FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1001, 21 September 1903, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

OTAGO DEFEATS WELLINGTON. (Per Press Association.) Dunedin, last night. The interprovincial football match, Otago v. Wellington, was played on the Caledonian Ground yesterday, in the presence of about 4000 spectators. A fine, strong wind blew down the field, which was in good condition. After an evenly contested game, Otago won by 6 points (tries scored by Baxter and Porteus) to 3 (a try scored by Haruham). Otago had the best of the first spell, having the wind behind them, but were kept busy defending during the second half, and only good defence prevented Wellington from scoring. Tho scrum work was pretty even, Otago having the best of it in the first spell, and Wellington in tho second, but the latter forwards showed more dash and slightly better combination.

AUCKLAND DEFEATS CANTERBURY. Per Press Association. Christchurch, last night. The Canterbury-Auckland match resulted in a win for Auckland by 11 points to nil. There was no score in the first spell, and in the second Canterbury went to pieces.

KAITI-CITY V. WEST END. An uninteresting display of Rugby footjail—if it could be dignified by such a ;erm—was the outcome of the meeting of ;he above Clubs at Victoria Domain on Saturday afternoon. Both teams were without the services of several of their most prominent players, their places being filled by juniors, who rendered a B°°“ account of themselves, and scored all the points put on by the winning team. The teams took the field as under : Kaiti-City : Holder, Delamere, W. Hay, A. Coleman, Wylde-Brown, Witty, J-Hay, Ball, Newton, Hullaney, Martin, Bright, Hansen, Pufflet. West End : C. Hepburn, Balneavis, McKinstry, G. Roderick, Poananga, Campbell, Friday, Skeet, W. Roderick, Tier, J. Davitt, Wepiha, A, Sherriff, Clarke, and Kinder. The first spell opened briskly, and the West End backs got on some smart passing which promised an interesting display. These expectations were not realised, however, and though play continued fast the greater portion of the spell was little more than an unscientific scramble. From a loose rush, Witty scored for Kaiti-City, and Pufflet failed at goal. Before the spell closed Kaiti-City rushed the ball over the line, and Pufflet was awarded a try, from which he placed a goal. The second spell was a dreary exhibition, and was only onlivened by the hot attack kept up by West End during the last ten minutes of the game. They frequently crossed the Kaiti-City lino, and five-yard scrums were formed in rapid succession. Eventually the forwards heeled out to Ponanga, who ran round the scrum, and scored after beating the opposing bacKs badly. Wepiha failed to place a goal from an easy angle. At this stage Wepiha got on one of his avalanche-like rushes, and ploughed his way down the line, the attempts of the Kaiti-City backs to stop him being quite ludicrous. He crossed the lino, but had the ill-duck to lose the ball. No further score was made, and Kaiti-City thus won by 8 points to 3. Mr McCredie was referee. As the Union has ordered the match in which Huia defeated Kaiti City on August

Bth to bo played over again, that match will have to be played before tho championship is decided, The position of the Clubs after Saturday’s game are : —KaitiCity, 10 banner points ; Huia, 9; West End, 9. The Huia Club was leading with 11 points until Kaiti-City’s protest was decided agaiust them. Tho final match is set down for next Saturday, but we hear that Huia are disiucliuod to play the match over again, It will be a matter for regrot if tho champion-hip of a season, in which the Club’s have beonso close to one another as has been tho case this year, should end in uncertainty.