealand.