FOOTBALL.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1007, 28 September 1903, Page 3

FOOTBALL.

OTAGO EASILY DEFEATS

CANTERBURY.

By Telegraph—Preßß Association. Dunedin, last night. Tho interprovincial football match, Otago v. Canterbury, was played on the Caledonian ground yesterday in tho presonco of about 4000 spectators. It resultod in an easy v/in for tho homo team by 20 points to 8. Tho weather was perfect and tho ground in oxcellent condition. The game was pretty oven in the first half, in which Canterbury had tho advantage of a light wind, but in tho second spell the visitors wero completely outclassed, both in back and forward play. Otago was more successful in getting tho ball from tho scrum, and the local backs had therefore a hotter.opportunity. Tries for Otago were scored by Given, Abbot, Stalker, and Baxter, two boing converted by Miller, who also kicked a goal from a mark. The try for Canterbury was scored by Wood, after a brilliant run. Mr Galbraith made an efficient roforee.

HTJJA WINS THE BANNER. After tho closest struggle over recorded in tho annals of the gamo hore, the 1903 premiership was decided on Saturday afternoon last, when the Huia team defeated Haiti-City on Victoria Domain by a goal from a try to nil, and thus bocome entitled to the honor of holding the Poverty Bay Rugby Union’s senior banner till next season. All through tho present soason, tho three competing clubs

have been exceptionally well matched, and the fact that no less than six drawn games wore played during the progress of tho competition fully proves tho evenness of tho teams. This keenness as to tho championship has sustained public interest as in probably no other season right up to the last match, and has been the means of not only drawing good gates, but of keeping up a healthy spirit of friendly rivalry between the clubs, which has gone far to make the season one of tho most successful on record. All tho conditions wore favorable on Saturday to a good display of the game. Tho day was beautifully lino, tho ground in good order, and there was a large crowd of spectators present, tho gate receipts (£6 6s 3d) being tho second best netted this season. The teams wero constituted as under:

Continued on pago 4.