COUNTRY FOOTBALL.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 25, 3 September 1920, Page 10

COUNTRY FOOTBALL.

CENTRAL BISTRICT FINAL. WAIANAWA DEFE'ATS OTAHUTI. A POPULAR WIN. The large crowd that assernbled afc Wai. anawa football gxound on Saturday afternoon was a striking testimony to the keen interest taken in the district competition, Settlers from far and nea-r wero present to witness the final match of the sea.son, between Otahuti and Waianawa, and an exciting contest was anticipated. Both the contesting teams had a gocd record, each having been defeated only once, Apart from the presenceof a sou'-westerly breeze which blew diagonally across the field, the prevailing eonditions wero favourable to a good exhibition of football, and a fast and open game resulted. The Waianawa captain wori the toss and elected to play against the wind. Otahuti launched a brisk attack from the onset and kept their opponents busily def,ending fnr a considerable time. Rallying, howevi-r, by rneans of determined forward rushes, they soon shifted play into safer quarters. The wmd was of considerable assistance to the Blue backs and Anderson got in some good line-kicks. Duririg the latter part c f the spell Otahuti were confineci pretty well to their own territory and vigorous attempts to break through their def mce proved of no avail, half-time soundtng without score. As the Waianawa players had juite lield their own in the previous spell man/ anticipated that they would succesl ,n winning by a comfortable margin, now that they had the additional adyantage cf the wind. Nevertheless, though witn the exception of occasional bursts, "Otahuti were practically confined to their own 25 during most of this spell, yel their defence was equal to the oceasion, and time after time when hard pressed by the oppc-sing forwards, they managed to get ciear, Though Waianawa possessed the wetghtier pack the Blues got more than their shrre of the ball. Time was now wearing on and it appeared as if a drawn game would resulfc. However, shortly before the end, J. Ewart plaoed a difficult goal from a penalty kick, Waianawa 3, Otahuti nil. This snccess was received with great applause on the part of the numeroug local supporters. The men from the ridees made desperate efforts to equalise matters and for a time pnt Waianawa ooi the de-

fensive. Time sounded very sho.'tly afterwards without any alteration in :he score. For Otahuti, Anderson, A. Mcl'.cod, ard Rogers, were always prominent; while Ecric Galt, J. Ewart, D. Wilson. and G. Brown, made a specially good sbowing for the local team. The cIosLig stages of the game were full of incideut and on the play, without doubt the better team won, only the sound defence of Otahuti preventing a bigger score. rllm teams are greatlv indebted to the referee, Dr rrawford, who controlled the game to the c mplete satisfactian of one and alU After

the game a welcome cup of tea provided a fitting conclusion to an eventf-il day.

FINAL FOR CENTRAL RUGB Z UN10N COMPETITION.

• • T " l-o 3 i 1 if S a. ^ A Q Eq a Otahati 9 7 2 0 14 Waianawa ... 9 8 1 0 15 Calcium ... 8 2 5 1 5 Drummond ... 8 2 5 1 b Wright's Bush 8 0 6 2 2