FOOTBALL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 260, 27 July 1908, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

RUGBY. OTACO BEATS . WAIRARAPA. A GOOD FIGHT. .VISITORS RALLY IN SECOND. HALF; ; . (BI .TELEGRAPH—PRESS . ASSOCIATION.) . ' ", Dunedln, July 25. Tho representative football match, Otago r. Wairarapa, was played on tlio Caledonian ground to-day in splendid weather. The ground was in excellent, condition, and tho attendance was about 7000. In .tho first spell Otago. had the best of the-play, and kept Wairarapa defending almost, tho..whole .timo.. The home forwards played. splendidly,, while ! their opponents gave a somewhat disappointing display, the. .backs being particularly weak. Otago scored four-tries, one of which was converted, and when tho teams crossed over the visitors had a deficit of 1.4 '.points ■ to wipe off. In the second half, howeytr, Wairarapa showed to much better advantage, ancl the spoil was evenly contested.; There was -a. decided improvement in tho visitors' play all round, thoir forwards playing well together, and their backs doing sonie fi.no kicking, while their tackling, which had been';, decidedly-weak iii the. first, half;' was decided and certain. Otago's-tackling, on the- other hand, was not so good as in the first spell,' players frequently catching a -man too- high. In the opening stages Wairarapa beat Otago for tho ball in tho scrums, 'but as tho ganio progressed Otago were more successful in this department. At half - time . Cadivallader, who. Nad sustained a broken nose, retired, and was replaced by Lyall. The teams wore" as follow:— Wairarapa. , ' ' FULL-BACK: - - ■- - .. Duggan. -. - THREE-.QUA'RTERS: , Darvill, O'Leary, Russell. FIVE-EIGHTHS: N. M'Kenzio,-. Groubo.. HALF-BACK: I '. ' ' Adams.' , FORWARDS: - ' - -, | Uadwallader, Mason, Brenchloy, Johnston, Levick, Hcndorson, Barry, R. M'Konzio. - OtagO. .. ' , FULL-BACK:/- ... Kindley. - ; .- <■ ■ ' ; THREE-QUARTERS: • O'Sullivan, Bonnet, Stalker. FIVE-EIGHTHS: ' Eckhold, M'Leod. ' . ' HALF-BACK: _ -V . Sutherland. V. r - FORWARDS: . ' S. Casey, Fitzpatrick, Ivimey, Paton,', I'Konzie, Johnston, • M'Donald, M. Casey." FIRST- HALF. Otago won the toss and Wairarapa had a strong sun: in their eyes and a fair breozo against them in tho first spell." Otago asserted their superiority from the commencement, and during tho .wholo of the first'spell the "ball was seldom on their, side of half-way.' Good kicking and fast following-up by Otago soon after tho btart, saw. the visitors pressed down in. their, 25. Eckhold .narrowly missed .scoring, and immediately,,afterwards. M.'Le'od had a fruitless pot at goal. Paton had -two shots at-goal ; 'in quick succession, - - but- on' each occasion the -ball missed its mark. After' about a quarter of 'an' hour's play. Otago backs started; a passing' bout, ' which resulted in O'Sullivan-scoriilg'near tho .cor-:; ner, Johnston converting. Otago? ... ... ... ... ... .'6,.'.,. Wairarapa ... ■ ... 0 Good kicking by Wairarapa- took play close to; Otago's line, but the defenders' "'cleared-'without -difficulty,' and soon-had: tho visitors busy defending. From the line-out Paton initiated a- passing rush, -which'onded in S. Casey scoring/ near the corner. Johnston failed with the* kick. ,

Otago ... ... , . ... 8 ■ Wairarapa 0 A little later the homo team broke away near halfway, and after the backs had taken the ball near the visitor's line, the forwards, took a; hand in the passing, and M.- Casoy Bcored, tho kick at' goal being a failure. \ ' ■ Otago' ... ... 11 ■ .Wairarapa ... ' ... 0 Wairarapa held.their own fof a tiriie,- and. ton one occasion got to their 'opponents' twenty-five, but just before half-time Otago got an opening and O'Sullivan scored again. No goal was kicked,. and the .spell ended— otago. .... ... 1] "Wairarapa .... ... ... , , 0 SECOND SPELL. 'At the opening of the second spell Otago , were aggressive, but a splendid rush by Wairarapa forwards took plav to tho homo team's twenty-five where' Stalker came to the rescue. From tho line-out the visiting backs broke away on a splendid passing rushj.whicb resulted in Darvill scoring a fine try .in a good position', six minutes..after..the resumption.O'Leary failed, to convert. • , Otago ... - ..." " ; ... 14 . Wairarapa ... ... ... ... 3 - Soon afterwards an excellent. kick by M'Kenzie sent tho ball . out near Otago's - line, but the homo team kept their opponents in check. From a free-kick O'Leary.lind a shot at goal 'from near half-way, making a good - but unsuccessful kick. Eventually a good line-kick by I'aton put Wairarapa on the defensivo, and Otago set up a warm at- ' tack. A good passing bout hy tho home backs j penetrated the defenoe, O'Sullivan- . scoring in a goodipo3iti6n. ' had 110 difficulty iri : 'converging. •- V ; " ' 19 Wairarapa- ... 3. ; Wairarapa "then, .asserted j-thomselves" and' quickly added,to;.their score. An- ; exc6llent' kick resulted in'.tho, ball ; going into 'touch within a yard 'lino. - From. the' line-out tho leithfir 'w'.ent - to-M'Kenzie,' who made a clever run-.'and then passed to Dar•vill, who .dashed, over, the lino besido. .the' posts. O'Leary converted easily. ' ;; y. Otago ' 19 Wairarapa 8 ' ; Tho visitors i maintainedVtheir - advantage /or a time,, and 'work, in which Henderson was prominent, took play well yithin Otago's twenty-five, but Eckh'old relieved. Tho homo team then forced their >pponents back, and' tho visitors had to "'orco down. Otago maintainod a strong attack and M'Kenzie (Otago) almost got over. ImmMliately afterwards the Otago backs got . <*?.?■ on another passing bout, and O'Sullivan scored his fourth try in a handy position. Ivimey failed with the kick. ' Otago ... .;. ... ... ... 22 Wairarapa ... ... ' ... ... 8 . Even play followed, the Wairarapa showing up well' in_ the loose and .tackling. very smartly. Tho visitors were gradually pressed back, however, and Stalker got oyer tho line but knocked the corner flag down. Tho Visitors held thoir own for almost the rest of tho spell, and as a reshlt of judicious kicking got # well insido Otago's-twenty-five, where some fairly exciting play took place. Tho attack was repelled, however, and just on time Otago rushed tho ball to tho other end, where O'Sullivan Was almost' over, the line. _ Tho. game ended— ' Otago .. ...; „i 22 Wairarapa ... ... g