No Payne, no gain for Varsity
The 8000 spectators who watched the match at Carisbrook on Saturday between Otago University (the winners of the local flag competition) and Old Boys (the winners of Christchurch flag competition) for the Payne Trophy were unanimous that they had seen one of the fastest, most spectacular games ever played in Dunedin, and that the best team had won. The game fairly sparkled at times with bright passing movements and spectacular solo runs, and both teams must have been very tired when the final whistle sounded. The play of
the visiting forwards was quite an education to local footballers and followers of the game, as they not only played solidly in the tight work but started and came into many passing rushes. They were always up with the game, and when the passing of their backs broke down they would start it off again. Naturally enough the passing of the Whites broke down on many occasions, and instead of the Blues at once getting into the play they allowed their opponents to recover and start it going again. Maybe the Blue forwards had enough to do to cope with the White vanguard, but it cannot be said they displayed the same speed as the White forwards in following up, and their collaring was also weak at times. The Blue forwards started well, and hooked the ball from most of the scrums. It looked, indeed, as if they wore going to tire the opposition out with sheer pace, but once the visitors settled down they showed the greater speed in the loose work. The gate receipts came to about £450. Final scores: Old Boys 22 points, Otago University 10 points. Mr A.
Eckhold was referee, but he failed to check offside play sufficiently.