ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1858, 18 September 1913, Page 8

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

RUGBY CODE.

OTAGO BEATEN BY WELLINGTON.

CAME OF UPS & DOWNS.

TWO SPLENDID DROPS AT GOAL. (Bj Teltfrrftph.—Freca Association.) Duncdlri, September 17. Dunedin witnessed itß best interprovincial game this season, when Wellington met and defeated Otago on tho Caledonian Ground this afternoon by 18 pointß to 11. About 5000 people wero present. Tho two sots of forwards wero evenly matched, whilo tho Otago backs played with groater finish than their opponents, during tho first spell, at any rate. At half-time, Boy(f, tho Wellington half, retired with an injured shoulder, his.placo being taken by 0. Morris. Otago also changed their scrum-half later in the day, Eckhold receiving a kick in the back.

Otago's Spell. H. Paton set tho ball rolling for tho visitors, but Harris brought play back to Wellington's twenty-five. After a few minutes' play, Mackay broke away with tho ball at his toe, and led the Wellington forwards to half-way, but Black stopped tho rush, and, breaking clean through, handed the ball out to Harris, who dropped over the lino, registering the first scoro. Otago, 3—o. Three minutes aftor tho kick-out, Withers took a high kick near half-way, and, threading his way through tho opposing forwards, passed to Black, who sot Fortune oyer at tile corner. Otago, 6—o. Operating from midfield, Gilchrist, Francis, and H. Paton now took play to Otago's line, only a stubborn defence saying. Parker took a long Itfck from Withors, and, running on, handed on to J. Ryan, but E. Ryan, on the wing, failed to take the latter's pass, and theeffort was spoilt. Play was now mostly confined to tho forwards, but continued fast and open. Gilchrist taking the ball on the full, was hard tackled by Skinner, and temporarily incapacitated. ■ The Wellington forwards presently broke away in a pieco of spirited dribbling, and Wilson, picking up, passed to Mackay, who knocked on when just oil the lino. Boyd came round the succeeding scrum very smartly, but was promptly smothered. Then, in a rush which started from half-way, Hills picked up. and tho ball, g'oing in succession from him to M'Leod, Kinvig, J. Ryan, and E. Ryan, the latter evaded Harris's tacklo in tho 'corner, and dived across. H. Paton goaled with' a beautiful kick. 6 points; Wellington, 5. On resuming, the Wellington backs aot out for the line again, but wero outpaced by tho Otago backs, and E. Ryan fruitlessly attempted to pot. Otago attacked.. but R. Paton flung the ball out to his backs, who again put tho Blacks in ail attacking position. From a throw in the ball was sent out to the Otago backs, and Williams eventually threw put to. Black, who cleverly evaded three of the opposition, and let Harris over at the corner. Fortune goaled with a fine kick. Otigo, 11; Wellington, 5. This was tho state or thinks at half-tirao.

The Tables Turned, Otago attacked from the outset in the second spell, and for some minutes kept hammering away without effect. Then, at halfway, Otago were penalised, ana H. Paton liad a rcsultlcss shot. At Oltago's twenty-fire line Morris threw a 100 pass to E. Ryan, who fruitlessly potted at goal. The Wellington backs sot out again, but Kinvig clung to tho ball, and was penalised. E. Ryan marked, out Paton failed to find tho line, and Fortune returned play to Wellington's tw.enty-fivo. Otago were now penalised for banging on to the ball, butPaton's kick was charged down' right in front of the goal. A hot melee ensued right on tho visitors' line, but Otago failed to score, though Fortune waß once all but over. At this stage, Morris, at scrum half; was failing badly to Btcm the sturdy rushes of Otago' 8 pack, and Wellington looked moro and more like a beaten team. Fortune ran up the line, and, kicking neatly c\er E. Ryan'B head, scoured possession again, and threw in to Davidson, who mulled badly, with a certain score looking him in the face. The Black forwards at once swept play back to neutral territory, and Mackay dribbled up to the Otago line, where Wilson took up tho running, but was thrown out at the corner From the succceding line-out tho ball was kicked out to Parker, Wellington's full-back, who potted a good goal, to the surprise of tho crowd. Otago, 11 points; Wellington, 9 points.

Promature Ironical Dhoors. Both packs wero now playing a hard fighting game, and in a fiot scramblo in mid-field Eckhold .got & kick and. left tiho field. ' Childs camo on behind tho Otago scrum. Mackay marked for Wellington in a good position, but H. Paton failed to raise the ball, and the crowd oheored ironically, but like a flash E. Ryan gathered up the ball and potted' a magnificent. goal.' Wellington, lo points; Otago, 11 points. Wellington's Came. This proved the turning point of tliU gamo. Both teams wero now strung to _ a hi"li pitch, and play became fast and exciting Chilis kicked into Paton'a hands at mid-field, but the Wellington captain failed to raiso a goal from the mark, and tho crowd breathed free again. Wellington woro now doing more attacking than defence, and once J Ryan narrowly missed with a pot at goal. M'Leod marked again from just outside halfway, but H. Paton failed to kick a. goal. Watson, however, let_tho ball roll through his legs, and the Wellington. forwards surging over tho line, R Paton scored, and H. Paton converted. There was no further score, the eamo ending tlirco minutes later with Wellington attacking. Tho final scoros were —Wellington, 18 points; Otago, 11 points. ■